JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 135-145.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202207040

Special Issue: 南京林业大学120周年校庆特刊

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Research progresses on ecological remediation of the degraded soil in Karst rocky desertification mountainous areas

XUE Jianhui1,2(), ZHOU Zhidong1, WU Yongbo2   

  1. 1. Research Center for Plant Ecology and Environment, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014,China
    2. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037,China
  • Received:2022-07-28 Revised:2022-08-23 Online:2022-11-30 Published:2022-11-24

Abstract:

The unique geological landform and climatic characteristics of the Karst mountainous sites lead to slow soil development, shallow soil layer and severe soil erosion, which can be easily degraded into a rocky desertification landscape under the disturbance of human activities. The soil ecosystem in Karst mountainous areas is an essential basis for vegetation restoration. This paper analyzes the causes and control measurements of Karst rocky desertification, characteristics and problems in Karst mountainous soil. The impacts of different remediation techniques and treatments on the soil physical and chemical properties and microbial properties of the degraded Karst mountainous sites were summarized. The Meta-analysis method was used to compare the effects and mechanisms of biochar, chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, chemical and organic fertilizer mixture, biochar-based fertilizer, mulching, and biological crusts on soil physical properties, soil moisture, soil erosion, soil fertility, soil microbial community composition structure and diversity in the degraded Karst soils. Improving soil quality is one of the main technical measures to promote the ecological benefits of Karst vegetation restoration. The results showed that the biochar and biological crusting treatments could reduce soil bulk density, increase soil porosity and water retention, and then improve the soil quality. Biochar and biochar-based fertilizer applications had more significant effects on soil fertility improvement. Biological mulching could significantly reduce soil erosion degrees. Further research should be carried out in the identification of critical limiting factors for ecological restoration of the Karst degraded soil in different regions, the ecological remediation effects of the integrated soil improvement techniques on the Karst degraded soil, and the development of new biochar-based microbial fertilizers and soil carbon sequestration technology.

Key words: Karst, rocky desertification, degraded soil, ecological remediation techniques, Meta-analysis method

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