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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2024, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (3): 65-77.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20230051

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characterization of Soil Organic Carbon and Key Influencing Factors of Natural Forests in Central China Based on Machine Learning Algorithms

Chenchen Shen1(),Wenfa Xiao1,2,Jianhua Zhu1,2,Lixiong Zeng1,2,Jizhen Chen1,Zhilin Huang1,2,*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
  • Received:2023-02-10 Online:2024-03-25 Published:2024-04-08
  • Contact: Zhilin Huang E-mail:Chenchen.Shen@outlook.com

Abstract:

objective: Soil organic carbon contents were simulated for typical forests (evergreen coniferous, deciduous broadleaved and evergreen broadleaved forests) in central China. The optimal models were used to reveal the key factors influencing the accumulation and spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in mixed forests in central China, which would technically improve the understanding of spatial pattern of forest soil carbon. Method: Forest soil organic carbon content of 0–60 cm was modeled by four advanced machine learning algorithms, including support vector machine, multi-layer perceptron of artificial neural networks, random forests and quantile regression forests. Model selection was conducted by comparing their model explanation and performance stability. Result: Models for organic carbon content of forest soil were developed successfully using all the 4 algorithms for 0–60 cm soil depths. The results of multi-layer perceptron, random forests, and quantile regression forests were significantly better than support vector machine, among which random forests processed the most stable results along soil layers, with the highest R2 at 0.620. Parent material, bulk density, soil porosity, topography, elevation, vegetation, and moisture deficit conditions jointly influenced the soil organic carbon content of 0–60 cm in the mentioned forests, while the significant factors differed among the topsoil (0–20 cm), middle (20–40 cm) and deep soil layers (40–60 cm) due to different mechanisms. Forest soil organic carbon content in the topsoil was comprehensively affected by soil porosity, geographic factors, vegetation, and climate, besides soil density as the most significant covariate (P<0.05). In the middle soil layer, soil properties and topography were still significant, while the influence of each factor on the soil organic carbon content showed complexity and transitional characteristics (P<0.05). In the deep soil layer, the parent material was the most important influencing factor, followed by soil properties and moisture insufficiency, while the influence of vegetation decreased (P<0.05). Geographically, the 0–20 cm surface soil organic carbon was higher in the southeast than in the northwest, while contents were observed higher in the west than in the east for the two deeper soil layers. Forest soil organic carbon contents were higher in mountainous forests with lower latitudes and higher elevations. Strong evaporation or insufficient moisture supply would limit the accumulation of forest soil organic carbon in all soil layers. Forest soil organic carbon content decreased significantly along soil layers. The highest soil organic carbon contents were found in evergreen coniferous forests, followed by deciduous broadleaved and evergreen broadleaved forests. Conclusion: The distribution of soil organic carbon in natural forests is characterized by spatial heterogeneity and differences among forest compositions in central China. Evergreen coniferous forests performed the largest contribution to soil organic carbon among these forests. Parent material and soil physical properties played a decisive role in the enrichment and distribution of soil organic carbon in the regional forests. Both suitable geographical and favorable topographical conditions contributed to the enrichment of soil organic carbon in forests. The proportion of mixed forests with local species could be promoted in forest management and silviculture to enhance forest soil carbon sinks.

Key words: forest soil organic carbon content, spatial variability, natural mixed forests, machine learning, central China

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