Abstract
Stocks and stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in ultisols are not well documented for converted forests. In this study, Ultisols were sampled in 175 plots from one type of secondary forest and four plantations of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), Eucalypt (Eucalyptus obliqua L’Hér.), and Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn., 1782) in Yunfu, Guangdong province, South China. Five layers of soil were sampled with a distance of 20 cm between two adjacent layers up to a depth of 100 cm. We did not find interactive effects between forest type and soil layer depth on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations and storages. Storage of SOC was not different between secondary forests and Eucalypt plantations, but SOC of these two forest types were lower than that in Litchi, Masson pine, and Slash pine plantations. Soil C:P was higher in Slash pine plantations than in secondary forests. Soil CNP showed a decreasing trend with the increase of soil depth. Soil TP did not show any significant difference among soil layers. Soil bulk density had a negative contribution to soil C and P stocks, and longitude and elevation were positive drivers for soil C, N, and P stocks. Overall, Litchi plantations are the only type of plantation that obtained enhanced C storage in 0–100 cm soils and diverse N concentrations among soil layers during the conversion from secondary forests to plantations over ultisols.
Highlights
The pedosphere reserves the largest carbon (C) sink in terrestrial ecosystem, which contributes to its important role of C sequestration [1,2]
Forest type was a source of variation mainly for variables of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil C:P (Table 1)
SOC concentration was higher in Litchi, Masson pine, and Slash pine forests than in the secondary forest (Figure 2A)
Summary
The pedosphere reserves the largest carbon (C) sink in terrestrial ecosystem, which contributes to its important role of C sequestration [1,2]. Carbon storage in soils is greater than that in vegetation biomass and atmospheric reservoir combined [3]. Tropical forests locate on the front of the climate curve to balance atmospheric CO2 concentration. 30% of global soil C stocks are sequestered in tropical forests [4]. Net primary productivity (NPP) in tropical forests has been estimated to be 1.3 × 109 t C yr−1 [6,7], which is about 40% of the global terrestrial level [8]. Soils in tropical forests account for the highest C turnover rate [9]. Together, these lead to the uncertainty in estimating C storage levels in tropical forest soils
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
