Linking spatial patterns of soil organic carbon to topography — A case study from south-eastern Spain

Relating extent of colluvial soils to topographic derivatives and soil variables in a Luvisol sub-catchment, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic

“…TWI showed the highest potential for the SOC mapping as it delineates areas with high potential accumulation and soil moisture. Findings of Schwanghart and Jarmer (2011) and Wiesmeier et al (2013) correspond with our results.…”

“…Slope, curvature, catchment area, and topographic wetness index (TWI) are the most frequent variables. The various properties investigated include: soil depth (Odeh et al 1995;Penížek & Borůvka 2006), thickness of horizons (Florinsky et al 2002;Vanwalleghem et al 2010), particle size distribution (Odeh et al 1995;Penížek & Borůvka 2004), organic carbon content (Schwanghart & Jarmer 2011), soil unit delineation (Zádorová et al 2008. In Luvisols, few studies focus on soil depth and horizonation using terrain predictors.…”

Assessment of the redistribution of soil carbon using a new index—a case study in the Haihe River Basin, North China

“…Determining which of the four environmental factors (vegetation type, topography/slope, annual precipitation, and soil carbon concentration) is more important than others proved to be very difficult. This is because all four factors exert important effects on soil carbon redistribution in different ways according to previous studies (Sitaula et al 2004;Rimal & Lal 2009;Hancock et al 2010;Schwanghart & Jarmer 2011;Stavi & Lal 2011). Nevertheless, another method can be used to identify key factors.…”

“…Therefore, the index relied on theoretical preconditions: soil carbon redistribution is controlled mainly by vegetation type, topography/slope, annual precipitation, and soil carbon Fig. 1 Location of study area in the Haihe River Basin, China concentration, which have been proved reliable by previous studies (Sitaula et al 2004;Cowie et al 2006;Rimal & Lal 2009;Hancock et al 2010;Schwanghart & Jarmer 2011;Stavi & Lal 2011). However, the index focused on a long-term potential trend of soil carbon distribution, not only a single loss process from a single rainfall event.…”

“…A laboratory simulation suggested that more carbon was carried away from surface soil layer when precipitation increased (Rimal & Lal 2009;Stavi & Lal 2011). Topographical factors were also related to soil carbon redistribution (Wang et al 2010;Schwanghart & Jarmer 2011). Soil carbon was usually prone to deposition (or sequestration) in low-lying areas but was lost from upper slopes (Fang et al 2006).…”