[Research progress on soil aggregates and associated organic carbon in salinized soils]

Soil aggregate, as a basic component of soils, plays an important role in improving soil structure and enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The special soil properties induced by salinization, such as high ion concentrations (mainly Na⁺), shortage of organic material and bad condition of microbe, inhibit the formation and stability of soil aggregate. Therefore, it is important and meaningful to explore the dynamics of aggregate in salinized soils. Coastal wetland and inland salinized marsh wetland are important salinized ecosystems. We systematically summarized the progress and achievements on soil aggregate in salinized agriculture and wetland ecosystems. Agricultural practices, such as organic and/or inorganic soil amendment application, tillage practice, vegetation type, straw return and saline water irrigation, advance the formation and stability of aggregate and aggregate-associated organic carbon in salinized soils. We discussed the problems and deficiency in the present studies of aggregate and aggregate-associated carbon in salinized soils as well as the research aspects and hot topics in the future. This review would be helpful for comprehensively understanding the advances and development directions on aggregate in salinized soils.