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Response of soil physical and chemical properties to Rocky desertification succession in South China Karst

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Abstract

Three typical karst rocky desertification regions in South China Karst were selected as experiment sites. The succession of karst rocky desertification was divided into five typical degrees: nil, potential, slight, moderate, and severe. Based on the five typical degrees of rocky desertification, sample plots were set up and soil samples were collected to examine the physical and chemical properties. The pattern, dynamics, and change law of soil physical and chemical properties in the succession of karst rocky desertification were studied. The properties of bulk density, capillary porosity, total porosity, field moisture capacity, capillary moisture capacity, pH, organic matter content, hydrolyzed nitrogen content, available phosphorus content, total potassium content, and soil respiration were studied. Results showed that significant differences in soil physical and chemical properties were observed among different degrees of rocky desertification. These properties initially degenerated and then recovered with increased degree of rocky desertification. The soil quality of nil and severe degree of rocky desertification was better than all others. In the succession of soil physical and chemical properties, the key factors were organic matter content, nitrogen content, bulk density, and moisture capacity. Finally, the response mechanism of soil succession was concluded. The results of this study are useful for management of desertified karst ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Key Technology R&D Program of China for the 12th Five-Year Plan (No. 2011BAC09B01), the Guizhou R&D Program for Social Development (Qiankehe SZ zi [2014] No. 3036), the R&D Fund of Guizhou Provincial Water Resources Department (KT201409), the Nanjing University Post-doctor Project, “Strategic Priority Research Program-Climate Change: Carbon Budget and Related Issues” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA05050204), and the Specimen Platform of China, Teaching Specimen Sub-platform (2005DKA21403-JK) for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of South China Karst, Guizhou Normal University, Baoshanbei Road 180, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Maoyin Sheng, Kangning Xiong, Linjiao Wang & Xiaona Li

  2. School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Hankou Road 32, Nanjing, 210093, China

    Maoyin Sheng & Xingjun Tian

  3. State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification Control, Baoshaobei Road 180, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Maoyin Sheng, Kangning Xiong, Linjiao Wang & Xiaona Li

  4. Guizhou Provincial Monitoring Station of Soil and Water Conservation, Xihu Road 29, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Rui Li

Authors
  1. Maoyin Sheng
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  2. Kangning Xiong
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  3. Linjiao Wang
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  4. Xiaona Li
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  5. Rui Li
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  6. Xingjun Tian
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Correspondence to Kangning Xiong or Xingjun Tian.

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Sheng, M., Xiong, K., Wang, L. et al. Response of soil physical and chemical properties to Rocky desertification succession in South China Karst. Carbonates Evaporites 33, 15–28 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-016-0295-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-016-0295-4

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