Effects of soil extracts from repeated plantation woodland of Chinese-fir on microbial activities and soil nitrogen mineralization dynamics

Abstract

Effects of soil extracts from repeated plantation woodlands of Chinese-fir on soil fungi growth, the activities of microbial communities, and rates of net soil nitrogen mineralization were investigated. Soil extracts from replanted woodlands significantly inhibited soil non-pathogenic fungi growth, reduced soil respiration activities, and net soil nitrogen mineralization rates. However, soil extracts from replanted woodland increased the growth of pathogenic fungi. The combination of soil extracts and pathogenic fungi did not significantly reduce the growth of Chinese-fir seedlings when compared to the soil extracts alone. The combination of soil extracts with pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi significantly increased the growth of Chinese-fir seedlings when compared to the combination of soil extracts and pathogenic fungi. The results suggest that the allelochemicals from soil extracts, rather than pathogenic fungi, are the key factor regulating the productivity and nitrogen cycling in repeated plantation woodlands.