Abstract:
Objective To investigate the change characteristics of soil particulate carbon and nitrogen content in the process of plantation restoration and to provide references for studying the response mechanism of soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics to plantation restoration.
Method Leucaena leucocephala plantations at young age, middle age and matured age in Yuanmou dry-hot valley were selected and the natural shrub-grass plot as the control, the change characteristics of the soil particulate carbon and nitrogen content of natural shrub-grass plot and L. leucocephala plantations with different ages were studied.
Result Compared with the natural shrub-grass plot, the age stage of L. leucocephala plantations significantly affected the soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), POC/SOC, POC/PON. The proportion of mass of soil particle, SOC and TN contents were the highest in the matured plantation, while the POC, PON, POC/SOC, and POC/PON were the highest in the middle aged plantation.
Conclusion The invasion of L. leucocephala into shrubs in dry-hot valley will significantly change the dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen and its stability. The soil nutrient content in the matured plantation is the highest, while the soil stability in the middle-aged plantation is the lowest. This study could provide data support for the comprehensive evaluation of the effect of L. leucocephala on improving the soil ecological function in dry-hot valley.