Abstract
Soil aggregate stability is an integrated parameter related to soil structure, soil quality, and erodibility. Although mixed stands have been proven to improve soil quality and productivity, there is limited knowledge regarding how mixed with broadleaf tree species affects soil aggregate stability in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations in the subtropical region of China. In this study, soil samples were selected at the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm depths from the three plantations of Chinese fir, including C. lanceolata × Michelia macclurei (stand type I), C. lanceolata × Mytilaria laosensis (stand type II), and pure stand of C. lanceolata (stand type III). The Le Bissonnais method was chosen to determine the soil aggregate stability, which included fast wetting (FW), slow wetting (SW), and wet stirring (WS) disruptive treatments. Our findings showed that compared to pure stand, mixed stands had higher levels of soil chemical properties (including organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), and free aluminum oxides (Ald)) and more stable soil structure, especially stand type I. Soil OC and TN contents were significantly positively correlated with soil mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) and were significantly negatively correlated with the soil erodibility K values, which are the key indicators reflecting the stability of soil aggregates. The FW treatment simulates the slaking of soil under heavy rains, which caused the greatest damage to the soil aggregate structure, regardless of the stand type. Appropriate development of mixed forests can play a vital role in stabilizing soil structure in Chinese fir plantations, thereby promoting soil resources to be sustainably utilized in the subtropical red soil area in China.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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The Innovation Driving Development Special of Guangxi (No. AA17204087-8) and Cooperation Project of Dagui Mountain Forest Farm (No. 202200100) financed the present study. The authors would like to express their gratitude to the editor and innominate reviewers for giving conducive advises and optimizing this article.
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Tang, L., Mao, L., Wang, Z. et al. Mixed with Broadleaf Tree Species Improved Soil Aggregate Stability in Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) Plantations: Based on the Le Bissonnais Method. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 23, 2110–2121 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01166-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01166-x