Organic mulching promotes soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest

Abstract Background Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for soil quality and fertility in forest ecosystems. Labile SOC fractions are sensitive to environmental changes, which reflect the impact of short-term internal external management measures on pool. Organic mulching (OM) alters environment promotes plant growth. However, little known about responses rhizosphere or bulk OM urban forests its correlation with composition plants. Methods A one-year field experiment four treatments (OM at 0, 5, 10, 20 cm thicknesses) was conducted a 15-year-old Ligustrum lucidum plantation. Changes soil; content fine roots, leaves, mulch; several physicochemical properties were measured. The relationships between measured variables analysed. Results had no significant effect fractions, except dissolved (DOC). promoted movement deeper because increased roots subsoil. There correlations DOC microbial biomass easily oxidised carbon. greater than rhizosphere. thinnest (5 cm) layers showed most rapid decomposition over time. time after greatest followed by layer. Conclusions frequent addition small amounts mulch accumulation present study. potential model enhance matter storage maintaining productivity.