冻融对东北黑土风干团聚体与水稳性团聚体组成及稳定性的影响

为保护我国黑土资源,实现可持续利用,研究冻融作用对黑土团聚体稳定性的影响及冻-融作用机制具有重要的理论价值和实际意义。本文以黑龙江省克山、嫩江农田表层(0～20 cm)黑土为材料,通过室内冻融交替模拟试验,分别测定初始含水率和循环次数对黑土风干团聚体与水稳性团聚体组成及稳定性的影响。研究结果表明:风干团聚体与水稳性团聚体中较大粒径组( 2 mm)团聚体随着冻融循环次数的增加呈逐渐减小的趋势,而较小颗粒粒径组(0.5 mm)团聚体则呈增加趋势。冻融过程中土壤初始含水量显著影响风干团聚体和水稳性团聚体的稳定性。随着初始含水量的增加,冻融显著降低黑土风干团聚体的平均重量直径(MWD)。土壤含水率为50%田间持水量时,冻融明显增加黑土水稳性团聚体的MWD。随着冻融循环次数的增加,风干团聚体小团聚体含量(WSA 0.25)、团聚体破坏率(PAD0.25、PAD1.0)和MWD均明显降低。本研究结果显示:冻融过程中适宜的土壤含水量有助于增加黑土水稳性团聚体的稳定性。这些发现有助于深入了解冻融过程对黑土侵蚀过程的影响与作用机制。     

前期含水量对机械压实后黑土团聚体特征的影响

以东北典型黑土区耕地土壤为研究对象,通过对不同前期含水量下机械碾压处理后土壤干筛团聚体和水稳性团聚体粒级分布、破坏率(PAD0.25)、分形维数(D)、平均重量直径(MWD)、平均重量比表面积(MWSSA)等特征指标的测定和分析,对比研究了干湿处理条件下模拟机械作业过程中土壤团聚体特征的变化。结果表明:黑土耕作区0～30 cm范围内团聚体组成上干筛团聚体以>2 mm粒级的团聚体比例最高,而水稳性团聚体则随着粒级的减小,比例逐渐增加。不同前期土壤含水量能够对机械压实黑土的团聚体组成分布、分形等特征产生影响,低含水量时,机械碾压在一定程度上能够促进土壤团聚体的团聚,但同等负荷下多次积累压实会削弱土壤的水稳定性和机械稳定性;而在高含水量时,机械碾压相对更易对黑土团聚体产生负效应,加剧破坏、抑制团聚,降低其水稳定性和机械稳定性。同时发现,MWSSA与其他常用团聚体特征值PA0.25、MWD、D、PAD0.25的线性关系达到了极显著水平,说明MWSSA同样可以作为分析和研究土壤团聚体特征的有效指标。研究结果可为科学指导大机械作业提供理论依据。     

化肥与有机物料配施对黄褐土团聚体分布及有机碳含量的影响

通过对黄褐土小麦/玉米轮作定位试验,研究了不同施肥模式对土壤团聚体分布、稳定性及团聚体中有机碳含量、各级团聚体对有机碳的贡献率的影响。结果表明:黄褐土的水稳性团聚体组成主要以0.25 mm粒径为主,施有机物料增加了0.25 mm水稳性团聚体,同时提高团聚体的稳定性。团聚体有机碳主要存在于0.25 mm水稳性团聚体中,并随着水稳性团聚体粒径的增大而明显增加。化肥配施秸秆对黄褐土水稳性团聚体影响较大,显著增加0.053 mm各粒径水稳性团聚体含量,降低0.053 mm水稳性团聚体含量,同时显著提高团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)和稳定率(R0.25),并且化肥配施秸秆对土壤中0.25 mm各粒径团聚体对有机碳的贡献率增加更为明显。而化肥配施鸡粪对土壤中0.25 mm各粒径团聚体中有机碳增加效果最好。     

水保措施对褐土水稳性大团聚体的影响研究

以北京市延庆县水土保持科技示范园不同水保措施的径流小区为对象,研究了水保措施对土壤水稳性大团聚体的影响。主要研究结果为:(1)仅采用工程措施会破坏土壤水稳性大团聚体,特别是粒径为5～8mm的水稳性大团聚体,并降低土壤大团聚体的水稳定性;采用植物措施后可以明显增加土壤水稳性大团聚体的含量,特别是增加了2～5mm和5～8mm粒径的水稳性大团聚体的含量,并明显提高土壤大团聚体的水稳定性;(2)土壤有机质对土壤团聚体的形成具有明显的促进作用,有机质含量与土壤水稳性大团聚体的含量和大团聚体的水稳定性之间均具有显著的相关性。研究结果对水土保持工作具有一定的参考意义。     

北方带状植物篱土壤水分物理性质分异特征

为了探究不同带状格局植被土壤水分物理性质的差异,通过选取我国北方12种典型植物篱并对其土壤水分物理性质的主要指标进行对比分析。结果表明:(1)植物篱系统内各部位土壤持水性能、毛管孔隙度、总孔隙度和机械组成差异不显著(p0.05);黑土区和风沙土区植物篱系统内各部位土壤水稳性微团聚体(粒径0.25mm)、小团聚体(粒径0.25~2.00mm)、大团聚体(粒径2.00mm)和团聚体总量差异显著(p0.05),其中微团聚体(粒径0.25mm)、大团聚体(粒径2.00mm)和团聚体总量均为带内最高;风沙土区与黄土区植物篱系统内各部位土壤有机质含量差异不显著(p0.05);黑土区植物篱系统内各部位土壤有机质含量差异显著(p0.05),其中带内是带前的1.48倍,带后的1.42倍、带间的1.72倍。(2)不同植物篱系统整体间土壤持水性能、孔隙度、水稳性团聚体和有机质含量差异显著(p0.01)。土壤最大持水量、毛管持水量、田间持水量、毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度均表现为黄土区植物篱风沙土区植物篱黑土区植物篱;土壤微团聚体、小团聚体、大团聚体和团聚体总量均为黑土区最高,风沙土区最小;有机质含量表现为黑土区植物篱黄土区植物篱风沙土区植物篱。(3)不同植物篱系统整体间土壤机械组成差异显著(p0.01)。粘粒含量为黄土区植物篱黑土区植物篱风沙土区植物篱;粉粒含量为黑土区植物篱黄土区植物篱风沙土区植物篱;砂粒含量为风沙土区植物篱黄土区植物篱黑土区植物篱。(4)对12种植物篱系统整体进行聚类,按土壤类型不同可分为三类,即黄土区植物篱(甘肃定西和宁夏彭阳)、风沙土区植物篱(内蒙赤峰)、黑土区植物篱(黑龙江拜泉)。     

有机物料及无机氮对耕地黑土团聚体水稳性的影响

用室内模拟试验研究了有机C、无机N添加对耕地黑土不同粒级团聚体水稳性的影响。结果表明 ,在不添加任何物料的湿培养条件下 ,随团聚体粒径增大抵抗浸水分散能力减弱 ;添加葡萄糖和玉米根干粉对 1mm水稳团聚体有良好保护作用 ,但不能保护小粒径的团聚体。单纯添加无机N会引起耕地黑土团聚体水稳性下降。     

长期不同施肥对黄泥土水稳性团聚体颗粒态有机碳的影响

研究了长期不同施肥处理(化肥与秸秆配施、化肥与猪粪配施、单施化肥和不施肥)下太湖地区黄泥土耕层水稳性团聚体颗粒态有机碳含量的变化。结果表明,供试土壤水稳性团聚体组成以>2mm和2~0.25mm粒径为主,施肥下>2mm水稳性团聚体显著增加,并伴随2~0.25mm水稳性团聚体明显减少。颗粒态有机碳主要存在于>2mm水稳性大团聚体中,并随着水稳性团聚体粒径的减小而明显减少。>2mm水稳性大团聚体中的POC对施肥的响应较为敏感,以化肥与秸秆配施下该粒径水稳性团聚体中POC的积累效果最为明显。而化肥与猪粪配施则显著增加了2~0.25mm和0.25~0.053mm水稳性团聚体中的POC含量。土壤不同层次水稳性团聚体中POC的来源不同,在0~5 cm表层可能主要来源于作物根茬生物量,而在5~15 cm土层则可能跟施入的外源有机物有关。     

长期不同施肥条件下黑土水稳性团聚体中磷的分布及其有效性

利用中国科学院海伦农业生态实验站的长期定位试验,研究了长期不同施肥条件下[对照(CK)、施用化学氮磷肥(NP)、化学氮磷肥配施有机肥(NP+OM)]农田黑土不同粒径水稳性团聚体中磷的分布及其有效性。结果表明,施肥增加了黑土各粒级水稳性团聚体中全磷含量,其中,NP处理比对照(CK)全磷含量增加28.9%~37.8%,NP+OM处理比NP处理增加44.0%~63.9%。施肥增加了黑土各粒级水稳性团聚体中有效磷含量,NP处理比CK处理有效磷含量增加146%~183%,NP+OM处理有效磷含量是NP处理的3.4~5.3倍。各处理水稳性团聚体全磷和有效磷均表现为较均匀地分布在0.053mm的各粒级水稳性团聚体中,而0.053mm粒级水稳性团聚体内全磷和有效磷均显著降低。施磷可显著增加土壤磷的有效率,且以化肥配施有机肥处理表现更为明显。NP处理不同粒径水稳性团聚体中磷的有效率是CK处理的1.94~2.32倍,NP+OM处理是NP处理的2.13~2.83倍。     

矿粮复合区煤累积对土壤团粒结构的影响

为理解煤对土壤结构的影响,以土壤煤累积现象普遍的焦作矿粮复合区为研究区,选取3种不同程度的煤累积土壤(低累积、中累积和高累积)为研究对象,不含煤的土壤为对照,通过测定0—40 cm土层深度范围的水稳性团聚体组成,并采用分形维数(D)、平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)和大团聚体破坏率(PAD)作为团粒结构的评价指标,探讨煤累积对土壤团聚体组成与稳定性的影响。结果表明:煤在土壤中累积可以促进水稳性微团聚体向大团聚体转化,降低团聚体的分形维数,提高团聚体稳定性。深层(20—40 cm)土壤水稳性大团聚体含量的增幅高于表层(0—20 cm)土壤。土壤团聚体稳定性随着煤累积程度的增高表现出先增加后降低的趋势。土壤团聚体的稳定性主要取决于>2 mm粒级水稳性团聚体的含量。总体上,煤在土壤中的累积改善了土壤的团粒结构性状。此外,根据本研究结果,研究区长期运煤、堆煤、洗煤和矿井水灌排等活动导致的"黑土"现象并不能视作煤污染。     

侵蚀红壤腐殖酸组分特点及其对水稳性团聚体的影响

在华中地区采集不同侵蚀程度(轻度、中度、严重)的红壤,利用干湿筛法获得不同粒径的水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)。通过测定不同粒径水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)的腐殖酸组分(胡敏酸和富里酸)碳量,以及向不同侵蚀程度的各粒径团聚体(0.25 mm)中添加不同浓度(0.06、0.6 g L-1)的胡敏酸,分析侵蚀红壤腐殖酸组分特点及其对水稳性团聚体的影响。结果表明:随着侵蚀程度的增加,供试红壤和水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)的腐殖酸组分含量减少;轻度和中度侵蚀红壤中,大粒径(4和2~4 mm)水稳性团聚体的胡敏酸碳量较小粒径(1~2、0.5~1和0.25~0.5 mm)的高;同种侵蚀程度下,除严重侵蚀红壤中2~4 mm团聚体的富里酸碳量与1~2 mm团聚体中的有显著差异外,不同粒径团聚体中富里酸碳量差别不大。3种侵蚀程度红壤的胡富比总体上小于1,其中中度侵蚀红壤和各粒径水稳性团聚体的胡富比均大于其他两种侵蚀程度的。腐殖酸组分与水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)含量呈极显著正相关,与胡敏酸碳量的相关系数最大(r=0.85**,n=19)。添加不同浓度(0.06和0.6 g L-1)胡敏酸后,3种侵蚀程度红壤各粒径水稳性团聚体(0.25 mm)的含量均增加,且小粒径团聚体(1~2、0.5~1和0.25~0.5 mm)的增加量要高于大团聚体(2~4、4 mm)的。     

土地利用方式对红壤和黄壤颗粒有机碳和碳黑积累的影响

颗粒有机碳和碳黑是土壤中两类性质不同的碳库,它们的数量可反映土壤有机质的稳定性。结果表明,浙江省红壤和黄壤中这两类碳库有很大的变化,并与土地利用方式存在联系。颗粒有机碳的数量及其占总有机碳的比例:林地>茶园>旱地;而碳黑占总有机碳的比例一般是:旱地、茶园>次生林地>原生林地。颗粒有机碳是土壤碳库的易变组分,易受利用方式改变而变化,颗粒有机碳占总有机碳的比例随土壤有机质的积累而增加。相同土地利用方式土壤中碳黑数量与粘粒呈正比。土壤中>1 mm水稳定性团聚体与颗粒有机碳含量相关,而土壤<0.25 mm团聚体与碳黑含量相关。     

Dynamics of soil organic carbon and nitrogen associated with physically separated fractions in a grassland-cultivation sequence in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

This study is aimed at quantifying organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) dynamics associated with physically separated soil fractions in a grassland-cultivation sequence in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Concentrations of organic C and N of soil, free and occluded particulate organic matter (OM), and aggregate- and mineral-associated OM in different land uses are increased in the following order: 50 years cultivation < 12 years cultivation ≤ native grassland. The prolonged cropping of up to 50 years markedly affected the concentrations of free and occluded particulate OM and mineral-associated OM. After wet-sieving, 43% of native grassland soil mass was found in >1−10 mm water-stable aggregates that stored 40% of bulk soil organic C and N; only 16% and 7% of soil mass containing 16% and 7% of bulk soil organic C and N was >1−10 mm water-stable aggregates of soils cultivated for 12 years and 50 years, respectively. This indicated that losses of soil organic C and N following cultivation of native grassland would be largely related to disruption of >1–10 mm size aggregates and exposure of intra-aggregate OM to microbial attack. Organic C and N concentrations of soil aggregates were similar among aggregate size fractions (>0.05−10 mm) within each land use, suggesting that soil aggregation process of these soils did not follow the hierarchy model. The increase of the C-to-N ratio of free and occluded particulate fractions in the cultivated soils compared to the grassland soil indicated a greater loss of N than C.     

SOIL ORGANIC CARBON STOCK AND FRACTIONS IN RELATION TO LAND USE AND SOIL DEPTH IN THE DEGRADED SHIWALIKS HILLS OF LOWER HIMALAYAS

The proportional differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions under different land uses are of significance for understanding the process of aggregation and soil carbon sequestration mechanisms. A study was conducted in a mixed vegetation cover watershed with forest, grass, cultivated and eroded lands in the degraded Shiwaliks of the lower Himalayas to assess land‐use effects on profile SOC distribution and storage and to quantify the SOC fractions in water‐stable aggregates (WSA) and bulk soils. The soil samples were collected from eroded, cultivated, forest and grassland soils for the analysis of SOC fractions and aggregate stability. The SOC in eroded surface soils was lower than in less disturbed grassland, cultivated and forest soils. The surface and subsurface soils of grassland and forest lands differentially contributed to the total profile carbon stock. The SOC stock in the 1.05‐m soil profile was highest (83.5 Mg ha⁻¹) under forest and lowest (55.6 Mg ha⁻¹) in eroded lands. The SOC stock in the surface (0–15 cm) soil constituted 6.95, 27.6, 27 and 42.4 per cent of the total stock in the 1.05‐m profile of eroded, cultivated, forest and grassland soils, respectively. The forest soils were found to sequester 22.4 Mg ha⁻¹ more SOC than the cultivated soils as measured in the 1.05‐m soil profiles. The differences in aggregate SOC content among the land uses were more conspicuous in bigger water‐stable macro‐aggregates (WSA > 2 mm) than in water‐stable micro‐aggregates (WSA < 0.25 mm). The SOC in micro‐aggregates (WSA < 0.25 mm) was found to be less vulnerable to changes in land use. The hot water soluble and labile carbon fractions were higher in the bulk soils of grasslands than in the individual aggregates, whereas particulate organic carbon was higher in the aggregates than in bulk soils. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

保护性耕作下土壤团聚体组成及其有机碳分布特征

依据吉林省德惠市田间定位试验（始于2001年）,对玉米-大豆轮作和玉米连作模式下秋翻（MP）、垄作（RT）和免耕（NT）3种耕作方式的机械稳定性团聚体和水稳性团聚体粒级分布、水稳性团聚体有机碳含量及团聚体稳定性进行了研究。结果表明,3种耕作方式下,〉0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量均在70%以上,最高可达93.29%,各粒级含量在两个土层中表现规律性不强。水稳性团聚体含量均在20%以上,最高可达35.5%,且表层高于底层。与干筛法测定的团聚体相比,〉0.25 mm团聚体含量明显减少,最大减少幅度为58.76%。两个土层中玉米-大豆轮作和玉米连作下的机械稳定性团聚体与水稳性团聚体对耕作处理的响应表现出一定的相似性,即RT〉NT〉MP。水稳性团聚体有机碳含量随粒径的减小而增大,3种耕作方式下有机碳含量表现为NT〉RT〉MP,表层高于底层,且玉米-大豆轮作高于玉米连作。比较3种耕作方式,垄作更有利于团聚体的形成和稳定,且玉米-大豆轮作好于玉米连作。     

Impact of Soil Management on Organic Carbon Content and Aggregate Stability

Abstract

Soil cultivation influences organic carbon storage and soil structures. To evaluate the impact of different soil‐management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and aggregate stability in black soils, SOC in whole soil, various size aggregates, and density‐separated fractions from three long‐term experiments (20 years) was examined. The three soil‐management systems were grassland (GL), bare land (BL), and croplands. The croplands had two treatments: nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application (NP) and NP together with organic manure (NPM). The SOC in the 0‐ to 10‐cm layer decreased in the order NPM>GL>NP>BL and also declined with the soil depth. The SOC of GL increased by 9.7% as compared to NP after 20 years of natural vegetation restoration. The SOC of NPM increased by 11% over NP after 13 years of organic manure application. The percentages of water‐stable aggregate (>0.25 mm) (WSA_>0.25mm) decreased in the order GL>BL>NPM>NP in the top 0‐ to 20‐cm horizon. WSA_>2mm, the most important fraction for carbon (C) storage in GL and NPM, accounted for 33 and 45% of the whole soil for GL in the depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm, respectively, and 25 and 18% for NPM in the same soil layers. A significant positive correlation was found between the C stored in WSA_>2mm and total SOC (r=0.81, P<0.05) and between the mean weight diameters (MWD) of aggregates and total SOC (r=0.78, P<0.05). Water‐stable aggregate_0.25–2mm was the largest fraction of WSA_>0.25mm, ranging from 54 to 72% for the 0‐ to 10‐cm layer and 46 to 71% for the 10‐ to 20‐cm layer; thus these aggregates would play a major role in soil sustainability as well as the resistance to soil erosion. The organic carbon (OC) of heavy fraction (HF) accounted for 94–99% of the OC in the WSA_0.25–2mm, whereas free particulate organic matter (fPOM) and occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) contributed a minor fraction of the OC in the WSA_0.25–2mm, suggesting that C sequestration in HF could enhance the stability of aggregates and C pools in black soil.     

不同修复措施下红壤水稳性团聚体中有机质分布特征

试验设置作物对照(CK)、作物+PAM(聚丙烯乙酰)(C1)、作物+稻草覆盖(C2)、作物+带状牧草(C3)、作物+PAM+带状牧草(C4)和作物+稻草覆盖+带状牧草(C5)6个处理,分别于种植花生前(A)、花生收获后(B)和小麦收获后(C)采集表层土样,研究不同修复措施下鄂东南侵蚀红壤团聚体的稳定性及水稳性团聚体中有机质的分布特征。结果表明,C时期各处理>0.25mm水稳性团聚体含量的平均值比A时期提高了24.78%,以C2处理的水稳性团聚体含量最高。不同时期土壤和各级水稳性团聚体中有机质含量表现为B>C>A。随着团聚体粒径(>4mm,4～2mm,2～1mm,1～0.5mm,0.5～0.25mm)减小,水稳性团聚体中有机质含量逐渐降低。土壤有机质含量与各粒径水稳性团聚体有机质含量呈线性正相关,小粒径(2～0.25mm)水稳性团聚体的有机质含量与土壤有机质含量呈极显著正相关(相关系数为0.779 2～0.828 6)。综合考虑土壤有机质含量和团聚体稳定性2个因素,稻草覆盖措施对侵蚀红壤的修复效果较好。     

不同利用方式和开垦年限下红壤水稳性团聚体及养分变化研究

本文就不同开垦年限下旱地、水田、菜园和荒地土壤水稳性团聚体、有机C和各养分的变化规律及其相互关系进行了研究.结果表明,荒地开垦为旱地、水田和菜园后,>5 mm的水稳性团聚体含量迅速下降,但随着利用年限的延长,>0.25 mm的水稳性团聚体总量呈增加趋势.旱地和菜园土壤有机C的积累速度高于全N,而水田土壤中全N和有机C含量同时迅速上升.土壤全P含量随开垦年限增加快速升高,但土壤K素淋失严重,随着熟化程度的提高而降低.红壤各粒级水稳性团聚体含量与有机C和全N含量之间均达到了显著相关关系,而与全P和全K间相关性不显著.可见,土壤团聚体稳定性程度保持在何种水平,主要取决于农田有机C库及N的平衡状况.     

保护性耕作对黑土有机碳组分和玉米产量的影响

  目的  探究不同保护性耕作措施对黑土有机碳组分的影响,对于保持黑土生态稳定性及其高肥力水平具有重要意义。  方法  以农田黑土为研究对象,玉米为供试作物,采用随机区组设计,设置传统翻耕（CT）、传统翻耕 + 秸秆还田（CTSI）、免耕（NT）、免耕 + 秸秆还田（NTSI）、深松（ST）和深松 + 秸秆还田（STSI）,共6个处理,采用密度分组法,研究不同保护性耕作措施对耕层土壤（0 ~ 20 cm）有机碳组分含量、结构特征及玉米产量的影响。  结果  与CT处理相比,不同保护性耕作处理土壤总有机碳含量均显著提高（P < 0.05）。ST处理轻组有机碳、粗颗粒有机碳和细颗粒有机碳组分含量均较CT处理显著增加（P < 0.05）,与不还田相比,秸秆还田处理有机碳各组分含量均增加,NTSI处理较CTSI处理显著提高轻组有机碳含量,STSI处理较CTSI处理显著提高粗颗粒有机碳和细颗粒有机碳含量。主成分分析表明,与CT处理相比,NT、NTSI、ST和STSI处理均能提高轻组有机碳多糖和碳水化合物官能团的相对含量;保护性耕作措施较CT处理不仅增加了粗颗粒有机碳和细颗粒有机碳组分活性官能团相对含量,还增加了稳定性官能团相对含量,有利于土壤稳定性结构的形成,促进碳的固存。耕作与秸秆还田显著影响了玉米产量,ST较CT和NT处理分别显著提高了22.37%和21.42%（P < 0.05）,秸秆还田处理有利于玉米产量提升,STSI处理增产效果最佳;相关性分析表明,粗颗粒有机碳能有效指示土壤有机碳的变化,其与细颗粒有机碳在维持和提升玉米产量中具有重要贡献。  结论  采用深松结合秸秆还田的保护性耕作措施对于稳定与提高黑土有机碳含量、固持土壤碳库和增加玉米产量具有重要作用。     

Dynamics of soil organic matter associated with particle-size fractions of water-stable aggregates

Stable macroaggregates (> 200 μm) of cultivated soils are reported in the literature to be richer in organic carbon, and in young organic carbon in particular, than microaggregates (< 200 μm). However, the nature of this additional carbon is not yet known. To determine it, we compared the composition of organic matter in stable macroaggregates with that in unstable ones. Macroaggregates 2–3 mm in diameter were separated from two silty cultivated soils from the Paris basin. They were slaked, and the primary particle composition of the resulting fractions was analysed. We used the natural abundance of ¹³C to quantify the amount of young carbon, derived from a maize crop, in the various size fractions. The stable macroaggregates were richer in total C and in young C (younger than 6 and 23 years respectively in the two soils studied) than the unstable ones. This young C comprised 50% particulate organic matter, 20% associated with silt and 30% with clay particles. We propose a schematic composition of aggregates in these soils in which stable aggregates are formed by the binding of microaggregates by additional young organic matter, predominantly plant debris. Young organic matter is preferentially incorporated and is responsible for aggregation, though it is eventually redistributed among aggregate classes through the destruction and re‐formation of the aggregates. We have developed a model to simulate this redistribution. The model shows that stable macroaggregates have a life of a few years, but that microaggregates may exist for decades. We suggest that the stabilization and de‐stabilization of macroaggregates in soils is linked to the incorporation and biodegradation of plant debris.