%0 Journal Article %A Li-Tao TANG %A Dan LIU %A Xue-Ping LUO %A Lei HU %A Chang-Ting WANG %T Forest soil phosphorus stocks and distribution patterns in Qinghai, China %D 2019 %R 10.17521/cjpe.2019.0194 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 1091-1103 %V 43 %N 12 %X

Aims Our objectives were to investigate the soil phosphorus (P) stocks and distribution patterns in forests of Qinghai Province, and to determine the relationships between soil phosphorus stocks and environmental factors.
Methods Phosphorus stocks in forest soils of Qinghai Province were estimated from measurement data of 240 standard sampling plots in combination with the forest type information in the Qinghai Forest Resources Inventory data. The distribution patterns were examined by spatial analysis.
Important findings Forest soil P stocks in Qinghai Province is estimated at 1.74 Tg. The average soil P density to 1 m depth is about 4.65 Mg·hm -2, displaying of pattern of zonal distribution. Soil P density significantly decreases first and then increases with altitude, and is largest in Cinnamon forest soils and less in brown forest soils and dark cinnamon forest soils. Soil P content decreases significantly with altitude. The P content was highest in brown forest soils and lowest in dark cinnamon soils. Total P in the soil profile exhibited characteristics of surface accumulation. The structure equation model (SEM) shows that soil type, altitude, temperature, and soil moisture content have direct impacts on soil P content, with temperature and altitude being among the key factors. Soil P content, altitude, soil moisture content, soil depth, and soil bulk density all have significant effects on soil P density, with soil bulk density being the most prominent factor.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2019.0194