Variations in Soil Aggregate Pore Structure During Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Marsh Meadows: A Micro–CT Analysis

Variations in Soil Aggregate Pore Structure During Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Marsh Meadows: A Micro–CT Analysis | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 5 May 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Variations in Soil Aggregate Pore Structure During Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Marsh Meadows: A Micro–CT Analysis Authors : Zhanming Ma , Jiandong Xu , Runjie LI , Zilong Cui , Xiaoyun Kong , Jilin Xin , Chengqing Lin , … Show All … , Xiaoxuan Yang , Yile Dang , Jiayi Zhao , Yongsheng Yang , Yongkun Zhang [email protected] , and Gaini Wang Show Fewer Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174645014.42854177/v1 212 views 289 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Soil aggregate structure is pivotal in regulating essential physical and biological processes within soil plant-microbe systems, thereby influencing various soil mechanisms. The alterations in aggregate pore structure during the transition from bare soil or weed-dominated degraded grasslands to artificial grasslands dominated by gramineous species remain unclear. To elucidate the impact of artificial grassland establishment on the pore structure of soil aggregates in degraded grasslands, this study selected natural alpine marsh meadows, degraded alpine marsh meadows, and artificially established meadows in Maqin County, Qinghai Province, as research subjects. Utilizing micro – CT technology, 3 – 5 mm soil aggregates were scanned to obtain slice images with a resolution of 5.652 μm. These images were subjected to three-dimensional reconstruction and quantitative analysis using Avizo software and its plugins. The results demonstrated that, compared to degraded swamp meadows, soil organic carbon (SOC) in artificially established meadows increased by approximately 45.08%, yet remained lower than that of native alpine swamp meadows by about 26.37%. Porosity and macropores (>100 μm) increased by 22.03% and 2.81%, respectively. Regarding aggregate pore morphology, the establishment of artificial meadows led to increases in fractal dimension (FD), connectivity, and elongated pores by 2.66%, 1.18%, and 7.25%, respectively. During the degradation and restoration of alpine swamp meadows, SOC exhibited significant positive correlations with porosity, elongated pores, connectivity, and FD. In summary, the degradation of alpine swamp meadows severely disrupts the microstructure of soil aggregates, whereas the establishment of artificial meadows improves soil structure, rendering soil pore architecture more complex and thereby promoting the stabilization of soil ecosystems. Supplementary Material File (microstructure of soil aggregates.docx) Download 11.03 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 05 May 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords artificial grassland establishmen microstructure micro–ct soil aggregates soil organic carbon Authors Affiliations Zhanming Ma Qinghai University View all articles by this author Jiandong Xu Qinghai University State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture View all articles by this author Runjie LI Qinghai University State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture View all articles by this author Zilong Cui Qinghai University View all articles by this author Xiaoyun Kong Qinghai University View all articles by this author Jilin Xin Qinghai University View all articles by this author Chengqing Lin Qinghai University View all articles by this author Xiaoxuan Yang Qinghai University View all articles by this author Yile Dang Qinghai University View all articles by this author Jiayi Zhao Qinghai University View all articles by this author Yongsheng Yang Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author Yongkun Zhang [email protected] Qinghai University State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture View all articles by this author Gaini Wang Qinghai University State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 212 views 289 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Zhanming Ma, Jiandong Xu, Runjie LI, et al. Variations in Soil Aggregate Pore Structure During Degradation and Restoration of Alpine Marsh Meadows: A Micro–CT Analysis. Authorea . 05 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174645014.42854177/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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