Abstract
Changes in soil carbon (C):nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) stoichiometry have great significance on understand regulatory mechanism and restoration of ecosystem functions. However, the responses of C, N and P stoichiometry to soil depth and different vegetation types remains elusive. To address this problem, the study aims to explore the effects of soil depth and vegetation types on soil C, N, and P stoichiometry, and their relationships with microbial biomass in low mountain and hill region of China. The results indicated that soil SOC and TN concentrations in oak forest were markedly higher than those in grassland, and the vertical distribution of SOC and TN concentration showed an inverted triangle trend as the soil deepens. However, there was no significant change in soil TP concentration among 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm. Soil C/N among different layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) is narrower fluctuation margin, and its value is basically stable within a certain range (11–14.5). Both soil C/P and N/P showed significant variability in different vegetation types, and soil N/P decreased with soil layers deepen. Both the microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) showed a decreasing trend with the increase of soil depth, and three soil layers from high to low was: oak forest > pine forest > grassland. Our results will potentially provide useful information for the vegetation restoration and forest management and great significance to enrich the scientific theory of ecological stoichiometry.
Highlights
In ecosystem, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as factors affecting biogeochemical cycling and important ecological processes, which play a key role in the formation and maintenance of s ubstances[1,2,3]
The highest soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration in 0–20 cm soil layer was measured in oak forest (11.5 g kg−1), 11.6% and 17.3% higher than that in pine forest and grassland, respectively (Fig. 2A)
It was remarkable that the SOC concentration in each vegetation types gradually decreased with the increase of soil layer, and the SOC concentration in 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm layers from high to low was: oak forest > pine forest > grassland (Fig. 2A)
Summary
Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as factors affecting biogeochemical cycling and important ecological processes, which play a key role in the formation and maintenance of s ubstances[1,2,3]. China is one of the rich forest and grass resource countries, mainly contains a large number of pine forest, oak forest, mixed forest, and grassland This area belongs to the typical continental monsoon climate, with strong solar radiation, long sunshine duration and the same season of rain and heat, which is very conducive to the growth of forestry populations and plant dry matter accumulation. In order to considering the benefits of soil quality improvement, the “Grain for Green” as the most effective way of environmental protection and soil ecological comprehensive treatment, considerable work has been performed by the Chinese government[21,22] These professional forest management models generate greater value in forest ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to investigate variations in SOC, TN, and TP component, stoichiometry and their relationships, and further determine microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) following soil depth and vegetation types in low mountain and hill region
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