Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China
It is well established that forest type can have a profound impact on soil physicochemical properties but the associated changes in soil microbial communities and the mechanisms by which soil quality is improved by various plantations are not fully understood. In this study, soil physicochemical pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/13/2411 |
| _version_ | 1797590964587462656 |
|---|---|
| author | Renjie Wang Jianwei Ma Huizi Liang Yubao Zhang Jisheng Yang Fengfan Chen Yong Wang Wende Yan |
| author_facet | Renjie Wang Jianwei Ma Huizi Liang Yubao Zhang Jisheng Yang Fengfan Chen Yong Wang Wende Yan |
| author_sort | Renjie Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well established that forest type can have a profound impact on soil physicochemical properties but the associated changes in soil microbial communities and the mechanisms by which soil quality is improved by various plantations are not fully understood. In this study, soil physicochemical properties and microbial and enzyme activities were investigated in four forest types–<i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> pure forests (CHPF), <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Pinus elliottii</i> mixed forests (CHPEF), <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Michelia macclurei</i> mixed forests (CHMMF), and <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Mytilaria laosensis</i> mixed forests (CHMLF) in the subtropical region of China. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of afforestation types on characteristics of soil–its physical, chemical, and biological properties. The results showed that the contents of soil total organic carbon (TOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were significantly improved in both CHMMF and CHMLF mixed forest stands when compared to the CHPF pure stand. Soil enzyme activities were enhanced in the mixed forests. In particular, high phosphatase activity was observed in CHMLF stands, leading to the transformation of soil phosphorus to available phosphorus in this forest type. Our study demonstrated that the broad–leaved mixed forests, but not coniferous mixed forests, could significantly improve soil quality in the study region. Our research provides a scientific insight into the promotion of vegetation restoration and plantation forest management in plantation regions of subtropical areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:31:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ec4bf798c9b4b5f9eb50cd7aefd054a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:31:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ec4bf798c9b4b5f9eb50cd7aefd054a2023-11-18T17:17:04ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-06-011213241110.3390/plants12132411Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical ChinaRenjie Wang0Jianwei Ma1Huizi Liang2Yubao Zhang3Jisheng Yang4Fengfan Chen5Yong Wang6Wende Yan7Guangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation, Nanning 530002, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation, Nanning 530002, ChinaGuangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530002, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaGuangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530002, ChinaGuangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530002, ChinaGuangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530002, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaIt is well established that forest type can have a profound impact on soil physicochemical properties but the associated changes in soil microbial communities and the mechanisms by which soil quality is improved by various plantations are not fully understood. In this study, soil physicochemical properties and microbial and enzyme activities were investigated in four forest types–<i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> pure forests (CHPF), <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Pinus elliottii</i> mixed forests (CHPEF), <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Michelia macclurei</i> mixed forests (CHMMF), and <i>C. hystrix</i>–<i>Mytilaria laosensis</i> mixed forests (CHMLF) in the subtropical region of China. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of afforestation types on characteristics of soil–its physical, chemical, and biological properties. The results showed that the contents of soil total organic carbon (TOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were significantly improved in both CHMMF and CHMLF mixed forest stands when compared to the CHPF pure stand. Soil enzyme activities were enhanced in the mixed forests. In particular, high phosphatase activity was observed in CHMLF stands, leading to the transformation of soil phosphorus to available phosphorus in this forest type. Our study demonstrated that the broad–leaved mixed forests, but not coniferous mixed forests, could significantly improve soil quality in the study region. Our research provides a scientific insight into the promotion of vegetation restoration and plantation forest management in plantation regions of subtropical areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/13/2411plantationmixed forestsoil physicochemical propertiesmicroorganism quantityenzyme activities<i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> |
| spellingShingle | Renjie Wang Jianwei Ma Huizi Liang Yubao Zhang Jisheng Yang Fengfan Chen Yong Wang Wende Yan Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China Plants plantation mixed forest soil physicochemical properties microorganism quantity enzyme activities <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> |
| title | Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China |
| title_full | Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China |
| title_short | Changes in Soil Properties, Microbial Quantity and Enzyme Activities in Four <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Forest Types in Subtropical China |
| title_sort | changes in soil properties microbial quantity and enzyme activities in four i castanopsis hystrix i forest types in subtropical china |
| topic | plantation mixed forest soil physicochemical properties microorganism quantity enzyme activities <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/13/2411 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT renjiewang changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT jianweima changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT huiziliang changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT yubaozhang changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT jishengyang changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT fengfanchen changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT yongwang changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina AT wendeyan changesinsoilpropertiesmicrobialquantityandenzymeactivitiesinfouricastanopsishystrixiforesttypesinsubtropicalchina |