Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2011, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4): 389-401.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00389

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Seasonal dynamics of soil microorganisms and soil nutrients in fast-growing Populus plantation forests of different ages in Yili, Xinjiang, China

AN Ran1, GONG Ji-Rui1,*(), YOU Xin2, GE Zhi-Wei3, DUAN Qing-Wei1, YAN Xin1   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Resources Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    2Party School of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of People’s Republic of China, Nanchang 330003, China
    3College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
  • Received:2010-04-12 Accepted:2010-11-18 Online:2011-04-12 Published:2011-04-13
  • Contact: GONG Ji-Rui

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to better understand the distribution and seasonal dynamics of soil microorganisms and soil nutrients of fast-growing Populus (Populus × euramericana) plantations of different ages (5, 10 and 15 years) in Yili Xinjiang, China.
Methods We investigated the number and species composition of soil microorganisms and organic carbon/ nitrogen by means of plate count and conventional chemical methods, respectively.
Important findings The three plantation forests were significantly different in microbial numbers and species compositions as affected by soil depth and season. The soil microbes were mainly distributed at 10-40 cm, and bacteria accounted the largest proportion. The total number of microorganisms and bacteria decreased with age, but the 15-year forest had the highest number of fungi and actinomycetes. The ratio of three kinds of microbial communities was relatively stable in soil and did not change with season. The content of soil organic carbon and nitrogen was mainly concentrated at 0-20 cm, decreased with increasing soil depth and responded differently to change of seasons and soil depth. Soil organic carbon increased with stand age, while nitrogen decreased and then increased. The correlation between soil microbes and soil organic carbon was negative, and the correlation between number of fungi and soil organic nitrogen was positive. The ratio of soil organic C/N was consistent with the ratio of bacteria number/actinomycetes number, illustrating poplar plantation forests fix carbon and improve soil fertility.

Key words: fast-growing Populus plantation forest, seasonal dynamics, soil microbial number, soil organic carbon, soil organic nitrogen, vertical distribution