Statistically estimated storage potential of organic carbon by its association with clay content for Korean upland subsoil

Soil organic carbon (SOC) retention has gradually gotten attention due to the need for mitigation of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and the simultaneous increase in crop productivity. We estimated the statistical maximum value of soil organic carbon (SOC) fixed by clay content using the Korean detailed soil map database. Clay content is a major factor determining SOC of subsoil because it influences the vertical mobility and adsorption capacity of dissolved organic matter. We selected 1,912 soil data of B and C horizons from 13 soil series, Sangju, Jigog, Jungdong, Bonryang, Anryong, Banho, Baegsan, Daegog, Yeongog, Bugog, Weongog, Gopyeong, and Bancheon, mainly distributed in Korean upland. The ranges of SOC and clay content were $0-40g\;kg^{-1}$ and 0 - 60%, respectively. Soils having more than 25% clay content had much lower SOC in subsoil than topsoil, probably due to low vertical mobility of dissolved organic carbon. The statistical analysis of SOC storage potential of upland subsoil, performed using 90%, 95%, and 99% maximum values in cumulative SOC frequency distribution in a range of clay content, revealed that these results could be applicable to soils with 1% - 25% of clay content. The 90% SOC maximum values, closest to the inflection point, at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25% of clay contents were $7g\;kg^{-1}$, $10g\;kg^{-1}$, $12g\;kg^{-1}$, and $13g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. We expect that the statistical analysis of SOC maximum values for different clay contents could contribute to quantifying the soil carbon sink capacity of Korean upland soils.