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Forest-type shift and subsequent intensive management affected soil organic carbon and microbial community in southeastern China

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of forest types changes (from coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest (CBMF) to plantation forests of bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens forest, MBF) and hickory (Carya cathayensis forest, CHF)) combined with intensive management on soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial community structure, using the 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA). The results indicated that soil organic carbon significantly decreased by 30.7 and 28.5% in MBF and CHF, respectively. The aromatic C and aromaticity also significantly decreased in MBF and CHF (P < 0.05), while alkyl, O-alkyl and carbonyl C contents increased (P > 0.05). Significant changes of the soil microbial community were found after the forest type changed from CBMF to MBF and CHF. Total soil microbial PLFAs, soil bacteria PLFAs, fungus PLFAs, actinobacteria PLFAs, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi PLFAs and protozoan PLFAs ranked as follows: CBMF > CHF > MBF (P < 0.05). The ratio of soil fungus to bacteria was in the order of MBF (0.78) > CHF (0.66) > CBMF (0.49) (P < 0.05), while an opposite order was found for ratio of G+/G− values (CBMF > CHF > MBF, P < 0.05). The converting CBMF into MBF and CHF combined with fertilization and tillage significantly changed the SOC and microbial community. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to improve the SOC and soil fertility in the MBF and CHF.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundations (Nos. 31200534, 41201323), the Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation (No. LY13C160010), the open fund from Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Subtropic Soil and Plant Nutrition, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Xianghua Fang, Jinchi Zhang, Miaojing Meng, Xiaoping Guo, Yanwen Wu & Xin Liu

  2. The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin’an, 311300, China

    Xianghua Fang, Keli Zhao & Weijun Fu

  3. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Subtropic Soil and Plant Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Keli Zhao & Weijun Fu

  4. Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin’an, 311300, China

    Keli Zhao & Lizhong Ding

  5. Technology Promotion Center of Agriculture and Forestry in Lin’an City, Hangzhou, 311300, China

    Yangfeng Shao

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  1. Xianghua Fang
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  2. Jinchi Zhang
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  3. Miaojing Meng
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  4. Xiaoping Guo
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  5. Yanwen Wu
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  6. Xin Liu
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  7. Keli Zhao
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  8. Lizhong Ding
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  9. Yangfeng Shao
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  10. Weijun Fu
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Correspondence to Jinchi Zhang or Weijun Fu.

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Communicated by Agustín Merino.

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Fang, X., Zhang, J., Meng, M. et al. Forest-type shift and subsequent intensive management affected soil organic carbon and microbial community in southeastern China. Eur J Forest Res 136, 689–697 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1065-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1065-0

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