Impacts of reforestation approaches on soil quality and vegetation structure in the purple soil region of Southern China

摘要

The purple soil in hilly area in southern China is experiencing severe erosion. Understanding the effects of forest management approaches on soil quality is very important during the vegetation restoration. Three replicated plots of four forest stands with different forest restoration approaches, including natural secondary forest, plantations of Robur tree plantation (Lithocrpus glabra) (RTP), sweetgum tree (Liguidambar Formosan) and camphor tree(Cinnamomilin camphora) plantation (SCP), Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation (CFP), and control lands were set up to estimate the influence of management practices on soil properties in a hilly purple soil region. Relevant soil properties and ecological factors were measured. The results showed that all reforestation patterns were effective to improve soil quality comparing to the control. Moreover, natural secondary forest (NSF) and robur tree plantation (RTP) had much better soil properties than other treatments due to their low-disturbance management. Soil quality is a good indicator for influence of management practices. Management practices should attempt to minimize disturbances to soil properties to prevent soil degradation. Therefore, management approaches such as low-disturbance, less land shaping and leave understory as it be should be- applied during restoration process. And mimicking natural disturbance may be better to improve ecological function of plantations than mechanical cultivation.