Nutrient relocation, hydrological functions, and soil chemistry in plantations as compared to natural forests in central Yunnan, China

Abstract

AbstractThe relocation of nutrients among dominant plant species, along with hydrological functions and soil chemistry in five plant communities, including Eucalyptus plantation, Pinus plantation, shrubland, semi‐natural, and natural secondary forests were investigated in central Yunnan, China. The nutrient P, N, and K accumulation in above‐ground biomass of Eucalyptus smithii (stems, barks, branches, and leaves) were the highest, followed by Pinus yunnanensis of both the Pinus plantation and the semi‐natural forest. The nutrient retranslocation efficiency (NRE) of E. smithii was the highest for nutrient P, N, and K with values of 56, 66, and 67%, respectively, among the dominant plant species of the five plant communities, while the NRE of P. yunnanensis in Pinus plantation had the second highest value of NRE for nutrient N. The nutrient content (available P, N, and soil organic matter) in the upper two soil layers under Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations was correspondingly found to be lower than that of the other forests. Moreover, under the Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations, surface runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss were more serious, and the water storage of litterfall and canopy interception were significantly lower than that in the other plant communities. Accordingly, we suggest that single‐species plantations cannot present the same ecological benefits as natural forests, because of their simple, uniform structures, and the characteristics of the dominant plant species.