Community characteristics and soil nutrients in different green space types of Zhuji City, Zhejiang

Abstract

To provide a scientific basis of green space planning and construction of the plant diversity for Zhuji and other cities which in similar climate type, plant diversity, community structure, and soil nutrients were studied in four types of urban green space: parkland, residential green space, natural woodlots, and Accessory greenbelt, of Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province. Analysis included use of the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson's indexes. Results showed that the study area included species from 51 families of 100 genera and 170 species; indigenous tree species from 49 families with 88 genera and 107 species accounted for 62.94% of the total species. Tree species revealed a greater number of Cinnamomum camphora; shrub species were predominantly Pittosporum tobira and Camellia. Compared to the three other kinds of urban green space, natural woodlots had the lowest similarity, but similarity with shrub species was much higher. No differences in tree species diversity among the four types of urban green spaces were found; the Shannon-Wiener index and Simpsons index were about the same: a ranking for Shannon-Wiener diversity was parkland （1.46）＞residential green space （1.45）＞natural woodlots （1.37）＞work-unit attached green space （1.29）; whereas, the ranking for Simpsons index was residential green space （0.67）＞parkland （0.66）＞work-unit attached green space （0.60）＞natural woodlots （0.58）. For community structure, tree species in natural woodlots were densest with a smaller average DBH resulting in fewer understory shrubs; tall trees in parklands contributed to the lowest density and the greatest average DBH. The highest content of organic matter was in natural woodlots followed by the Accessory greenbelt, parkland, and residential green space. Therefore, urban green space should increase the use of fine native species and the variety and number of shrub species, and fertilization management specifically in the future.［Ch, 1 fig. 9 tab. 25 ref.］