National Scale Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon Storage in China Based on Chinese Soil Taxonomy

Patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and density in various soil types or locations are the foundation for examining the role of soil in the global carbon cycle. An assessment of SOC storage and density patterns in China based on soil types as defined by Chinese Soil Taxonomy (CST) and the recently compiled digital 1:1000000 Soil Database of China was conducted to generate a rigorous database for the future study of SOC storage. First, SOC densities of 7 292 soil profiles were calculated and linked by soil type to polygons of a digital soil map using geographic information system resulting in a 1:1 000 000 SOC density distribution map of China. Further results showed that soils in China covered 9 281×103 km2 with a total SOC storage of 89.14 Gt and a mean SOC density 96.0 t ha-1. Among the 14 CST orders, Cambosols and Argosols constituted high percentage of China’s total SOC storage, while Andosols, Vertosols, and Spodsols had a low percentage. As for SOC density, Histosols were the highest, while Primosols were the lowest. Specific patterns of SOC storage of various soil types at the CST suborder, group, and subgroup levels were also described. Results obtained from the study of SOC storage and density of all CST soil types would be not only useful for international comparative research, but also for more accurately estimating and monitoring of changes of SOC storage in China.