Influence of Eucalyptus Plantation on Soil Organic Carbon and Its Fractions in Severely Degraded Soil in Leizhou Peninsula, China

Abstract

Effective vegetation restoration plays an important role in maintaining and improving soil nutrients and can promote the fixation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions in degraded soil areas. To understand the influence of Eucalyptus plantation on SOC and its fractions in severely degraded soil in Leizhou Peninsula, China, vegetation restoration with Eucalyptus (RE: Eucalyptus–shrub ES, Eucalyptus–grass EG, and Eucalyptus–Dicranopteris ED) was chosen as the research object, and natural vegetation restoration without Eucalyptus (RNE: shrub S, grass G, and Dicranopteris D) nearby was used as the control group. SOC and its fractions in different vegetation types were compared and analyzed after sample plot surveys and sample determination, and the driving forces of SOC and its fractions were discussed. SOC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC), and particulate organic carbon (POC) in RE were significantly different from those in RNE, increasing by 194.4%, 36.3%, 111.0%, 141.6%, and 289.9%, respectively. The order of SOC, EOC, DOC, MBC, and POC content in RE was ES > EG > ED. SOC and its fractions were positively correlated with leaf litter cover and biomass, and soil organic matter. SOC, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and enzyme activities were negatively correlated with microbial diversity but were not significantly correlated with soil bulk density and microbial richness. Structural equation modeling analysis results showed that soil enzyme activity was a direct driving force of SOC and its fractions. The input of carbon sources from leaf litter and soil properties were indirect factors that affected SOC and its fractions by affecting microbial characteristics and enzyme activities. Thus, planting Eucalyptus in harsh environments, where natural restoration is difficult, can be an effective measure for early vegetation restoration.