Open Access

ARTICLE

Spatial Heterogeneity of Selected Soil Nutrients Related to Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii Plantation in Southeastern China

Longlong Bai^1,#, Yong Zhang^2,#, Min Wang¹, Ying He¹, Tao Ye¹, Keli Zhao^1,*

1 Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
2 Zhejiang Public Welfare Forest and State Forest Farm Management Station, Hangzhou, 310020, China

* Corresponding Author: Keli Zhao. Email:

(This article belongs to this Special Issue: The Effect of Soil Quality Degradation on the Plant Growth, Quality and Food Safety in Subtropical Agroforestry Ecosystems)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(10), 2221-2233. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.021422

Received 13 January 2022; Accepted 15 February 2022; Issue published 30 May 2022

Abstract

Chinese Torreya grandis (Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii) is a unique economic tree species in China. Intensive management related to application of chemical fertilizer and herbicides caused serious soil quality degradation of Chinese Torreya grandis plantations. Totally, 120 soil samples were collected from the main disbtributed areas of Chinese Torreya grandis in Southeastern China. In this area, soil pH values varied from 3.68 to 6.78, with a median value of 4.91, implying a trend of acidification. The average concentrations of organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were 27.52 g kg⁻¹, 135.77 mg kg⁻¹, 15.12 mg kg⁻¹, and 153.43 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The results of spatial analysis revealed that target variables had clear spatial patterns. The soil fertility was relevantly high in most of the study area, with soil nutrient imbalances existing. The stand age had a large effect on soil properties, which were also mainly influenced by human activities. Therefore, it is necessary to change the fertilization method for a sustainable management of Torreya grandis plantation.

---

Keywords

---