Natural vegetation restoration and soil nutrient dynamics of abandoned farmlands in forest-steppe zone on Loess Plateau

Abstract

Abstract: To understand the relationship between plant community succession and soil nutrient dynamics is crucial in intervening vegetation succession.This paper reported the results from a study carried out in a forest-steppe zone on the Loess Plateau,with emphasis on the vegetation characteristics and soil nutrient dynamics during vegetation restoration on abandoned farmlands of this area.The results showed that under zonal habitat conditions,natural vegetation succession would turn toward the original vegetation communities,but the expected shrub or trees communities didn't occur after 40～50 years,and Stipa bungeana,Artemisia sacrorum,Bothriochloa ischaemun,Stipa grandis and Lespedeza davurica communities were still the widely distributed communities.Vegetation restoration had a significant effect on soil nutrient dynamics.In general,soil nutrient contents increased with restoration time,and extremely significant changes occurred in soil organic matter,total N,available N,and available K(P<0.001),while only significant changes in available P(0.05<P<0.01) and no significant change in total P(P>0.05).Moreover,the changes were also found in soil profile.Statistical analysis showed that from surface layer(0～20 cm)to deeper layer(to 60 cm),extremely significant changes occurred in soil organic matter,total N,available N,available K and available P(P<0.001),and significant change in total P(P<0.05).Soil nutrients intended to accumulate in surface layer.Further linear correlation analysis showed that soil organic matter,total N,available N and available K were significantly correlated each other(P<0.001),but didn't show correlation with soil total P and available P.

Key words: Natural vegetation restoration, Succession, Soil nutrient, Correlation

CLC Number:

X171.4

WEN Zhongming, JIAO Feng, LIU Baoyuan, BU Yaojun, JIAO Juying . Natural vegetation restoration and soil nutrient dynamics of abandoned farmlands in forest-steppe zone on Loess Plateau[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2005, 16(11): 2025-2029.

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