Characteristics and Drivers of Soil Organic Carbon Saturation Deficit in Karst Forests of China

Abstract

Karst forests have complex and unique carbon cycle characteristics. Soil organic carbon saturation deficit (CSD) is an important indicator of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential; exploring its characteristics and driving factors is a priority theme in current research on the carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, 171 topsoil samples from typical karst forests in southwest China were used as the study objects. A SOC maximum saturation capacity model was constructed using the boundary line method. The CSD is equal to the maximum saturated capacity of SOC minus the current SOC. We analyzed the CSD and its main driving factors in different regions and succession stages. The results showed that the fractions of carbon and SOC contents in the karst forests at different successional stages in descending order were as follows: climax stage > arbor stage > shrub stage > herb stage. The CSD was the highest at the herb stage in Maolan, Yuntai Mountain, and Dashahe at 83.04%, 89.99%, and 89.97%, respectively, followed by the shrub stage with 48.69%, 78.50%, and 84.95%, and the lowest at the arbor stage with 25.69%, 43.44%, and 60.49%. The main drivers of CSD in the karst forest of Maolan were litter carbon input, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total SOC, and were litter carbon input at Yuntai Mountain and litter carbon input and neutral phosphatase at Dashahe. The results indicate that the core driver of CSD in the karst forest is litter carbon input, and this can be adjusted in the future to regulate the carbon sequestration capacity of SOC.

Keywords

• karst forests
• soil organic carbon
• driving factors
• carbon sequestration potential