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Phosphorus fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities in sandy soils under a temperate savanna and a neighboring Mongolian pine plantation

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Abstract

To assess the effects of savanna afforestation on soil phosphorus (P) transformations in eastern Horqin Sandy Land, China, P fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities were examined in two soil horizons (0–5 cm and 5–20 cm) under a savanna and an adjacent 30-year-old Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica Litv.) plantation on a P-deficient semi-arid sandy soil. The results showed that all soil P fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities decreased with soil depth at both sites except that labile organic P under the plantation was constant with soil depth. In contrast to savanna, soils under Mongolian pine plantation had lower phosphomonoesterase activities and concentrations of all P fractions (with an exception of Al-P), lower proportions of organic P and Ca-P in total P, and higher proportions of labile P, Al-P and Fe-P in total P. These results suggested that P transformations mainly occurred in surface soils, and P recycled through litter-fall was the most important source of plant available P. Mongolian pine afforestation enhanced the bioavailability of both organic P and Ca-P, simultaneously reduced soil P pools, indicating that protection of forest floor and P fertilization are necessary to maintain the sustainable functioning of Mongolian pine plantations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Daqinggou Ecological Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, P. R. China

    Zhao Qiong & Zeng De-hui

  2. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, P. R. China

    Zhao Qiong

Authors
  1. Zhao Qiong
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  2. Zeng De-hui
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Correspondence to Zeng De-hui.

Additional information

Foundation item: This work was supported by Innovation Research Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3-SW-418), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30471377) and sustentation project of the Institute of Applied Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (SLYQY0409).

Biography: ZHAO Qiong (1982–), female, Ph. D. in Daqinggou Ecological Station, the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.

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Zhao, Q., Zeng, Dh. Phosphorus fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities in sandy soils under a temperate savanna and a neighboring Mongolian pine plantation. J. of For. Res. 17, 25–30 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-006-0006-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-006-0006-4

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