Effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties in a spruce-fir forest.

Abstract

To reveal the effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties, the differences in soil physicochemical properties (bulk density, capillary porosity, total porosity, capillary water holding capacity, saturated moisture capacity, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, available phosphorous, available potassium, and pH) and stoichiometry (C/N, N/P, and C/P) among different decay levels of treefalls and between different microsite types in the formed gaps by fallen trees were analyzed in a spruce-fir fore-st in a valley of Liangshui National Nature Reserve in Xiaoxing' an Mountains. The results showed that the effects of the decay levels of fallen trees on soil physical properties was not significant. In contrast, we found significant effects of the formed microsite types in soil physical properties. Except for saturated soil water holding capacity, the other soil physical properties were the best under the fallen trees and the worst in the pit bottom. Except of available phosphorus, the contents of the other soil nutrients exhibited a significant increase trend with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees. Among three microsites, the contents of soil nutrients were the lowest and pH were highest in the pit. As for the shallow soil layer, C/N, N/P and C/P of three microsites decreased with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, while C/N in mound top and in pit bottom increased, N/P and C/P decreased, and the variation of C/P was consistent with that of available phosphorus. In conclusion, with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, the contents of soil nutrients were signifi-cantly increased. There are significant differences of soil nutrients among different microsites, with the lowest values in the pit.