Abstract:
Objective To study the effect of uneven-aged mixed plantations (Cunninghamia lanceolata + evergreen broadleaved tree species) on soil aggregates stability, organic carbon and nutrient storage, so as to provide references for optimizing the plantation structure and improving the sustainable forest management.
Method This study investigated the uneven-aged mixed and the monoculture C. lanceolata plantations in Kaihua County of Zhejiang Province, and analyzed the stability of water-stable aggregates (WSA) and the changes of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and magnesium (Mg) stocks in 0~20 cm soil layer.
Result (1) The proportion of water-stable micro-aggregates (size<0.25 mm, WSA<0.25 mm) was the highest in the uneven-aged mixed and monoculture plantations. Compared with the monoculture plantation, the >5 mm aggregates proportions (WSA>5 mm), the soil mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) significantly increased in the uneven-aged mixed plantations, but the soil fractal dimension (D) reduced. (2) The changes of SOC and TN stocks in different aggregate size of the uneven-aged mixed and the monoculture plantations were similar: WSA>5 mm, WSA2~5 mm>WSA0.25~2 mm>WSA<0.25 mm. The stocks of TP and Mg less varied in different aggregate sizes. (3) The stability of aggregate was mainly affected by WSA>5 mm and SOC>5 mm contents, pH, SOC2~5 m. bulk soil and soil aggregates organic carbon and nutrient stocks were mainly affected by SOCA>5 mm, 2~5 mm nitrogen contents (TNA2~5 mm) and pH. (4) Tree species composition in the uneven-aged mixed plantations greatly affected on aggregate composition and stability, SOC and nutrient stocks. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that C. lanceolata+Phoebe sheareri significantly affected TP and Mg stocks in bulk soil and soil aggregates, and also affected MWD and GMD; C. lanceolata+Illicium henryi significantly affected SOC and TN stocks in bulk soil and soil aggregates.
Conclusion In general, the establishment of uneven-aged C. lanceolata and broadleaved evergreen mixed plantations is beneficial to improve the soil physical and chemical properties of monoculture plantation, especially the introduced tree species of Ph. sheareri and I. henryi greatly enhance soil aggregate stability, soil organic carbon stocks and nutrient stocks of monoculture plantations.