封育年限对干旱河谷灌丛土壤理化性质的影响

[目的]探讨不同封育年限对干旱河谷灌丛土壤理化性质的影响,为该地区的天然植被恢复与管理提供理论依据。[方法]采用野外调查和实验室分析相结合的方法开展研究。[结果](1)封育后灌木层的盖度、密度、平均冠幅、高度明显升高,而草本层则相反。(2)随着封育年限的增加,土壤容重呈V形变化,封育13a达到最小值,而群落植被特征、土壤孔隙度、土壤持水量、土壤养分,呈倒V形变化,封育13a达到最大值。0—40cm,封育13a的土壤平均速效N,P,K较未封育草地分别增加26.42%,107.35%,33.92%;全量N,P,K含量分别增加了168.42%,47.62%和31.12%。(3)封育后,土壤理化性质有所改善,具有明显的表聚现象,土壤固碳能力有所提高,土壤有机碳密度表现为:F_(13)F_(22)F_(30)F_5CK;土壤有机碳储量表现为:F_5F_(13)F_(22)F_(30)CK,说明在狼牙刺群落封育恢复过程中,土壤环境有较为明显的改善。(4)采取封育措施后,外界干扰减少,狼牙刺灌丛覆盖度增加,从而增加地上生物量,使生产力得到提升,生物量与封育年限存在线型关系。[结论]采取封育措施后,干旱河谷地带的狼牙刺群落植被特征和土壤理化性质及有机碳密度和储量均优于未封育,植被自然恢复状态良好。     

滇池流域不同植被覆盖土壤的入渗特征及其影响因素

为掌握滇中高原滇池流域周边不同植被覆盖类型对土壤入渗性能的影响,选用双环入渗法探究土壤入渗特性。以滇池流域典型植被覆盖类型(华山松+云南油杉混交林、云南松纯林、旱冬瓜+麻栎混交林、桉树人工林、灌木林)为研究对象,通过野外调查和试验测定,揭示土壤入渗特性及影响入渗的特征因子。结果表明：(1)华山松+云南油杉混交林与云南松纯林、旱冬瓜+麻栎混交林、桉树人工林、灌木林相比,土壤容重最小,有机质含量最高,水稳性团聚体最多,孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度比例明显优于其他林地。(2)5种植被覆盖类型下入渗性能有明显差别,具体入渗性能表征为华山松+云南油杉混交林>旱冬瓜+麻栎混交林>灌木林>云南松纯林>桉树人工林。(3)选择Kostiakov公式、Horton公式、Philip公式,模拟5种典型植被类型覆盖下林地土壤入渗过程,Philip模型对滇池流域土壤入渗过程的拟合效果最佳。(4)5种典型植被类型覆盖下,林地土壤入渗特征与土壤容重均呈显著负相关(P<0.05),初始入渗速率与非毛管孔隙度、>5 mm水稳性团聚体、>2 mm水稳性团聚体均呈极显著正相关(P<0...     

豫南山区典型林地土壤入渗特征及影响因素分析

为弄清典型林地不同发育阶段表层土壤入渗性能差异规律及其影响因素,通过在豫南山区开展野外调查与室内分析,模拟和分析土壤入渗过程及特征,研究土壤理化性质、地表根系结构对土壤渗透能力的影响。结果表明:1)各个林地类型土层厚度0～10 cm层的土壤渗透能力均高于10～20 cm层;初渗率、稳渗率、前30 min入渗量在各土层深度中均表现相同的趋势,即30 a马尾松针叶林>30 a麻栎阔叶林>30 a麻栎+马尾松混交林>荆条灌丛>20 a麻栎阔叶林>20 a麻栎+马尾松混交>20 a马尾松针叶林;20 a、30 a林分中,平均稳渗率最高的林分类型分别是麻栎阔叶林和马尾松针叶林,分别为3.140和4.256 mm/min。2)土壤渗透特性指标均与土壤有机质质量分数、毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度、根体积密度、根表面积密度存在显著的相关关系(P<0.05);对土壤渗透能力影响最大的土壤理化性质指标和根系结构指标分别是非毛管孔隙度和根表面积密度,典型相关负荷量分别达到0.559和0.773。     

金强河上游采金废弃区生态修复模式研究

为提高甘肃天祝藏族自治县金强河采金废弃区生态修复效果,研究了不同修复模式对植被数量、多样性、保存率、盖度和水土流失的影响。结果表明:修复3年后,回填整地+覆土+种草+种树+封育修复模式的植被数量、多样性、保存率、盖度及0~20 cm土层土壤相对含水量均最高或最多,且林草间作的互作效应明显,修复后的样地内没有形成雨水径流痕迹,地表疏松程度表现为坚硬,修复效果最优。     

区域尺度喀斯特区石漠化强度对土壤流失的影响

石漠化和水土流失是西南喀斯特区突出的生态问题,制约着社会经济的发展。目前,石漠化与土壤流失的耦合关系尚未系统探明,石漠化强度评价因子植被盖度、土层厚度和基岩裸露率的交互作用如何影响土壤流失知之甚少。基于石漠化现状的调查,采用RUSLE模型、Getis-OrdGi*、地理探测器等方法,测算了贵州喀斯特区土壤侵蚀状况并识别了冷热区分布,量化了石漠化强度评价因子与土壤侵蚀之间的关系,解析了因子组合对土壤流失的交互影响。结果表明：1)贵州喀斯特区土壤侵蚀以中度和微度侵蚀为主,平均土壤流失率17.69t/(hm²·a),侵蚀热区(重点防治区)主要集中在贵州西部经济相对欠发达区,侵蚀冷区(轻微区)则主要集中在黔北遵义市和黔中贵阳市等经济相对发达区。2)土壤流失随石漠化强度评价指标植被盖度、土层厚度的增加呈降低趋势,随基岩裸露率的增加则呈增加趋势;石漠化与土壤流失之间并非简单的线性关系,而呈复杂的非线性关系,3个评价因子分别以三次曲线函数、指数函数和反正弦函数拟合优度最高。3)石漠化强度评价因子对土壤流失空间分异的解释力依次为植被盖度、基岩裸露率和土层厚度,且因子组合对土壤流失...     

封育对宁夏盐池县草地植物组成及群落复杂性的影响

[目的]定量评价封育对宁夏盐池县沙化草地植物组成及群落复杂性的影响,为半干旱区草地植被恢复与管理提供理论依据。[方法]对3种封育类型老、新封育区和对照区在2003—2013年样线与样方结合法进行植被调查,并用群落总复杂性、无序结构复杂性、有序结构复杂性3种指数来分析其复杂性特征。[结果]老封育区由黑沙蒿(Artemisia ordosica)和刺沙蓬(Salsola ruthenica)群落逐渐演替为阿尔泰狗娃花(Heteropappus altaicus)群落,新封育区和对照区主要是黑沙蒿群落;新封育区和对照区的植被生物量与盖度大多年份高于老封育区;封育可增加无序与有序结构复杂性,进而增加群落总复杂性。[结论]长期封育降低了植被数量特征值;随封育年限的延长,群落复杂性指数约以5a左右为波动周期,说明适宜封育年限为5a。     

断陷盆地不同石漠化生态修复类型下土壤碳氮磷化学计量及酶活性特征

[目的]揭示断陷盆地石漠化生态修复区土壤养分、酶活性特征,筛选修复效果较好的模式,为石漠化修复治理提供科技支撑。[方法]以典型断陷盆地云南省建水县为研究区,探究4种植被修复类型(云南松+银木荷人工混交林、柏木+银木荷人工混交林、干香柏人工纯林、自然植被恢复样地)的土壤碳、氮、磷含量和化学计量特征及酶活性特征(淀粉酶、脱氢酶、葡萄糖苷酶、酸性磷酸酶、FDA水解酶、脲酶)。[结果]土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷平均质量分数分别为25.81,1.89,0.41 g/kg,有机碳、全氮含量均为自然植被恢复下最高,全磷含量为干香柏纯林下最高;自然植被恢复下土壤C∶P与N∶P最高,C∶N最高的为柏木+银木荷混交林。土壤淀粉酶活性为干香柏人工纯林最高,自然恢复植被恢复下最低,其余酶活性均为自然植被恢复下最高。相关性分析表明,土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、pH值会对土壤酶活性产生影响,且冗余分析结果显示影响土壤酶活性的最主要养分因子为全氮,解释了72.3%的土壤酶活性变异。[结论]不同植被修复模式下土壤养分及酶活性特征不同,经18 a植被修复后,自然植被恢复和干香柏人工纯林两种修复模式下土壤养分条件较好,是该地区较...     

胶南市海防林不同植被梯度带物种多样性分析

利用物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数(Simpson和Shannon-Wiener指数)、均匀度指数(Pielou和Alatalo指数)及生态优势度指数对胶南沿海防护林4种梯度带8种植被模式下的人工森林群落进行植物多样性分析。结果表明:各主要模式的多样性较低,不同梯度带的Simpson指数和Shannon-wiener指数变化范围为0.35~2.52和0.84~5.69。从沿海至内陆沿不同梯度带,多样性状况逐渐变好。灌草带中柽柳+草本模式好于紫穗槐+草本模式的多样性状况;基干林带中黑松+刺槐+火炬松+白蜡混交林的多样性好于黑松纯林和刺槐纯林模式;丘陵水土保持林带的黑松纯林好于黑松+麻栎混交林。     

干旱沙区盐碱退耕地生态恢复模式研究

以民勤湖区不同年代退耕地植被调查为依据,确定自然恢复目标,提出了10种盐碱退耕地植被恢复模式,并通过各种盐碱退耕地3 a后植被恢复相关指标评价选出6种良好的生态恢复模式:黄毛头封育模式(SEFM)和黑果枸杞封育模式(LEFM)为接近自然植被的恢复模式,但该模式需在灌水抚育一定年限后才能去掉灌水措施进行自然封育;“柽柳+乌拉尔甘草”(TGPM)和“柽柳+苜蓿模式”(TMPM)属纯粹人工恢复模式,需造林初期加大造林密度,在后期抚育中通过间伐措施来降低生态压力而作为一种良好的生态恢复模式;“柽柳+花花柴”(TKPM)和“柽柳+黑果枸杞”模式(TLPM)以较低的生态成本达到了较高的生态效益,是生态恢复模式最佳选择。     

桤柏混交林林下植被结构及生物量动态

林下植被是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,在森林生态系统的物质循环、生物多样性以及演替、发展等方面具有重要的作用.选取具有代表性的10,15,20,25 a桤(Aluns cremastogyme)柏(Cupressus fu-nebris)混交林和由桤柏混交林演替而来的30 a纯柏林为研究对象,研究了川中丘陵区桤柏混交林的林下植被结构及生物量的动态变化.(1)灌丛和草本的物种丰富度在10～20 a间增加,20～30 a间,灌丛物种丰富度显著降低,草本层无明显变化.(2)灌丛和草本层的高度在10～15 a间显著增加,15～30 a间缓慢降低,灌丛高度具较大的空间异质性.(3)灌丛和草本层的盖度在15 a前后有显著的上升和下降,20～30a间无显著的变化;草本层的盖度高于灌丛,且空间异质性小于灌从.(4)灌丛生物量在15 a前后有显著增加和下降,20～30 a间相对稳定;草本层生物量在10～30 a间呈波动性变化,但总体上呈下降趋势.研究结果表明,在桤柏混交林的生长发育过程中,林下植被的结构和功能呈逐渐退化趋势.     

Historical influences on the vegetation and soils of the Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts coastal sandplain: Implications for conservation and restoration

Both disturbance history and previous land use influence present-day vegetation and soils. These influences can have important implications for conservation of plant communities if former disturbance and land use change species abundances, increase colonization of nonnative plant species or if they alter soil characteristics in ways that make them less suitable for species of conservation interest. We compared the plant species composition, the proportion of native and nonnative plant species, and soil biogeochemical characteristics across seven dominant land use and vegetation cover types on the outwash sandplain of Martha’s Vineyard that differed in previous soil tillage, dominant overstory vegetation and history of recent prescribed fire. The outwash sandplain supports many native plant species adapted to dry, low nutrient conditions and maintenance of native species is a management concern. There was broad overlap in the plant species composition among pine (Pinus resinosa, P. strobus) plantations on untilled soils, pine plantations on formerly tilled soils, scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) shrublands, tree oak (Q. velutina, Q. alba) woodlands, burned tree oak woodlands, and sandplain grasslands. All of these land cover categories contained few nonnative species. In contrast, agricultural grasslands had high richness and cover of nonnative plants. Soil characteristics were also similar among all of the woodland, shrubland and grassland land cover categories, but soils in agricultural grasslands had higher pH, extractable Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in mineral soils and higher rates of net nitrification. The similarity of soils and significant overlap in vegetation across pine plantations, scrub oak shrublands, oak woodlands and sandplain grasslands suggests that the history of land use, current vegetation and soil characteristics do not pose a major barrier to management strategies that would involve conversion among any of these vegetation types. The current presence of high cover of nonnative species and nutrient-enriched soils in agricultural grasslands, however, may pose a barrier to expansion of sandplain grasslands or shrublands on these former agricultural lands if native species are not able to outcompete nonnative species in these anthropogenically-enriched sites.     

Effects of 30-year-old Aleppo pine plantations on runoff,soil erosion,and plant diversity in a semi-arid landscape in south eastern Spain

Forest management policies in Mediterranean areas have traditionally encouraged land cover changes, with the establishment of tree cover (Aleppo pine) in natural or degraded ecosystems for soil conservation purposes: to reduce soil erosion and to increase the vegetation structure. In order to evaluate the usefulness of these management policies on reduced erosion in semi-arid landscapes, we compared 5 vegetation cover types (bare soil, dry grassland, shrublands, afforested dry grasslands and afforested thorn shrublands), monitored in 15 hydrological plots (8 × 2 m), in the Ventós catchment (Alicante, SE Spain), over 4 years (1996 to 1999). Each cover type represented a different dominant patch of the vegetation mosaic on the north-facing slopes of this catchment. The results showed that runoff coefficients of vegetated plots were less than 1% of the precipitation volume; whereas runoff in denuded areas was nearly 4%. Soil losses in vegetation plots averaged 0.04 Mg ha^− 1 year^− 1 and increased 40-fold in open-land plots. The evaluation of these forest management policies, in contrast with the natural vegetation communities, suggests that: (1) thorn shrublands and dry grassland communities with vegetation cover could control runoff and sediment yield as effectively as Aleppo pine afforestation in these communities, and (2) afforestation with a pine stratum improved the stand's vertical structure resulting in pluri-stratified communities, but reduced the species richness and plant diversity in the understorey of the plantations.     

Composition of the microbial communities in the mineral soil under different types of natural forest

Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) patterns were used to describe the composition of the soil microbial communities under 12 natural forest stands including oak and beech, spruce-fir-beech, floodplain and pine forests. In addition to the quantification of total PLFAs, soil microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration and chloroform fumigation-extraction. The forest stands possess natural vegetation, representing an expression of the natural site factors, and we hypothesised that each forest type would support a specific soil microbial community. Principal component analysis (PCA) of PLFA patterns revealed that the microbial communities were compositionally distinct in the floodplain and pine forests, comprising azonal forest types, and were more similar in the oak, beech and spruce-fir-beech forests, which represent the zonal vegetation types of the region. In the nutrient-rich floodplain forests, the fatty acids 16:1ω5, 17:0cy, a15:0 and a17:0 were the most prevalent and soil pH seemed to be responsible for the discrimination of the soil microbial communities against those of the zonal forest types. The pine forest soils were set apart from the other forest soils by a higher abundance of PLFA 18:2ω6,9, which is typical of fungi and may also indicate ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with pine trees, and high amounts of PLFA 10Me18:0, which is common in actinomycetes. These findings suggest that the occurrence of azonal forest types at sites with specific soil conditions is accompanied by the development of specific soil microbial communities. The study provides information on the microbial communities in undisturbed forest soils which may facilitate interpretation of data derived from managed or even damaged or degraded forests.     

Coevolution of soils and vegetation in the southern taiga (with the Prioksko-Terrasnyi reserve as an example)

A detailed characterization of the relief, parent materials, soils, woody vegetation, and the links between them is given for a small part of the southern taiga zone in the center of the East European Plain. A methodology for determining the vegetation succession patterns on different soils with the use of the selectivity coefficient K is suggested. This coefficient is defined as the ratio between the frequency of occurrence of the given tree species on a given soil and its average frequency of occurrence within the entire analyzed area (in the area of the reserve). The values of K change from 0.2 to 3.6 and indicate positive (K > 1) and negative (K < 1) feedback relationships between the soils and vegetation. Changes in the frequencies of occurrence of different tree species on different soils that took place over 19 years have also been studied. It is shown that spruce has a tendency for settling on podzols, mixed spruce-oak-lime forests tend to develop on podzolized podburs, and lime and oak trees tend to develop on soddy podburs. Birch stands are most often replaced by spruce and pine stands; aspen stands and a part of the birch stands are replaced by lime and oak stands. The ecological plasticity of pine trees and the long age of this tree species ensure the existence of a long transitional succession stage with the predominance of pine. These regularities are important for predicting the further development of forest vegetation.     

浑河上游河岸带土壤微生物数量及酶活性特征

为了研究浑河上游河岸带土壤质量现状,采用实地调查与实验室分析相结合的方式,测定了其天然灌木草地、次生林、人工松林和玉米地的土壤微生物数量和酶活性特征。结果表明,土壤微生物数量呈现出在天然灌木草地和次生林中最多,人工松林次之,玉米地最少的趋势;细菌在土壤微生物类群中占绝对优势,比例为99.87%~99.94%;土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶、多酚氧化酶、过氧化氢酶活性变化范围分别为12.95~76.43,0.35~1.80,1.32~6.39,0.35~1.61 mg/(g·d)及0.93~3.27 ml/(g·20 min);5种土壤酶活性呈现出在天然灌木草地和次生林中最多,人工松林次之,玉米地最少的趋势;相关性分析中,细菌数量与5种酶活性显著正相关,放线菌数量与除了过氧化氢酶之外的其他4种酶活性显著正相关,真菌和蔗糖酶、磷酸酶和多酚氧化酶活性显著正相关。4种植被河岸带中,天然灌木草地和次生林具有最高的微生物数量和土壤酶活性,土壤质量高,是很好的河岸带形式。     

土壤微生物群落结构对凋落物组成变化的响应

凋落物分解是陆地生态系统养分循环的关键过程,明确凋落物多样性如何影响土壤微生物群落构成和多度,继而潜在地改变凋落物分解的微生物学机制有助于认识生物多样性和森林生态系统功能的关系。通过小盆模拟试验,应用磷脂脂肪酸谱图的方法研究了我国南方红壤丘陵区典型物种马尾松和湿地松的凋落物分别与白栎和青冈的凋落物混合,与单一针叶凋落物分解时相比,针阔混合凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落结构的变化,结果显示:(1)针阔混合凋落物分解时土壤微生物群落磷脂脂肪酸(Phospholipidfatty acids,PLFA)总量低于单一针叶处理,细菌和放线菌的相对多度高于单一针叶处理,真菌则相反,群落真菌/细菌低于单一针叶处理,土壤微生物生物量的差异主要来自于真菌;(2)主成分分析表明:针阔混合凋落物分解与单一针叶凋落物分解的土壤微生物群落结构差异显著,两个时期(分解9个月和18个月)主成分一分别可以解释65.74%和89.63%的变异,第一主成分主要包括18∶2ω6,9、18∶1ω9c、17∶0和10Me18∶0等磷脂脂肪酸;(3)土壤微生物群落结构受凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N调控,土壤微生物群落细菌的相对多度与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著负相关,真菌则与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著正相关,群落真菌/细菌与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著正相关。针阔凋落物混合分解通过改变凋落物C/N和木质素/N,提供了对分解者更为有利的微环境。     

科尔沁沙地植被覆盖变化及其与气候因子的关系研究

干旱半干旱地区生态系统脆弱,植被覆盖变异性大,明晰荒漠化地区植被覆盖变化,进一步确定其时空变异性和气候因子之间的关系,可为荒漠化防治提供理论依据。以我国北部荒漠化典型地区科尔沁沙地为研究区,利用中分辨率成像光谱辐射计(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer,MODIS)地表反射率产品数据,提取土壤调节植被指数(SAVI),结合信息熵理论,分析了研究区SAVI时空变异性,进一步通过相关分析明确研究区植被覆盖变化和气候因子的关系。整体上,研究区植被生长状况东部好于西部,南部好于北部。植被覆盖时空变异性在时间上以2000年最大,2005年最小;空间上以研究区西部南缘最大,东部南缘最小。降雨量、气温均与SAVI呈正相关,其中降雨对于SAVI的影响较大。     

Effect of rock fragment cover on interrill soil erosion from bare soils in Western Andalusia, Spain

It is known that rock fragments on the surface of soils can enhance infiltration and protect the soil against rainfall erosion. However, the effect of rock fragments in natural forest soils is less well understood. In this article, we studied the influence of rock fragment cover on run‐off, infiltration and interrill soil erosion under simulated rainfall on natural bare soils in a Spanish dehesa (managed holm oak woodland). We studied 60 plots with different rock fragment cover ranging from 3% to 85% under three simulated rainfall intensities (50, 100 and 150 mm/h). Surface run‐off appeared later and sediment yield values were smaller in soils with greater rock fragment cover. Rock fragment cover also increased infiltration rates. The final infiltration rates were 54–98% at a rainfall intensity of 50 mm/h, 31–88% at 100 mm/h and 20–80% at 150 mm/h. The interrill soil loss rates were decreased by rock fragment cover and increased with rainfall intensity. The soil loss rate was always small (0.02–1 Mg ha/h) when rock fragment cover was 75% or more. Rock fragment cover was related to soil loss rate by an exponential function.     

Modification of soil structural and hydraulic properties after 50 years of imposed chaparral and pine vegetation

Although biotic communities have long been recognized as important factors in soil development, especially of A horizons, few studies have addressed their influence on soil physical properties in nonagricultural settings. A biosequence of 50-year-old soils supporting near monocultures of Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri), scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) was used to determine the relative influence of vegetation type and associated soil organisms on the development of soil structural characteristics and water flow. Total porosity ranged from a high of 51% in the heavily worm-worked A horizon under oak to a low of 39% within the 35- to 50-cm depth under pine, where earthworms were absent. Macroporosity (pores with diameters >300 μm) was highest in the A horizon under oak (15.6%) and lowest under pine (9.5%). Saturated hydraulic conductivity of surface soils ranged from 10.8 cm h⁻¹ under oak to 3.2 cm h⁻¹ under pine. Soil under chamise, which had fewer earthworms than that under oak, had K_sat and bulk density values intermediate between oak and pine. Root and macrofauna distributions suggest that roots are the dominant factor in the development of macroporosity under pine, while earthworms have had the greatest effect under oak. Porosity has increased at an average rate of 0.22% per year in the 0- to 7-cm depth under oak (from 41% to 56%), but has not been significantly altered within the same depth under pine. Below the 7-cm depth, porosity values are similar for each vegetation type and the original parent material. Available water capacity (AWC) within the first 0- to 7-cm depth has increased from the original values (about 0.11 m³ m⁻³) to 0.17 m³ m⁻³ under oak, 0.16 m³ m⁻³ under chamise, and 0.13 m³ m⁻³ under pine. The data show that the presence of burrowing macrofauna, which is determined by litter palatability and therefore indirectly controlled by vegetation, can significantly influence porosity, increasing the water-holding capacity of a soil.     

Land-use history,forest conversion,and soil organic carbon in pine plantations and native forests of south eastern Australia

Land-use history – the number, type, and duration of previous land uses – is relevant to many questions regarding land-use effects on soil carbon, but is infrequently reported. We examine the importance of land-use history variables, as well as topographic and edaphic variables, on soil C in a range of forest types – native forest, pine plantations, secondary forest and rehabilitated forest – at three contrasting locations in south eastern Australia. Our comparisons include a novel forest conversion of exotic pine plantations to native, broadleaf forest.Using nested ANOVAs, we detected few differences in soil C concentration indices (total C, microbial biomass C, K₂SO₄–C) and C content among eucalypt-dominated vegetation and pine plantations within each location (0–10 cm depth). However, planned contrasts indicated a 30% decrease in soil C content with conversion of native forest to pine plantation of age 37 years. The reverse land-use change – pine plantation to native, broadleaf forest – was associated with a decrease in soil C concentration and content at one location (40%; age 12–13 years) and no detectable changes at another (to age 7 years). Variable effect between locations of this novel land-use change on soil C could be due to differences in potential productivity, conifer species, and plantation age.We used correlation coefficients and general linear models to identify widely applicable variables for predicting soil C concentration and content at local scales (≤ 20 km²). Within-location relationships with topographic variables were weak and infrequent relative to those with edaphic and land-use history variables. Soil texture was strongly correlated with soil C at each location, although the relative significance of different particle size fractions differed among locations. Electrical conductivity appeared more widely applicable since it was included in C models at two locations. Combining land-use history and edaphic variables produced strong predictive models for soil C concentrations and content at two locations (total r² 0.83 to 0.95). Positive relationships were indicated between soil C and ‘age of current vegetation’ at one location, and negative relationships were indicated with ‘number of land uses’ at another. These data highlight a potential predictive role for land-use history variables in local-scale assessments of soil C in forested landscapes.