Table 3 Soil analysis results for SOC and labile organic carbon at 0–30 cm soil depth for different stand density levels. Values are the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Different lowercase letters (a, b, c) indicate significant differences between stand density levels (P < 0.05). SOC, soil organic carbon; DOC, soil dissolved organic carbon; MBC, microbial biomass carbon; LFOC, light fraction organic carbon; ROC, readily oxidized carbon. 27a, 27-year-old stand; 36a, 36-year-old stand; 48a, 48-year-old stand
Stand age | Stand density level | SOC (g/kg) | MBC (mg/kg) | DOC (mg/kg) | LFOC (mg/kg) | ROC (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27a | LD | 14.19±1.56a | 286.37±18.89ab | 196.42±15.17a | 381.53±9.89a | 1328.85±100.73a |
MD | 14.21±0.41a | 308.94±4.17a | 206.48±5.71a | 379.92±14.00a | 1298.91±240.39a | |
HD | 12.03±1.77a | 263.93±21.01b | 191.90±2.69a | 351.99±6.51b | 1503.01±73.66a | |
36a | LD | 19.83±1.62a | 402.62±29.44a | 257.88±9.94a | 419.48±5.43a | 1651±72.05a |
MD | 19.33±0.79a | 455.49±3.51b | 258.21±13.72a | 426.35±10.62a | 1321.13±281.17a | |
HD | 17.88±0.14a | 384.30±33.61a | 260.66±6.52a | 403.21±4.67b | 1636.35±82.91a | |
48a | LD | 24.96±1.58a | 441.18±71.05ab | 364.68±4.20a | 501.76±13.60a | 2302.76±83.38a |
MD | 22.67±2.32a | 533.82±81.96a | 355.39±14.31ab | 523.81±16.39a | 1548.48±286.68b | |
HD | 22.16±0.55a | 381.57±14.75b | 345.63±2.64b | 419.88±5.36b | 2200.04±343.99a |