Effects of slope direction on soil nutrient and its ecological stoichiometry in bamboo forest

Abstract

We analyzed the effects of slope direction on soil nutrients and ecological stoichiometry by collecting soil samples from different slope directions (shady slope and sunny slope) of the bamboo forest in Longyou County, Zhejiang Province. The results showed that soil nutrients were affected by slope direction and soil depth. The nutrients level of soils in the sampling area showed the trends of shady slope > sunny slope, and surface soil > bottom soil. Compared to sunny slope, the cation exchange capacity (CEC), the contents of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, total potassium and available potassium of shady soils significantly increased by 43.7%, 103.8%, 92.0%, 75.5%, 22.4%, 89.4% and 240.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference in total phosphorus contents between shady slope and sunny slope. At all soil layers, there was no significant difference of C/N ratio between shady and sunny slopes. The average C/P ratio of shady slope was 180.8%, 42.0% and 54.3% higher than that of sunny slope at 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm, respectively. At each soil layer, the average C/K and N/K ratios between shady and sunny slopes had no significant difference. The average C/K and N/K ratios of shady slope and sunny slope were all significantly different among the three soil layers. In the shady slope, the contents of soil organic carbon showed significantly positive correlation with total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and soil available nutrients. Overall, soil nutrients and ecological stoichiometry characteristics of shady slope of bamboo forest were superior to those of sunny slope.