Storage, Patterns and Controls of Soil Nitrogen in China

• Published in: Pedosphere Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 776 - 785
• Main Authors: YANG, Yuan-He, MA, Wen-Hong, MOHAMMAT, A., FANG, Jing-Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2007; Department of Ecology, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University,Beijing 100871 China%School of Environment and Urban Study, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055 China
• Subjects: Climate; soil nitrogen; soil texture; spatial distribution; vegetation; 氮含量; 空间分布; vegetation; Climate; soil texture; soil nitrogen; spatial distribution
• ISSN: 1002-0160; 2210-5107
• DOI: 10.1016/s1002-0160(07)60093-9

Soil holds the largest nitrogen （N） pool in terrestrial ecosystems, but estimates of soil N stock remain controversial. Storage and spatial distribution of soil N in China were estimated and the relationships between soil N density and environmental factors were explored using data from China＇s Second National Soil Survey and field investigation in northwest China and the Tibetan Plateau. China＇s soil N storage at a depth of one meter was estimated at 7.4 Pg, with an average density of 0.84 kg m^-2. Soil N density appeared to be high in southwest and northeast China and low in the middle areas of the country. Soil N density increased from the arid to semi-arid zone in northern China, and decreased from cold-temperate to tropical zone in the eastern part of the country. An analysis of general linear model suggested that climate and vegetation determined the spatial pattern of soil N density for natural vegetation, which explained 75.4% of the total variance.