Comparisons of soil carbon (C) pools across land uses can be confounded by site-specific history. To better quantify the response of soil C pools to residential development and use, we compared yard soils (n = 20) to adjacent mown fields and second-growth forests within land-use clusters (LUC; n = 12). Land uses within clusters shared site-specific legacies (land use and other soil forming history) prior to residential development (15–227 years ago). We analyzed soil cores to 60-cm depth for carbon, nitrogen, and bulk density. Within one LUC, we monitored soil dissolved organic carbon, moisture, and thermal regimes to explain soil C dynamics. We accounted for pre-development legacies to test how present uses affect soil properties. We found that yard soil C pools to 60-cm depth (9.07 ± 0.32 kg C m−2; mean ± SE) were smaller than fields (10.26 ± 0.44 kg C m−2) and forests (10.62 ± 0.87 kg C m−2). Fields contained more nitrogen to 60-cm depth (0.78 ± 0.043 kg N m−2) than yards (0.68 ± 0.030 kg N m−2) and forests (0.69 ± 0.057 kg N m−2). Time since development predicted decreased yard and field soil C/N, field soil N accumulation, and reduced yard bulk density. In old yards (> 150 years), where residents in recent times mowed monthly to bimonthly and left clippings on the lawn, there was evidence of soil C and N gains relative to old commercially managed yards mown weekly with clippings exported. Our study suggests land conversion to yard can limit soil C pools for centuries, with contemporary management key to that trajectory. Our research points to the importance of accounting for pre-development legacies to reveal the response of soil properties to land conversion and present use. This work can inform policies and land use intended to enhance the soil C sink and minimize development-related soil C losses.

中文翻译：

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建造房屋和管理草坪可能会使院子里的土壤碳限制数个世纪。

特定地点的历史会混淆跨土地利用的土壤碳库的比较。为了更好地量化土壤碳库对住宅开发和使用的响应，我们将院子土壤（n = 20）与土地利用集群内的邻近割地和次生林（LUC； n = 12）进行了比较。集群开发之前（15-227年前），集群内的土地使用具有特定地点的遗产（土地使用和其他土壤形成的历史）。我们分析了60厘米深的土壤核心的碳，氮和堆积密度。在一个LUC中，我们监测了土壤溶解的有机碳，水分和热状态，以解释土壤C的动态。我们考虑了开发前的遗留问题，以测试现有用途如何影响土壤特性。我们发现，至60厘米深度（9.07±0.32 kg C m-2;平均值±SE）的院子土壤碳库比田地（10.26±0）小。44公斤C m-2）和森林（10.62±0.87公斤C m-2）。到60厘米深度（0.78±0.043 kg N m-2）的田地中，含氮量大于围场（0.68±0.030 kg N m-2）和森林（0.69±0.057 kg N m-2）。自开发以来的时间预计堆场和田间土壤C / N降低，田间土壤N积累和堆场密度降低。在旧院子（> 150年）中，居民近来每月都要割草一次至每两个月一次，并且在草坪上留下剪枝，有证据表明，相对于每周出售剪枝的商业化旧院子，土壤C和N的增加。我们的研究表明，将土地转换为院子可以限制土壤碳库几个世纪，而现代管理是这一轨迹的关键。我们的研究指出，必须考虑到开发前的遗产，以揭示土壤特性对土地转化和当前用途的响应。