The effect of soil physical structure in soil carbon and nitrogen distribution under different land use types in typical forest grassland transition zone on Loess Plateau, China

• DOI: 10.1111/sum.70061
• Publication Date: 2025-03-29T08:42:05Z
• Authors: Ying Ma; Ji Chen; Zuzheng Li; Jiacong Zhou; Yixuan Zhang; Siyi Sun; Wenxin Zhang; Jinzhao Liu
• Keywords: Loess plateau; Soil carbon

Abstract Land use/vegetation cover change, reflecting a range of human land use practices, is the most prevalent and immediate influence on alterations in soil quality. The physical structure crucial for safeguarding carbon (C) nitrogen (N), as it modulates protection mechanisms distribution these elements within soil. Nevertheless, impact C N accumulation under different same area remains unclear. This research collected samples from five types typical forest grassland transition zone Loess Plateau, including natural forests, artificial shrubs, meadows, farmland. We investigated topsoil structure, pools aggregates, driving factors types. Our results indicated that SOC macroaggregates shrublands, meadows was 16.4%, 23.7%, 8.6%, 40.7% higher than MBC 48.9%, 26.4%, 37.0%, 18.8% Soil storage aggregate stability were lowest farmland ( p < .05). changes markedly influenced by quantity contained large aggregates with size >0.25 mm. MBN closely related to enzymes. Environmental indirectly through impacting properties structure. These emphasized significance content. When formulating policies, we should fully consider effects after vegetation changes. It improve enhance maintain nutrients resist erosion.