Effects of Forest Restoration on Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Their Stoichiometry in Hunan, Southern China

Chuanhong Xu, Wenhua Xiang, Mengmeng Gou, Liang Chen, Pifeng Lei, Xi Fang, Xiangwen Deng and Shuai Ouyang
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Chuanhong Xu: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Wenhua Xiang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Mengmeng Gou: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, China
Liang Chen: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Pifeng Lei: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Xi Fang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Xiangwen Deng: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Shuai Ouyang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Forest restoration affects nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the dynamics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), and their stoichiometry (C:N:P ratio) in the soil during forest restoration are poorly understood in subtropical areas. In the current study, we collected soil samples at three depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) at three restoration stages (early, intermediate, and late) in subtropical forests. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorous (P) concentrations were determined. Forest restoration significantly affected soil nutrient concentrations and stock ( p < 0.05). SOC concentrations increased from 12.6 to 18.6 g/kg and N concentrations increased from 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg, while P decreased from 0.3 to 0.2 g/kg. A similar pattern of change was found for the nutrient stock as restoration proceeded. C:P and N:P ratios increased to a greater extent than that of C:N ratios during forest restoration, implying that subtropical forests might be characterized by P limitation over time. The slopes and intercepts for the linear regression relationships between SOC, N, and P concentrations were significantly different across the forest restoration stages ( p < 0.05). This indicated that forest restoration significantly affects the coupled relationships among C-N, C-P, and N-P in subtropical forest soil. Our results add to the current body of knowledge about soil nutrient characteristics and have useful implications for sustainable forest management in subtropical areas.

Keywords: soil nutrient; soil stoichiometry; soil layers; restoration stages; subtropical secondary forest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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