Effects of Soil Map Scales on Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Southeastern China

Digital soil maps of different scales have been widely used in the estimates organic carbon (SOC). However, exactly how scale map impacts SOC dynamics and key factors influencing estimations during generalization process rarely assessed. In this research, a newly available database Zhejiang Province southeastern China, which contains 2154 geo-referenced profiles six digital at 1:50,000, 1:250,000, 1:500,000, 1:1,000,000, 1:4,000,000, 1:10,000,000, three linkage methods (i.e., mean, median, pedological professional knowledge-based (PKB) methods) were to evaluate their influence on SOC. The findings our study as follows: (1) was identified being crucial importance for regional estimations. (2) method played an important role accurate SOC, PKB could provide most detailed information spatial variability (3) affecting decreased from 1:50,000 1:10,000,000 determined, including changes number profiles, conversions between types, non-soils soils, aggregating density values represent units. results suggest that 1:50,000-scale coupled with would be optimal choice China.