Abstract
Across southern China, Moso bamboo has been encroaching on most neighboring secondary broad-leaved forests and/or coniferous plantations, leading to the land cover changes that alter abiotic and biotic conditions. Little is known about how this conversion alters soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). We selected three sites, each with three plots arrayed along the bamboo encroachment pathway: moso bamboo forest (BF); transition zone, mixed forest plots (MF); and broad-leaved forest (BLF), and examined how bamboo encroachment affects soil organic C (SOC), soil total N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), and water-soluble organic N (WSON) in three forests. Over nine years, moso bamboo encroachment leads to a decrease in SOC and total soil N, an increase in MBC and WSOC, and a decrease in MBN and WSON. Changes in soil C and N occurred mainly in the topsoil. We conclude that moso bamboo encroachment on broadleaved forest not only substantially altered soil C and N pools, but also changed the distribution pattern of C and N in the studied forest soils. Continued bamboo encroachment into evergreen broadleaved forests seems likely to lead to net CO2 emissions to the atmosphere as ecosystem C stocks decline.
Highlights
By plant encroachment can significantly alter components of ecosystem C and N cycles, with potential global consequences for soil and atmospheric chemistry
The main aim of this study was to determine soil C and N changes in bamboo forest, bamboo encroachment front area, and unencroached broad-leaved forests to improve our understanding of how moso bamboo encroachment into native, broad-leaved forest affects soil carbon and nitrogen pools
There was a significant difference between bamboo forest (BF) and MF, BF and broad-leaved forest (BLF) respectively (P < 0.05), but no significant difference between MF and BLF in 2005 (P > 0.05)
Summary
By plant encroachment can significantly alter components of ecosystem C and N cycles, with potential global consequences for soil and atmospheric chemistry. Encroachment of moso bamboo is not a result of introduced species; rather it is native to these ecosystems, but it has increased in density and abundance due to changes in abiotic and biotic conditions 18,19. Moso bamboo encroachment into native forests was limited due to shoot and culm harvest in forested areas along field peripheries. Bamoo encroachment could alter forest floor microclimate with respect to light, temperature, and moisture[18]. This process substantially reduces tree and shrub diversity in the forests[19], and modifies soil community structure, and increases microbial biomass and taxonomic diversity[20]. The main aim of this study was to determine soil C and N changes in bamboo forest, bamboo encroachment front area, and unencroached broad-leaved forests to improve our understanding of how moso bamboo encroachment into native, broad-leaved forest affects soil carbon and nitrogen pools
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