Soil-Available Nutrients Associated with Soil Chemical and Aggregate Properties following Vegetation Restoration in Western Sichuan, China

The status and drivers of soil-available nutrients in plant-recovered soils are not fully understood, limiting our ability to explore the role soil geochemical cycling ecosystem sustainability. Here, we combined spatial distribution chemical aggregate properties from six types (subalpine meadow soil, dark brown yellow-brown cinnamon soil) three horizons (a leaching horizon, sediment parent material horizon) study nutrients. Our findings reveal that nitrogen (AN) ranged 72.33 169.67 mg/kg, phosphorus (AP) 1.77 75.90 potassium (AK) 46.43 88.55 mg/kg types. subalpine had highest AN, with means 139.35 respectively. AP, a mean 75.9 AK, 83.49 results show depths significant impact on AK (p < 0.05). Moreover, higher cation exchange capacity (CEC), macro-aggregate contents (with 2–1 mm 1–0.5 particle sizes) non-water-stable aggregates, content stability (2–1 size geometric diameter (GMD) water-stable aggregates were deemed facilitate because positive correlations Lower exchangeable cations (ECs) micro-aggregate (≤0.1 size) helped accumulation potassium, regulation was found vary type horizon correlation analysis. Together, provide insights into importance regulating nutrient availability across types, as well providing strong support for inclusion resource utilization regional forest restoration management.