Differential responses of mineral-associated organic carbon and particulate organic carbon upon desertification of the Inner Mongolian grassland
Xiaodong Yu
IntroductionGrassland desertification substantially reduces soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, the responses of two distinct SOC fractions—mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC)—to desertification, as well as the underlying mechanisms governing these responses, remain poorly understood.MethodsTo address this knowledge gap, we conducted a field study across the typical steppe (TS) and desert steppe (DS) ecosystems of Inner Mongolia, China, to investi