Stoichiometric characteristics of understory plant leaves and soil of three forest types in Mao'ershan

Abstract

Exploring the stoichiometric characteristics of understory plants' leaves and soils in different forest types in Mao'ershan can reveal the adaptation strategies of understory plants in Mao'ershan, and provide data support for forest management. In this paper, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (ZK), evergreen broad-leaved secondary forest (CLC) and evergreen broad-leaved forest (CL) in Mao'ershan were selected as three forest types, the leaf stoichiometry of main plants in herb layer and shrub layer, and the soil stoichiometry under three forest types were measured and analyzed. The results were as follows: (1) There was no significant difference in leaf C and N contents between herb layer and shrub layer, but P and K contents in herb layer were extremely significantly higher than that in shrub layer, and N∶P was significantly lower than that in shrub layer. Plants in herb layer was more likely to be restricted by N, plants in shrub layer was more likely to be restricted by P and the utilization efficiency of N and P were higher. There was no significant difference in leaf stoichiometry of plants in shrub layer among different forest types, but there were significant differences in leaf N content, C∶N, C∶P of plants in herb layer among different forest types. Plants in herb layer of ZK had higher nutrient use efficiency. (2) The soil C and N contents of the three forest types showed that CL > CLC > ZK, and there were extremely significant differences among the three forest types. The soil P content of ZK were the highest, while that of C∶P and N∶P were the lowest. (3) Soil in ZK significantly affected some leaf stoichiometry of plants in herb layer and shrub layer, while the other two forest types had no significant effect on underforest plants. To sum up, there are significant or extremely significant differences in soil stoichiometry among different forest types in Mao'ershan. The nutrient requirements and environmental adaptation strategies of plants in herb layer and shrub layer are different. The soil of ZK has a strong influence on the leaf stoichiometry of understory plants, and the soil with low decomposition efficiency of organic matter in this forest type, and the soil is limited by N due to the low decomposition efficiency of organic matter, so the management of N in the mixed forest should be strengthened.

Keywords

• mao'ershan
• forest type
• soil
• herb layer
• shrub layer
• stoichiometric characteristics