[Profile variability of soil properties in check dam on the Loess Plateau and its functions]

To understand the profile variability of soil properties of check dam and its possibility of engineering control over non-point source pollution, we used classical statistics to characterize the profile change of soil properties of a 5.20 m depth soil profile in the typical check dam on the Loess Plateau. The roles of check dam as organic carbon storage and available nutrients storage were discussed. The results showed that: 1) The bulk density and sand content of dam-head were lower than dam-tail, while, soil water content, silt, loam, organic carbon, available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N were higher than dam-tail. The bulk density for both dam-head and dam-tail showed weak variability while other properties showed moderate variability. All variables followed a normal distribution except sand in dam-head and soil moisture in dam-tail. 2) The change pattern of soil moisture on the soil profile for both dam-head and dam-tail was saw-tooth type. The change trends of soil organic carbon, available P and NH4+ -N were comparable to that of soil moisture. 3) The correlations among soil water content, organic carbon, bulk density, silt, loam, sand, available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N were significant (p < 0.05) except the relationship between bulk density and NO3(-) -N, NH4+ -N and relationship between available P and NH4+ -N in dam-tail. The positive or negative correlation of soil properties both in dam-head and dam-tail were coincident. 4) The check dam can be an important carbon storage on the Loess Plateau, and the organic carbon storage in dam-head was higher than dam-tail. The storage of organic carbon in 400-520 cm depth was the biggest for dam-head, in 0-100 cm depths for dam-tail. 5) The check dam is an enrichment sink of available nutrients. The storage of available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N in dam-head were higher than dam-tail, and the range of storage was: NH4+ -N > available P > NO3(-) -N. The coefficient of enrichment for NH4+ -N and NO3(-) -N were 1.132 and 1.956, respectively. 6) As the sink of soil nutrients, check dam has an important theoretical value for region carbon balance, ecological environment reconstruction and the effective control over non-point source pollution.