Pedosphere 30(4): 433--442, 2020
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2020 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Soil microbial attributes along a chronosequence of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantations in northern China |
Xiaodong YAO1,2, Wenjing ZENG1, Hui ZENG1,2, Wei WANG1 |
1Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environment Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871(China)
2School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen 518055(China) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Soil microorganisms play a key role in soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility maintenance in forest ecosystems, and they are influenced by stand age and soil depth. However, few studies have simultaneously considered these two factors. In this study, we measured soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), soil basal respiration (SBR) rate, and potential extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) in soil to a depth of 60 cm under 10-, 30-, and 40-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) stands (Y10, Y30, and Y40, respectively) in plantations in northern China in 2011. Soil water content (SWC), soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil total nitrogen (STN) were also measured to explore their effects on soil microbial indices across different stand ages and soil depths. Our results showed that SMBC, SMBN, and the SBR rate were generally higher for the Y30 stand than for the Y10 and Y40 stands. Potential EEA, except for α-glucosidase, decreased significantly with increasing stand age. Soil organic carbon, STN, SWC, and soil pH explained 67% of the variation in soil microbial attributes among the three stand ages. For the same stand age, soil microbial biomass and the SBR rate decreased with soil depth. Lower microbial biomass, lower SBR rate, and lower EEA for the mature Y40 stand indicate lower substrate availability for soil microorganisms, lower soil quality, and lower microbial adaptability to the environment. Our results suggest that changes in soil quality with stand age should be considered when determining the optimum rotation length of plantations and the best management practices for afforestation programs. |
| Key Words: soil microbial metabolism quotient (qCO2),soil basal respiration,soil depth,soil microbial biomass,soil organic matter dynamics,soil potential extracellular enzyme activity,stand age |
| Citation: Yao X D, Zeng W J, Zeng H, Wang W. 2020. Soil microbial attributes along a chronosequence of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantations in northern China. Pedosphere. 30(4): 433–442. |
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