# Short-Term Effects of Pine Plantations on Vegetation and Soil in Northern Mongolia
## 4 Discussion
Future research directions include long-term monitoring of soil diversity relationships, investigation of species-specific responses to soil conditions, analysis of soil microbial communities, assessment of restoration success using these parameters as indicators, and examination of climate change effects on soil diversity relationships. The results indicate that interventions to elevate the soil pH, such as liming, in acidic plots like BDS may promote species diversity. Plots with an intermediate pH (e.g., NRS, NFM) may require supplementary soil amendments to enhance conditions for biodiversity. Additional soil variables (e.g., soil organic matter, electrical conductivity) could be integrated into the analysis to enhance the comprehension of their collective impact on diversity. Alterations in soil characteristics and biodiversity across time should be observed to document temporal dynamics. Examining the reactions of particular species to pH and other soil properties will help one identify the main elements affecting diversity. Soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in plantation forests are higher compared to grasslands and naturally regenerated forests. In low-carbon soils, forest restoration accumulates significantly more carbon than natural regeneration [63]. Carbon stocks generally decrease with soil depth, as SOC concentrations below 30 cm are less influenced by management practices due to lower carbon inputs and higher decomposition rates in deeper layers. Near the soil surface, SOC concentrations increase non-linearly, driven by carbon inputs from plant residues, roots, and favorable conditionssuch as optimal temperature and moisture [64]. Maintaining optimal soil moisture levels is crucial for enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions [65]. Drought conditions, which reduce soil moisture, have a significant negative impact on carbon sequestration. Conversely, in some regions, high soil moisture levels promote carbon accumulation. For example, elevated soil moisture in areas like the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Xinjiang, and Northwest China enhances carbon sink activity, contributing to net ecosystem productivity increases of up to 3.0 g C m\({}^{2}\) per year [66]. These findings collectively emphasize the strong connection between soil moisture and SOC dynamics. The results from previous studies align with our findings, which establish a clear relationship between soil moisture levels and carbon dynamics, highlighting the importance of soil moisture in SOC accumulation and loss. The correlation between soil organic carbon (SOC) in forest plots and carbon sequestration trends demonstrates that SOC functions as a crucial reservoir for atmospheric carbon, especially in tropical wet and moist forest ecosystems [67]. The density and diversity of trees in these forest plots positively correlate with soil carbon levels, indicating that healthier and more diversified forests can improve carbon sequestration [68]. Our findings indicate that plantation stands (BBS, MGS, BDS) typically exhibit elevated SOC levels in comparison to natural regeneration stands (NRS) and stepping regions (STP). The detailed BBS exhibits the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) at 14.63 \(\pm\) 1.78 mg ha\({}^{-1}\), followed by NRS at 10.03 \(\pm\) 2.23 mg ha\({}^{-1}\). STP exhibits the lowest SOC (3.31 \(\pm\) 0.64 mg ha\({}^{-1}\)), underscoring the restricted carbon storage potential of steppe regions. This tendency corresponds with [PERSON]'s (2004) findings, which highlight that planted trees elevate soil organic carbon levels through augmented organic matter inputs and diminished soil erosion [69]. SOC functions as a primary reservoir for atmospheric carbon, playing a crucial role in global carbon sequestration initiatives [67]. Elevated soil organic carbon levels in plantation stands indicate that afforestation and reforestation initiatives are pivotal in alleviating climate change through the augmentation of soil carbon sequestration.