Abstract
The effects of different land-use types on the pH, organic carbon, total nutrient, and available nutrients of soil in the 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm layers were studied using the gray relational analysis method. The research area is located in Baiduo village in the dolomite karst region and Shiqiao village in the limestone karst region of Shibing County, Guizhou Province, China. The land-use types investigated included shrubland, forest, grass slope, dryland, paddy field, pear orchard, and flue-cured tobacco field. The contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen, and available potassium, as well as the pH of the soil in the dolomite shrubland, were higher than those in the limestone shrubland. The total potassium, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus contents of soil in the limestone shrubland were higher than those in the dolomite shrubland. Among the four types of land-use most strongly affected by human activities (paddy field, dryland, flue-cured tobacco field, and pear orchard), the nutrient contents (except potassium in the upper soil layer) were higher than those in the lower layer. The differences in nutrient contents between upper and lower layers were relatively small in the dryland and the pear orchard, whereas they were large for the paddy field and flue-cured tobacco field. The gray relational degree of various land-use types decreased in the following order: dolomite shrubland > forest > grass slope > pear orchard > limestone shrubland > paddy field > dryland > flue-cured tobacco field. The dolomite shrubland had the best soil quality, while the flue-cured tobacco field had the worst. Of the four types of land use most strongly affected by human activities, pear orchard had the best soil quality. This study can provide reference for soil nutrient management and sustainable management in karst areas.
Highlights
Among the four types of land-use most strongly affected by human activities, the nutrient contents were higher than those in the lower layer. e differences in nutrient contents between upper and lower layers were relatively small in the dryland and the pear orchard, whereas they were large for the paddy field and flue-cured tobacco field. e gray relational degree of various land-use types decreased in the following order: dolomite shrubland > forest > grass slope > pear orchard > limestone shrubland > paddy field > dryland > flue-cured tobacco field. e dolomite shrubland had the best soil quality, while the flue-cured tobacco field had the worst
In Baiduo, five types of land such as paddy field, grass slope, dryland, dolomite shrubland, and forest were selected as sampling sites. e area of the plot was 10 m × 10 m. e main characteristics of the sites are shown in Table 1, and locations of the sampling sites on the geological map and land-use map are shown in Figures 3 and 4, respectively. e thicknesses of the soil in pear orchard, flue-cured tobacco field, paddy field, and dryland were more than 60 cm
Samples from the 0–30 cm soil layer, which is strongly affected by human cultivation activities as well as the 30–60 cm layer, which is less affected by human activities and maintains the natural soil deposit before planting, were collected. e thicknesses of the soil in grass slope and shrubland were less than 30 cm, and the soil above the bedrock was collected by soil drilling
Summary
Academic Editor: Hu Li e effects of different land-use types on the pH, organic carbon, total nutrient, and available nutrients of soil in the 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm layers were studied using the gray relational analysis method. e research area is located in Baiduo village in the dolomite karst region and Shiqiao village in the limestone karst region of Shibing County, Guizhou Province, China. e land-use types investigated included shrubland, forest, grass slope, dryland, paddy field, pear orchard, and flue-cured tobacco field. e contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen, and available potassium, as well as the pH of the soil in the dolomite shrubland, were higher than those in the limestone shrubland. e total potassium, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus contents of soil in the limestone shrubland were higher than those in the dolomite shrubland. Among the four types of land-use most strongly affected by human activities (paddy field, dryland, flue-cured tobacco field, and pear orchard), the nutrient contents (except potassium in the upper soil layer) were higher than those in the lower layer. In terms of research methods, the gray relational analysis method, which requires only a small amount of calculation, produces results that are closely consistent with the results of qualitative analysis, is useful for comprehensive evaluation [18, 19], and has rarely been applied to the analysis of physical and chemical properties of soil in karst areas. Erefore, it is necessary to study the soil chemical properties under different land-use types in the dolomite karst areas using gray relational analysis In terms of research methods, the gray relational analysis method, which requires only a small amount of calculation, produces results that are closely consistent with the results of qualitative analysis, is useful for comprehensive evaluation [18, 19], and has rarely been applied to the analysis of physical and chemical properties of soil in karst areas. erefore, it is necessary to study the soil chemical properties under different land-use types in the dolomite karst areas using gray relational analysis
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