IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i2p207-d1570229.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Relationship Between Soil Aggregate Stability and Associated Carbon and Nitrogen Changes Under Different Ecological Construction Measures in the Karst Region of Southwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Meiting Li

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Keqin Wang

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Xiaoyi Ma

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Mingsi Fan

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Biyu Li

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Yali Song

    (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

Abstract

As the fundamental unit of soil structure, soil aggregates play a crucial role in enhancing soil carbon and nitrogen storage, thereby supporting soil fertility and overall health, particularly in fragile karst regions. This study aims to quantify the effects of various ecological construction measures on soil aggregate stability, including focusing on geometric mean diameter (GMD), mean weight diameter (MWD), and K values, as well as aggregate-related organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), soil mechanical composition, and aggregate content. The ecological construction measures examined include plantation forests (Y7th–rgl), restored forests (Y6th–zr), fruit forests (Y6th–jgl), and contour reverse slope terraces (Y1th–crt). Compared to sloping farmland, contour reverse slope terraces, with their distinctive priority induction function, significantly increased the content of medium-fine particle aggregates, greater than 87%. Among the ecological construction measures, plantation forests exhibited the highest aggregate stability, with an average increase ranging from 8% to 157%. Notably, microaggregates, regardless of size, possessed the highest carbon and nitrogen contents, contributing significantly to soil carbon and nitrogen pools. Furthermore, both plantation and contour reverse slope terrace treatments demonstrated an equal contribution of carbon and nitrogen across all aggregate sizes. The partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis indicates that land use type and the content of carbon and nitrogen pools are the primary factors influencing soil aggregate stability. These findings suggest that plantations are particularly effective in enhancing soil and water conservation in fragile karst areas, while the contour reverse slope terrace method shows potential for stabilizing soil structure over extended time scales due to its unique “preferential entrainment” function.

Suggested Citation

  • Meiting Li & Keqin Wang & Xiaoyi Ma & Mingsi Fan & Biyu Li & Yali Song, 2025. "Relationship Between Soil Aggregate Stability and Associated Carbon and Nitrogen Changes Under Different Ecological Construction Measures in the Karst Region of Southwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:207-:d:1570229
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/207/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/207/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Lehmann & Markus Kleber, 2015. "The contentious nature of soil organic matter," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 60-68, December.
    2. Pujia Yu & Xuguang Tang & Shiwei Liu & Wenxin Liu & Aichun Zhang, 2020. "Short Term Effects of Revegetation on Labile Carbon and Available Nutrients of Sodic Soils in Northeast China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Noppol Arunrat & Praeploy Kongsurakan & Lemlem Wondwossen Solomon & Sukanya Sereenonchai, 2024. "Fire Impacts on Soil Properties and Implications for Sustainability in Rotational Shifting Cultivation: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Erika Tobiašová & Joanna Lemanowicz & Bożena Dębska & Martina Kunkelová & Juraj Sakáč, 2023. "The Effect of Reduced and Conventional Tillage Systems on Soil Aggregates and Organic Carbon Parameters of Different Soil Types," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Salih Demirkaya & Abdurrahman Ay & Coşkun Gülser & Rıdvan Kızılkaya, 2025. "Enhancing Clay Soil Productivity with Fresh and Aged Biochar: A Two-Year Field Study on Soil Quality and Wheat Yield," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Berazneva, Julia & McBride, Linden & Sheahan, Megan & Güereña, David, 2018. "Empirical assessment of subjective and objective soil fertility metrics in east Africa: Implications for researchers and policy makers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 367-382.
    3. Ninghui Xie & Liangjie Sun & Tong Lu & Xi Zhang & Ning Duan & Wei Wang & Xiaolong Liang & Yuchuan Fan & Huiyu Liu, 2025. "Effects of Adding Different Corn Residue Components on Soil and Aggregate Organic Carbon," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Jakub Bekier & Elżbieta Jamroz & Karolina Walenczak-Bekier & Martyna Uściła, 2023. "Soil Organic Matter Composition in Urban Soils: A Study of Wrocław Agglomeration, SW Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Liudmila Tripolskaja & Asta Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice & Eugenija Baksiene & Almantas Razukas, 2022. "Changes in Organic Carbon in Mineral Topsoil of a Formerly Cultivated Arenosol under Different Land Uses in Lithuania," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Qin Zhang & Chunfang Yue & Pujia Yu & Hailiang Xu & Jie Wu & Fangyu Sheng, 2024. "Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Stratification in Land Use Types in the Source Area of the Tarim River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Guillermo Martínez Pastur & Marie-Claire Aravena Acuña & Jimena E. Chaves & Juan M. Cellini & Eduarda M. O. Silveira & Julián Rodriguez-Souilla & Axel von Müller & Ludmila La Manna & María V. Lencinas, 2023. "Nitrogenous and Phosphorus Soil Contents in Tierra del Fuego Forests: Relationships with Soil Organic Carbon, Climate, Vegetation and Landscape Metrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Steffen Schlüter & Frederic Leuther & Lukas Albrecht & Carmen Hoeschen & Rüdiger Kilian & Ronny Surey & Robert Mikutta & Klaus Kaiser & Carsten W. Mueller & Hans-Jörg Vogel, 2022. "Microscale carbon distribution around pores and particulate organic matter varies with soil moisture regime," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Yue Zhang & Guihua Liu & Zhixing Ma & Xin Deng & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "The Influence of Land Attachment on Land Abandonment from the Perspective of Generational Difference: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Marianne V. Asmussen & Rafael Rubilar & Daniel Bozo & Rosa M. Alzamora & Juan Pedro Elissetche & Matías Pincheira & Oscar Jara, 2025. "Relationship Between Carbon Stock and Stand Cumulative Production at Harvesting Age of Pinus radiata Plantations: A Comparison Between Granitic and Metamorphic Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Duyen Minh Pham & Arata Katayama, 2018. "Humin as an External Electron Mediator for Microbial Pentachlorophenol Dechlorination: Exploration of Redox Active Structures Influenced by Isolation Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, December.
    12. Kristin Piikki & Mats Söderström & Rolf Sommer & Mayesse Da Silva & Sussy Munialo & Wuletawu Abera, 2019. "A Boundary Plane Approach to Map Hotspots for Achievable Soil Carbon Sequestration and Soil Fertility Improvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, July.
    13. Lee, Jechan & Yang, Xiao & Cho, Seong-Heon & Kim, Jae-Kon & Lee, Sang Soo & Tsang, Daniel C.W. & Ok, Yong Sik & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2017. "Pyrolysis process of agricultural waste using CO2 for waste management, energy recovery, and biochar fabrication," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 214-222.
    14. Jacek Długosz & Bożena Dębska & Anna Piotrowska-Długosz, 2024. "The Effect of Soil Tillage Systems on the Soil Microbial and Enzymatic Properties Under Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merrill) Cultivation—Implications for Sustainable Soil Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Elsadig Omer & Dora Szlatenyi & Sándor Csenki & Jomana Alrwashdeh & Ivan Czako & Vince Láng, 2024. "Farming Practice Variability and Its Implications for Soil Health in Agriculture: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-27, November.
    16. Phonlawat Soilueang & Yupa Chromkaew & Nipon Mawan & Suwimon Wicharuck & Sasiprapa Kullachonphuri & Sureerat Buachun & Yu-Ting Wu & Yaoliang Chen & Kesinee Iamsaard & Nuttapon Khongdee, 2024. "Temporal Dynamics of Soil Carbon Stocks and Mineralization Rates in Coffea arabica Agroforestry Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Miriam Kizeková & Radoslava Kanianska & Ľubica Jančová & Jozef Čunderlík & Zuzana Dugátová, 2024. "Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Agricultural Soils under Different Natural Conditions and Management in Slovakia," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Jinyue Ying & Xi Zhang & Weixiang Wu & Qiong Nan & Guorong Wang & Da Dong, 2024. "The effects of long-term rice straw and biochar return on soil humus composition and structure in paddy soil," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(12), pages 772-782.
    19. Sebastiano Trevisani & Igor Bogunovic, 2022. "Diachronic Mapping of Soil Organic Matter in Eastern Croatia Croplands," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, June.
    20. Siddhartha Shankar Bhattacharyya & Pedro Mondaca & Oloka Shushupti & Sharjeel Ashfaq, 2023. "Interplay between Plant Functional Traits and Soil Carbon Sequestration under Ambient and Elevated CO 2 Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:2:p:207-:d:1570229. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.