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Drivers of mountain soil organic carbon stock dynamics: A review

  • Soils, Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Mountains have unique microclimates and rich plant diversity, resulting in different patterns and dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) across plant communities and elevations. Nevertheless, few studies have systematically reviewed the drivers of the dynamics of global SOC in mountainous regions.

Materials and method

Here, we collected relevant published literature to analyze the main drivers of the dynamics of global SOC at different elevations and plant communities. Specifically, we analyzed the impact of natural variability and human activity on SOC.

Results and discussion

We found that natural factors mainly included climate change, plant succession, and wildfires. Anthropogenic factors mainly included land use changes and grazing practices. SOC stocks at low elevations were more susceptible to grazing, precipitation, and land use changes. Conversely, higher elevations were more susceptible to warming and plant community succession. Notably, montane forests and permafrost, which are important terrestrial carbon sinks, were more easily regulated by wildfires and climate change. However, grazing had different effects on SOC in montane grasslands.

Conclusions

This review highlights the synergy of multiple drivers that should be fully considered when investigating mechanisms underlying montane SOC. We recommend that future work explore the impact of extreme weather events on montane SOC.

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Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 42071102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Yong Zhang, Cheng-bang An, Wen-sheng Zhang, Li-yuan Zheng, Yan-zhen Zhang, Chao Lu & Lu-yu Liu

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  1. Yong Zhang
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  2. Cheng-bang An
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Contributions

Yong Zhang collected the data and wrote the manuscript. Cheng-bang An directed and reviewed the manuscript. Wen-sheng Zhang and Li-yuan Zheng provided the illustrations and tables. Yan-zhen Zhang and Chao Lu have checked the English grammar of the manuscript. Lu-yu Liu literature download.

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Correspondence to Cheng-bang An.

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Zhang, Y., An, Cb., Zhang, Ws. et al. Drivers of mountain soil organic carbon stock dynamics: A review. J Soils Sediments 23, 64–76 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03313-w

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