Spatial variability of soil organic carbon in Three Gorges Reservoir area, China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important component of the global carbon pool. It is a critical indicator of soil quality. We studied SOC content (SOCC) and SOC density (SOCD) of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area in China. Soil samples from 306 sites across the study area were assessed for SOCC, SOCD and bulk density. Total SOC stocks in the TGR area were estimated at 5.82 × 10 − 1 Pg. We examined relationships between SOCC and SOCD, and the environmental and land-use/land-cover (LULC) variables. The plow layer (0–0.3 m) had a significantly higher mean SOCC (20.6 g kg − 1 ) than the subsoil layer (16.5 g kg − 1 ); elevation, LULC, soil type and soil thickness were the most influential factors affecting SOCC in the plow layer. In the subsoil layer, elevation and soil thickness were dominant in determining SOCC and SOCD. To study the spatial variability of SOC, we used statistical modeling and GIS-based techniques to map the distribution of SOCC and SOCD of the study area. Both SOCC and SOCD in the plow layer showed patchy distribution and were positively correlated with elevation and vegetation coverage. Spatial variability of SOCD in the subsoil layer showed a gradual transition between LULC categories. The lower SOCC of farmland appeared to be related to the repeated removal of agricultural produce from the land. Preservation of permanent vegetation cover and changing of the traditional farming practices will help to improve SOC stock and increase soil productivity in the TGR area.