Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Patterns of soil physicochemical properties and microbial biomass along soil depth and desert plant Reaumuria soongorica biomass gradients

Author(s):

Yang Yang, Bingru Liu *

Recieved Date: 2013-06-20, Accepted Date: 2013-09-20

Abstract:

Soil quality restoration and soil management are a key question for vegetation restoration, but little was known about the changes in soil physicochemical properties and microbial biomass patterns along soil depth and plant biomass gradients in the hilly region of the semiarid Loess Plateau. In order to provide scientific reference for vegetation and soil restoration in the Loess Plateau, soil moisture, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil microbial nitrogen (MBN) at three soil depths (0-10 cm; 10-20 cm; 20-40 cm) along 5 biomass gradients under desert plant Reaumuria soongorica were investigated, and the relationships among plant biomass, SOC, TN, MBC and MBN were examined. The results showed that SOC, TN, MBC and MBN increased with plant biomass, but SOC, TN, MBC and MBN increased quickly with plant biomass until the plant biomass reached 35.62 g/m². SOC, TN, MBC and MBN decreased with soil depth at the same plant biomass, and SOC and TN had positive relationship with soil microbial biomass and nutrients. The findings would make great contribution to overall restoration process of structure and function on this type ecosystem.

Keywords:

Plant biomass gradient, soil nutrients, microbial biomass, soil depth

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 2403-2407

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