Grassland restoration in typical wind-eroded regions effectively increase soil organic carbon

Abstract

Soil organic and inorganic carbon (SOC and SIC, respectively) are the two most important carbon pools in the terrestrial carbon cycle, yet their responses to land use change in typical wind-eroded regions remain poorly understood. This study analyzed the carbon change patterns of four land use types Yanchi County, including the seasonal dynamics and driving factors of SOC, SIC, and total carbon storage under wind erosion background. According to filed measurement, the SOC and SIC contents in cropland were 3.0 g kg -1 and 12%, respectively. Compared with cropland, grassland restoration markedly increased SOC to 4.4 g kg -1 but reduced SIC to 2.7%, primarily due to enhanced organic matter inputs and the suppression of wind erosion. In contrast, shrubland restoration resulted in lower SOC (~2.4 g kg -1 ) and SIC (~2.5%) contents, likely because the slow decomposition of recalcitrant litter and coarse root biomass limited carbon turnover. Both SOC and SIC exhibited distinct vertical distribution patterns with depth, with SOC mainly concentrated in the 0–1 cm layer and SIC in the 1–5 cm layer. These contrasting profiles can largely be attributed to their dominant controlling factors: SOC was primarily regulated by vegetation cover, whereas SIC was strongly influenced by soil pH. Nevertheless, both carbon pools were sensitive to variations in wind erosion intensity and soil texture. These findings highlight distinct control processes over SOC and SIC, as well as underscore the surface soil (0–5 cm) as a critical interface mediating vegetation, erosion, and soil properties.