Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of litter decomposition on soil polarization in three typical planted pure shrub forests in the southern fringe of Mu Us Desert, China

Author(s):

Cai-Hong Mi ¹, Zeng-Wen Liu ^{1, 2*}, Qian Li ³, Bo-Chao Zhu ¹, Yuan-Hao Bing ³

Recieved Date: 2013-05-06, Accepted Date: 2013-10-10

Abstract:

Soil polarization is a new concept which describes the deviation of soil properties of planted pure forest from its original equilibrium status toward an extreme condition due to long-term growth or continuous planting of single tree species. It is thought to be one obstacle of forest. In order to investigate the effect of litter decomposition on soil polarization of planted forests in the southern fringe of Mu Us Desert, China, humus soil and litter were sampled in three typical shrub forests, and 4 treatments as “soil + leaf litter”, “soil + roots”, “soil + leaf litter + roots”, and CK were set for laboratory incubation experiment in this research. The results showed that polarizations of different properties were variable, in both direction and degree, after the incubation with litters. Based on analyzing the polarization ratios by PCA (principal component analysis) method, the results of comprehensive soil properties were showed as follows: both of leaf litter and roots decomposition resulted in positive polarization in the A. fruticosa forest soil. Leaf litter decomposition resulted in positive polarization and roots resulted in negative polarization in the C. microphylla forest soil. In the H. rhamnoides forest soil both of leaf litter and roots resulted in negative polarization. When leaf litter and roots mixed-together with the soil, the interaction sequence is A. fruticosa (1.928)>C. microphylla (0.088)>H. rhamnoides (-2.016). In general, litter decomposition in A. fruticosa forest soil was more beneficial for soil properties than the other two plants.

Keywords:

Litter decomposition, soil polarization, planted pure shrub forests

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 1492-1497

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