Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2023, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 418-428.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.9.4

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of vegetation on carbon sequestration in karst systems-a critical review

YU Shi1,2(), PU Junbing3,*(), LIU Fan1,2, YANG Hui1,2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin 541004, China
    2. International Research Centre on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO / National Center for International Research on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change, Guilin 541004, China
    3. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Wetland Research in the Upper Yangtze River, School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
  • Received:2022-05-24 Revised:2022-07-31 Online:2023-07-25 Published:2023-07-07

Abstract:

Vegetation-the link between atmosphere, water, soil and rock-is a key influencing factor of carbon sequestration via rock weathering. Understanding their relationship can help to better estimate the carbon flux in karst systems and assess the effect of karsification on the reduction of atmospheric CO2 emissions. This review summarizes and evaluates the latest research findings on the impact of vegetation succession on karst carbon sink, the control of vegetation on the karstification process in terms of biological effects, soil properties, climate, runoff changes and hydrogeological structure of karst systems, and the impact of vegetation on water cycle during the karstification process. Finally, future research directions are proposed, which include the vertical structure of karst critical zone, the effect of vegetation on carbon sequestration in karst watershed during different precipitation processes, the relationship between microstructure and hydrological effects, and the impact of vegetation succession on carbon sequestration in karst systems at watershed scale plus insights from human interventions.

Key words: carbon neutrality, karst carbon sequestration, vegetation, water cycle, karst critical zone

CLC Number: