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Characteristics of soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and their relationships with soil nutrients in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

HE Youjun1,2,3; WANG Qingkui2; WANG Silong2; YU Xiaojun2   

  1. 1Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004,China;
    2Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, Hunan, China;
    3Forestry Department of Hunan Province, Changsha 410007, China
  • Received:2006-03-13 Revised:2006-10-10 Online:2006-12-18 Published:2006-12-18

Abstract: The study on the soil microbial biomass and nutrient status under native bro-adleaved forest and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations at the Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem showed that after the native broadleaved forest was replaced by mono-cultured C. lanceolata or C. lanceolata was planted continuously, soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool decreased greatly. In 0~10 cm soil layer, the concentrations of soil microbial carbon and nitrogen in broadleaved forest were 800.5 and 84.5 mg·kg-1, being 1.90 and 1.03times as much as those in the first rotation of C. lanceolata plantation, and 2.16 and 1.27 times as much as those in the second rotation of the plantation, respectively, while in 10~20 cm soil layer, the microbial carbon and nitrogen in broadleaved forest were 475.4 and 63.3 mg·kg-1, being 1.86 and 1.60 times as much as those in the first rotation, and 2.11 and 1.76 times as much as those in the second rotation, respectively. Soil nutrient pools such as total nitrogen, total potassium, NH4+-N, and available potassium also declined after the C. lanceolata plantation replaced native broadleaved forest, or C. lanceolata was planted continuously. Less litter and its slower decay rate in pure C. lanceolata plantation were the crucial factors leading to the decrease of soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool in this area, and human disturbance, especially slash-burning and site preparation, was the another factor leading to the decrease. There were significant positive correlations between soil microbial carbon and nitrogen and soil nutrients. To improve soil quality and maintain sustainable productivity, some measures including planting mixed conifer with hardwood, preserving residues after harvest, and adopting scie-ntific site preparation should be taken.

Key words: Cadmium uptake, Zinc efficiency, Genotype, Barley, Zn-Cd interaction