Eco-Stoichiometric Characteristics of Rhizosphere and Bulk Soils of Smilax china L. along Vertical Zone Spectrum of Fanjing Mountain

Yingying Liu, Wenmin Luo, Ximei Wen, Guiting Mu, Xianliang Wu and Zhenming Zhang
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Yingying Liu: Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China
Wenmin Luo: Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China
Ximei Wen: Guizhou Institute of Mountain Resources, Guiyang 550002, China
Guiting Mu: Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China
Xianliang Wu: Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China
Zhenming Zhang: Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guiyang 550009, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: To explore the correlations between nutrients and stoichiometric characteristics in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of understory Smilax china L. in forest ecosystems at different altitudes and to clarify the rhizosphere effect of understory vegetation in forest ecosystems and its response strategy to altitude, providing a theoretical basis for better forest ecological environment protection and high-quality development in Fanjing Mountain. Understory Smilax china L. at four different altitudes were selected, with the differences and influencing factors of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) mass fractions and stoichiometric ratios in their rhizosphere and bulk soils analyzed. The average mass fractions of total C, total N and alkali-hydrolyzed N in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of Smilax china L. at different altitudes were 224.43 and 181.55 g·kg −1 ; 9.56 and 6.81 g·kg −1 ; and 648.19 and 600.70 g·kg −1 , respectively. The rhizosphere effect of Smilax china L. was significant at altitudes of 500 m and 1000 m but became not so prominent with the rise of altitude. The C:N ratio in the rhizosphere and bulk soils ranged from 19.51 to 39.75 and the C:P ratio ranged from 225.29 to 543.05. C accumulation is greater than N accumulation in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of Smilax china L., and both present P limitation. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the mass fractions and eco-stoichiometric ratios of soil nutrients, the P limitation in Fanjing Mountain forest ecosystem is commonly seen and should be addressed.

Keywords: ecological stoichiometry; rhizosphere and bulk soil; soil nutrients; Smilax china L.; altitude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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