Li Zhiqiang, Mao Can, Wu Qinxiang, Peng Yuanying, Wang Jun, Zhang Bin, Zhang Sheng, Liang Xiaocui, Yan Wende, Chen Xiaoyong
College of Life and Environmental Science, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.
National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China.
Plants (Basel). 2024 Jul 7;13(13):1877. doi: 10.3390/plants13131877.
Understanding the ecological dynamics of forest ecosystems, particularly the influence of forest age structure on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content, is crucial for effective forest management and conservation. This study aimed to investigate the nutrient storage and ecological stoichiometry across different-aged stands of Chinese fir forests. Soil samples were collected from various depths (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, and 30-45 cm) across four age groups of Chinese fir forests (8-year-old, 12-year-old, 20-year-old, and 25-year-old) in the Forest Farm, Pingjiang County, China. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were measured, and their stoichiometries were calculated. The results showed that both individual tree biomass and stand biomass, along with SOC, TN, and TP content, increased with stand age, highlighting the significant importance of stand age on biomass production and nutrient accumulation in forests. Specifically, soil C and P contents significantly increased as the forest aged, while variation in N content was relatively minor. Soil C/N and C/P ratios exhibited variation corresponding to forest age, suggesting alterations in the ecological stoichiometry characteristics of the forests over time. These findings are crucial for understanding the dynamics of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling within Chinese fir forests and provide a solid scientific basis for the effective management and conservation of these vital forest ecosystems.
了解森林生态系统的生态动态，特别是林龄结构对土壤碳（C）、氮（N）和磷（P）含量的影响，对于有效的森林管理和保护至关重要。本研究旨在调查不同年龄阶段的杉木林分的养分储存和生态化学计量特征。在中国湖南省平江县林场，从四个年龄组（8年生、12年生、20年生和25年生）的杉木林中，在不同深度（0-15厘米、15-30厘米和30-45厘米）采集土壤样本。测量土壤有机碳（SOC）、全氮（TN）和全磷（TP）含量，并计算它们的化学计量比。结果表明，单株树木生物量和林分生物量以及SOC、TN和TP含量均随林龄增加而增加，突出了林龄对森林生物量生产和养分积累的重要性。具体而言，随着森林年龄的增长，土壤C和P含量显著增加，而N含量的变化相对较小。土壤C/N和C/P比随森林年龄而变化，表明森林生态化学计量特征随时间发生了改变。这些发现对于理解杉木林生态系统功能和养分循环动态至关重要，并为这些重要森林生态系统的有效管理和保护提供了坚实的科学依据。
