Effects of salinity and exogenous substrates on the decomposition and transformation of soil organic carbon in the Yellow River Delta

Abstract

In the Yellow River Delta, nearly 50 percent of soils are saline and alkaline. Soil salinization can suppress microbial activity and thus affect the decomposition and transformation of soil organic carbon, while little information was found about the effects of salinity and exogenous C and N amendment on the decomposition and transformation of soil organic

Characteristics of soil C:N ratio and δ13C in wheat-maize cropping system of the North China Plain and influences of the Yellow River

“…The clay fraction is relatively higher near the river, which makes decomposition of SOM difficult due to protection by aggregation 10,42 ; salt content is comparatively higher in the soil near the river (Table 1), which would inhibit microbial activity thus decomposition of SOM 30,31 . These analyses rule out the possibility of enhanced decomposition of SOM near the river.…”

“…Our recent study showed that soils near the Yellow River contain higher levels of salts relative to those far away from the river 9,28 . There were evidence that high soil salinity inhibits organic matter decomposition 29,30 , thus one may assume that the SOM level would be greater near the Yellow River. On the other hand, the hydrological cycle that is primarily influenced by the river water and underground water may also have implications for the biogeochemical cycle (e.g., the carbon and nitrogen cycles) 31 .…”