JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 173-181.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202112035

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Soil stoichiometry characteristics of different vegetation restoration modes in water source area of South-to-North Water Diversion Project

XU Zihan1(), WANG Lei2, CUI Ming1,*(), LIU Yuguo1, ZHAO Ziqing1, LI Jiahao1   

  1. 1. Institute of Desertification Studies, China Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
    2. Wuhua Forestry Bureau of Guangdong Province, Meizhou 514400, China
  • Received:2021-12-23 Revised:2022-01-24 Online:2023-05-30 Published:2023-05-25
  • Contact: CUI Ming E-mail:1375363747@qq.com;cuim@caf.ac.cn

Abstract:

【Objective】The purpose of this study was to investigate the soil nutrient and stoichiometry characteristics of different vegetation restoration modes in the context of Karst landscapes within the water source area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and to evaluate the soil nutrient supply status of woodland habitats at the northern edge of the contiguous southern Karst distribution area, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the forest management, restoration and reconstruction of degraded ecosystems, and rock desertification management in the water-supporting area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. 【Method】The soil under Quercus variabilis natural secondary forest, Platycladus orientalis plantation, and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in the Karst area of Xichuan County of Henan Province was investigated in this study. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) contents were determined through laboratory experiments, and the stoichiometric ratios of each element were calculated to analyze the soil nutrient balance in forest habitats with different restoration modes. 【Result】The contents of SOC, TN and TP in different vegetation restoration modes in Karst area ranged from 10.23 to 28.99 g/kg, 0.89 to 2.42 g/kg and 0.43 to 0.77 g/kg, respectively; the mean values of soil stoichiometric ratios as C∶N, C∶P and N∶P were 10.41 to 11.89, 13.69 to 80.00 and 0.18 to 6.61, respectively. The soil nutrient contents and stoichiometric ratios were influenced by vegetation types and soil depth, and were higher in the surface soil (0-10 cm) than in the subsoil (>10-30 cm). Except for TP content, the soil nutrient content of the natural secondary forests was higher than that of the artificial forests. The correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations among SOC, TN and TP contents under different vegetation restoration modes, indicating that the spatial distribution of the three had a more consistent variation pattern. 【Conclusion】In the water source area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the naturally restored Q. variabilis secondary forest is an ideal vegetation restoration model, and all three stands were limited by nitrogen or phosphorus during the growth process. In the future stand management, nitrogen supplementation should be moderately strengthened for natural forests, phosphorus fertilizers should be applied to plantation forests, and the nutrient uptake efficiency of vegetation should be improved through measures such as inter-cultivation to promote coordinated development among vegetation soils.

Key words: water source area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, vegetation restoration, soil nutrient, stoichiometric characteristics

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