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Structural quality of soil in plantation: a case study on the mixed plantation of Alnus cremastogyne and Cupressus funebris in upper reaches of Yangtze River

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Abstract

In process of ecological construction in typical region of upper reaches of Yangtze River, China, the mixed plantations at the ages of 10–20 present a trend to be pure forests and degeneration. Soil samples including stratified soil and total soil were taken from 4 typical profiles in the mixed plantation of Alnus cremastogyne and Cupressus funebris in Yanting County in central Sichuan, China. Soil indices of the plantation were compared with those of natural forest in Gongga Mountain in the same region. The results revealed that structural quality of soil in plantation was significantly lower than that in natural forests. The degradation of structural quality of soil in plantation was one of key factors for plantation degeneration. The degradation causes of structural quality of soil were analyzed. Aanthropogenic disturbance and absence of effective protection and scientific management are the main reason for degradation of structural quality of soil in plantation. The main countermeasures, e.g. forest reservation, ecological rehabilitation, litter horizon rebuilding as well as organic fertilizer application, were proposed to improve the structural quality of soil in plantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environments, CAS, Chengdu, 610041, P. R. China

    Liao Chao-lin & He Yu-rong

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

    Liao Chao-lin

  3. Liaocheng university, Liaocheng, Shangdong, 252059, P. R. China

    Zhang Bao-hua

Authors
  1. Liao Chao-lin
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  2. He Yu-rong
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  3. Zhang Bao-hua
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to He Yu-rong.

Additional information

Foundation item: The project was supported by National Science Foundation of Outstanding Youth of China for (40025103) and the Knowledge Innovation Program of CA S (KZCX3-WS-330).

Biography: LIAO Chao-lin (1975–), male, Ph.D. candidate, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environments, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, P. R. China.

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Liao, Cl., He, Yr. & Zhang, Bh. Structural quality of soil in plantation: a case study on the mixed plantation of Alnus cremastogyne and Cupressus funebris in upper reaches of Yangtze River. J. of For. Res. 17, 35–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-006-0008-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-006-0008-2

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