Zhang, Runxia , Yu, Hailun , Chai, Yuanyuan , Zhao, Xueyong , Zhang, Chencheng
2026-05-18 LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT 2026 null(卷), null(期), (null页)
Physical protection by soil aggregates is a key mechanism for carbon sequestration and stabilization. Urban green spaces provide vital ecosystem services, including carbon storage; however, there is limited understanding of variation in soil aggregation and the related inorganic and organic carbon sequestration in response to anthropogenic land use changes in urban soils. Here, we compared the vertical distributions (0-100 cm) of soil organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) across cropland, grassland, woodland, and urban green spaces in a newly urbanized area of northwest China. Soil aggregate distribution, stability, and the related organic carbon (OC) and inorganic carbon (IC) contents in the topsoil were also examined. Compared to other land use types, urban green spaces exhibited the highest SIC stock (peaking at 4.91 kg m(-2) in the 40-60 cm depth) but the lowest SOC stock (e.g., 0-20 cm: 0.90 kg m(-2) vs. 1.43