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Spatiotemporal changes in cropland soil organic carbon in a rapidly urbanizing area of southeastern China during 1980-2015
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  • Enze Xie,
  • Xiu Zhang,
  • Fangyi Lu,
  • Yuxuan Peng,
  • Yongcun Zhao
Enze Xie
Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xiu Zhang
Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Fangyi Lu
Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yuxuan Peng
Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yongcun Zhao
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Understanding the spatiotemporal changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and their driving factors is an important prerequisite for decision-making in maintaining sustainable agricultural development and addressing climate change. A total of 1219 cropland topsoil SOC data (0-20 cm) collected from southern Jiangsu Province of China in 1980, 2000, and 2015, and geostatistical sequential Gaussian simulation were used to identify the changes in the spatiotemporal patterns of SOC during the period of 1980-2015. Results showed that the changes in SOC within the different time periods were significantly different, with a net increment of 3.65 g kg-1 during the period of 1980-2000 and a net decrement of 2.32 g kg-1 during the period of 2000-2015. Significant SOC accumulation occurred throughout the study area during 1980-2000, while SOC decline became predominant in the southeast during 2000-2015. Overall, the SOC contents for 60% of the study area increased significantly over the entire 35-year period. The SOC increase during the first two decades (1980-2000) was largely attributed to the increasing soil C input that resulted from the enhanced crop productivity by chemical fertilizers, while the stagnant soil carbon inputs associated with the rapid urban expansion were the primary reason for constraining cropland SOC accumulation in the subsequent 15 years (2000-2015). These findings highlight the importance of balancing agricultural development and urbanization processes to maintain SOC levels, and may also provide some guidance for planning cropland soil C management strategies in many areas that are undergoing similar urbanization processes.
08 Apr 2021Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
09 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
15 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
24 Jun 20211st Revision Received
25 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
25 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
16 Sep 20212nd Revision Received
16 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
16 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
10 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Nov 20213rd Revision Received
08 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
08 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
03 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Jan 20224th Revision Received
28 Jan 2022Submission Checks Completed
28 Jan 2022Assigned to Editor
29 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
30 Jan 20225th Revision Received
31 Jan 2022Submission Checks Completed
31 Jan 2022Assigned to Editor
06 Feb 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Accept