Abstract:Crop rotation is an important management strategy for improving soil structure and sustaining soil fertility. The long-term rotation patterns influences on soil aggregate stability and distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soluble salts represented by electrical conductivity (EC), among aggregate-size fractions in the Hexi Corridor of Northwestern China were investigated. Three typical long-term rotation patterns were examined: 2-year maize + 1-year fennel (ZZF), 1-year sunflower + 1-year fennel (SF), and 2-year melon + 2-year fennel (CCFF), with fallow land (WL) as the control. Soil samples were collected from the 0 ~ 40 cm profile, and SOC content and EC were determined in three aggregate fractions ( particle size r > 2. 00 mm, r = 0. 25 ~ 2. 00 mm, and r < 0. 25 mm). Crop rotation significantly increased the proportion of r > 2. 00 mm aggregates (P < 0. 05), with CCFF showing the highest mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter. In the 0 ~ 20 cm layer, SOC content in the 0. 25 ~ 2. 00 mm and r < 0. 25 mm fractions was significantly higher under rotation than that under WL, whereas EC was lower in all aggregate fractions. SOC content in the 0. 25 ~ 2. 00 mm fraction was negatively correlated with EC in the 0. 25 ~ 2. 00 mm and r < 0. 25 mm fractions ( R2 = 0. 68 and R2 = 0. 65, respectively). In the 20 ~ 40 cm layer, SOC content in the r > 2. 00 mm and r < 0. 25 mm fractions was significantly higher under rotation than that under WL. Relatively to WL, ZZF and SF increased EC in all aggregate fractions, whereas CCFF reduced EC. In this layer, SOC content was positively correlated with EC across aggregate fractions (P < 0. 05). Overall, long-term crop rotation reshaped the distribution of SOC content and EC among aggregate fractions in a depth-dependent manner. Of the three systems, CCFF showed the greatest potential to improve aggregate structure and reduce salt accumulation as indicated by lower EC.