Analysis of soil enzyme activities and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios in forest soils at different altitudes

CHANG Xiang, TUO Yunfei, TAN Hao, HE Xiahong

Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (3) : 131-140.

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南京林业大学学报（自然科学版）
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Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (3) : 131-140. DOI: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202409002

Analysis of soil enzyme activities and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios in forest soils at different altitudes

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Abstract

【Objective】This study aims to investigate, vertical variation characteristics of soil enzyme activities along an elevational gradient and their response mechanisms to soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios in the forest ecosystems of Liziping National Nature Reserve, Sichuan.【Method】Forest soils at four distinct elevations (1 800, 2 100, 2 400 and 2700 m) within the reserve were investigated. We analyzed the vertical distribution patterns of soil enzyme activities, soil physicochemical properties, and ecological stoichiometric ratios. The effects of soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios on soil enzyme activities were assessed using redundancy analysis (RDA), the Monte Carlo permutation test, and stepwise regression analysis.【Result】The soil urease activity initially decreased and then increased with rising elevation, sucrase activity increased, acid phosphatase activity increased initially and then decreased, and catalase activity decreased. The maximum urease (1.09 mg/(g·h)) and sucrase (2.13 mg/(g·h)) activities occurred at 2 700 m. The peak acid phosphatase activity (0.97 mg/(g·h)) was observed at 2 400 m, while the highest catalase activity (3.41 mg/(g·h)) was recorded at 1 800 m. Forest soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios exhibited significant differences across the studied elevations. Ecological stoichiometric ratios exerted a significant influence on soil enzyme activities. Among the key factors identified, non-capillary porosity, capillary porosity, total nitrogen, organic carbon, and soil bulk density were significant influencing factors for soil enzyme activities (P<0.01). Furthermore, combinations of environmental factors, including the soil carbon-to-phosphorus ratio (C/P), the capillary porosity to non-capillary porosity ratio, along with soil carbon and nitrogen, provided good explanatory power for the observed variations in soil enzyme activities.【Conclusion】Altitude drives differential responses in the four key soil enzyme activities by altering soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios. This study provides theoretical support for understanding the patterns and driving factors of soil enzyme activity variations along elevational gradients in nature reserves.

Key words

altitude gradient / soil enzyme activity / soil physicochemical properties / ecological stoichiometry ratio / redundancy analysis / Liziping National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province

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CHANG Xiang , TUO Yunfei , TAN Hao , et al. Analysis of soil enzyme activities and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties and ecological stoichiometric ratios in forest soils at different altitudes[J]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition）. 2026, 50(3): 131-140 https://doi.org/10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202409002

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