Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions Along the Altitudinal Gradient in Changbai Mountain, China

Understanding the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions to altitudinal gradient variation is important for understanding changes in the carbon balance of forest ecosystems. In our study the SOC and its fractions of readily oxidizable carbon (ROC), water-soluble carbon (WSC) and microbial biomass carbon (MEC) in the soil organic and mineral horizons were investigated for four typical forest types, including mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest (MCB), dark coniferous spruce-fir forest (DCSF), dark coniferous spruce forest (DCS), and Ermans birch forest (EB), along an altitudinal gradient in the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve in Northeast China. The results showed that there was no obvious altitudinal pattern in the SOC. Similar variation trends of SOC with altitude were observed between the organic and mineral horizons. Significant differences in the contents of SOC, WSC, MEC and ROC were found among the four forest types and between horizons. The contents of ROC in the mineral horizon; WSC in the organic horizon and MBC in both horizons in the MCB and EB forests were significantly greater than those in either DCSF or DCS forest. The proportion of soil WSC to SOC was the lowest among the three main fractions. The contents of WSC, MBC and ROC were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with SOC content. It can be concluded that vegetation types and climate were crucial factors in regulating the distribution of soil organic carbon fractions in Changbai Mountain.