What question did this study set out to answer?

To quantify soil organic carbon stocks and examine their relationships with erosion rates and soil properties in Ultisol landscapes.

March 16, 2026Open Access

Soil organic carbon in Ultisol landscapes: Influence of erosion rates, soil development, depth, and hillslope properties

Key Points

To quantify soil organic carbon stocks and examine their relationships with erosion rates and soil properties in Ultisol landscapes.
Analyzed SOC stocks from 30 soil pits in low-order watersheds
Measured erosion rates using 10Be isotopes
Examined soil depth, clay content, and pedogenic iron concentrations
Compared SOC across different hillslope positions and aspects
SOC stocks are higher in basins with lower erosion rates
Well-developed soils show greater SOC due to higher clay and iron content
SOC density varies more with erosion rates than with hillslope aspect or position
Significant SOC storage is found below 30 cm depth, often underestimated in surface samples

Abstract

Although soils represent one of the largest global carbon reservoirs, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks remain poorly quantified across many landscapes, limiting effective land management aimed at carbon sequestration in the pedosphere. Here, we report SOC stocks from 30 soil pits (sample n = 212) in low-order watersheds located in a slowly eroding (30 cm) in the Piedmont is significant and likely underappreciated.

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Cite this study

Vaughan et al. (Sat,) studied this question.

www.synapsesocial.com/papers/69b79e488166e15b153ab57c — DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.109967

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Authors

Nora Vaughan

Martha Cary Eppes

David S. Vinson

Journals

CATENA

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Institutions

Lehigh University

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Soil organic carbon in Ultisol landscapes: Influence of erosion rates, soil development, depth, and hillslope properties

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Cite this study

Also consider

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Authors

Journals

Actions

Institutions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion