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Variation in Soil Aggregate Stability Due to Land Use Changes from Alpine Grassland in a High-Altitude Watershed

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Zhanming Ma

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Yutao Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Zilong Cui

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Qiuyu Mo

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Can Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Haiyan Sheng

    (College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Wen Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Yongkun Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

Abstract

Land use change affects soil aggregate composition and stability, which impacts soil structure and health. To reveal how land use change impacted soil aggregates of alpine grassland in a high-altitude watershed, soil samples from 161 sites including alpine grassland, cropland and abandoned land were selected to measure and analyze the distribution of aggregate fractions (macro-aggregates, micro-aggregates, silt+clay), soil aggregate stability (mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, fractal dimension, etc.) and related soil properties (soil organic carbon content, soil particle composition, etc.) in the Huangshui River watershed of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The results showed: (1) As alpine grasslands were converted to croplands and croplands to abandoned lands, the proportion of macro-aggregates and the aggregate stability index showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing ( p < 0.05), indicating that tillage and abandonment have significant influences on soil aggregate structure. (2) Compared with temperate grassland, alpine grassland had richer soil organic carbon, and a higher ratio of macro-aggregates and aggregate stability. (3) Soil organic carbon and sand content had distinct influences on the fractions and stability of aggregates during land use change. These results suggested that cultivation can substantially reduce the soil aggregate stability in alpine grassland, whereas abandonment can effectively improve soil aggregate structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Li & Zhanming Ma & Yutao Liu & Zilong Cui & Qiuyu Mo & Can Zhang & Haiyan Sheng & Wen Wang & Yongkun Zhang, 2023. "Variation in Soil Aggregate Stability Due to Land Use Changes from Alpine Grassland in a High-Altitude Watershed," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:393-:d:1053464
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Man Liu & Guilin Han & Qian Zhang, 2019. "Effects of Soil Aggregate Stability on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen under Land Use Change in an Erodible Region in Southwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-14, October.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Aike Kan & Qing Xiang & Xiao Yang & Huiseng Xu & Xiaoxiang Yu & Hong Huang, 2023. "Revealing the Environmental Characteristics of Towns in the Middle Himalayas Using a Geographic Information System and Self-Organizing Map," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.

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