Impact of Afforestation on Soil Organic Carbon Fractions in Southwestern Karst Region

Dataset SourceThis dataset originates from a field study conducted in the southwestern karst region of China, spanning the border of Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces (22°59′52″-24°51′53″ N, 106°37′37″-108°43′53″ E). The study included 14 pairs of maize fields and plantation forests, representing land use before and after afforestation. Soil sampling was carried out from September 27 to October 19, 2022. For each plot (20 m × 20 m), soil was collected from 10 random locations at a depth of 0-15 cm and mixed into a composite sample.Dataset ContentsThe dataset includes:Site Information: Site ID, land use type, altitude, precipitation, and temperature.Soil Organic Carbon Data: Contents of particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), lignin phenols, and microbial necromass carbon in both particulate and mineral-associated fractions.Soil Variables: pH, SOC, TN, labile organic carbon (LOC), labile organic nitrogen (LON), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), C/N ratio, LOC/LON ratio, MBC/MBN ratio, imbalance of C/N between soil and microbial biomass, exchangeable Ca (Caexc), exchangeable Mg (Mgexc), clay content, total Ca, and total Mg.Dataset UtilityThis dataset is valuable for studying the effects of afforestation on soil organic carbon dynamics in karst regions. It provides insights into the roles of lignin and microbial necromass carbon in soil organic carbon accumulation, which can enhance understanding of soil carbon sequestration mechanisms and support strategies for improving soil carbon storage. The data may also be useful for researchers investigating soil ecology, carbon cycling, and the impacts of land-use change on soil properties.