Soil organic carbon dynamics at the regional scale as influenced by land use history : a case study in forest soils from southern Belgium

摘要: Land use change (LUC) is known to have a large impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, at regional scale, our ability explain SOC dynamics limited due the variability generated by inconsistent initial conditions between sample points, poor spatial information previous land use/land management history and scarce inventories. This study combines resampling in 2003-2006 of an extensive survey 1950-1960 with exhaustive historical data LUC (18682006) observed changes stocks temperate forest soils Belgian Ardennes. Results from showed significant loss two surveys, associated decrease variability. The mean content decreased 40.4 34.5 g C kg(-1) (10.6 9.6 kg m(-2)), rate (Delta SOC) -0.15 year(-1) (-0.023 m(-2) year(-1)). Soils high tended loose while conversely low gain carbon. explained part past current as well Delta during last 50 years. We show that spatially explicit can help quantitatively scale.