Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China
In soils, high aggregate stability often represents higher quality and anti-erosion ability; however, few studies have systematically analyzed how different forest stands affect soil aggregate stability. We selected five typical mixed forest stands on Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China, as research...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2402 |
| _version_ | 1797381040438771712 |
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| author | Yonglin Zheng Yunqi Wang Yuxuan Zhang Jialiang Zhang Yujie Wang Junlin Zhu |
| author_facet | Yonglin Zheng Yunqi Wang Yuxuan Zhang Jialiang Zhang Yujie Wang Junlin Zhu |
| author_sort | Yonglin Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In soils, high aggregate stability often represents higher quality and anti-erosion ability; however, few studies have systematically analyzed how different forest stands affect soil aggregate stability. We selected five typical mixed forest stands on Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China, as research sites to evaluate soil aggregate stability. Within these sites, we analyzed the factors influencing soil aggregate stability in different stands by measuring soil characteristics and root traits. Soil aggregation stability, plant root traits, and soil properties varied among the mixed forest stands. The broadleaf tree mixed forest improved soil aggregate stability by 57%–103% over that of the <i>Pinus massoniana</i> mixed forest. The soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, Fe-Al oxides, and fine root proportion were positively correlated with soil aggregate stability. The specific root length and very fine root proportion were negatively correlated with soil aggregate stability, whereas the fine root proportion was positively correlated with this property. Specifically, we found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi did not affect soil aggregate stability in acid rain areas. Structural equation modeling indicated that soil aggregate stability was closely related to soil physicochemical properties and plant root characteristics. Predictive factors accounted for 69% of the variation in mean weight diameter, and plant root traits influenced soil aggregate stability by affecting soil organic matter, texture, and Fe-Al oxides. This study elucidated the impact of soil physicochemical properties and plant root characteristics on soil aggregate stability in different forest stand types, which has crucial implications for optimizing the management of various forest types. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:45:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-425e73dc0c58457a9ef365466d43a1a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:45:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-425e73dc0c58457a9ef365466d43a1a22023-12-22T14:09:39ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-12-011412240210.3390/f14122402Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest ChinaYonglin Zheng0Yunqi Wang1Yuxuan Zhang2Jialiang Zhang3Yujie Wang4Junlin Zhu5Three-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaIn soils, high aggregate stability often represents higher quality and anti-erosion ability; however, few studies have systematically analyzed how different forest stands affect soil aggregate stability. We selected five typical mixed forest stands on Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China, as research sites to evaluate soil aggregate stability. Within these sites, we analyzed the factors influencing soil aggregate stability in different stands by measuring soil characteristics and root traits. Soil aggregation stability, plant root traits, and soil properties varied among the mixed forest stands. The broadleaf tree mixed forest improved soil aggregate stability by 57%–103% over that of the <i>Pinus massoniana</i> mixed forest. The soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, Fe-Al oxides, and fine root proportion were positively correlated with soil aggregate stability. The specific root length and very fine root proportion were negatively correlated with soil aggregate stability, whereas the fine root proportion was positively correlated with this property. Specifically, we found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi did not affect soil aggregate stability in acid rain areas. Structural equation modeling indicated that soil aggregate stability was closely related to soil physicochemical properties and plant root characteristics. Predictive factors accounted for 69% of the variation in mean weight diameter, and plant root traits influenced soil aggregate stability by affecting soil organic matter, texture, and Fe-Al oxides. This study elucidated the impact of soil physicochemical properties and plant root characteristics on soil aggregate stability in different forest stand types, which has crucial implications for optimizing the management of various forest types.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2402root traitssoil characteristicsstructural equation modelingsoil erosionacid rain |
| spellingShingle | Yonglin Zheng Yunqi Wang Yuxuan Zhang Jialiang Zhang Yujie Wang Junlin Zhu Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China Forests root traits soil characteristics structural equation modeling soil erosion acid rain |
| title | Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China |
| title_full | Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China |
| title_short | Broadleaf Trees Increase Soil Aggregate Stability in Mixed Forest Stands of Southwest China |
| title_sort | broadleaf trees increase soil aggregate stability in mixed forest stands of southwest china |
| topic | root traits soil characteristics structural equation modeling soil erosion acid rain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/12/2402 |
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