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Zhao W, Cao X, Li J, Xie Z, Sun Y, Peng Y. Novel Weighting Method for Evaluating Forest Soil Fertility Index: A Structural Equation Model. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:410. [PMID: 36679123 PMCID: PMC9867313 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding nutrient quantity and quality in forest soils is important for sustainable management of forest resources and maintaining forest ecosystem services. In this study, six soil nutrient indicators, including soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) were measured in five different aged stands of Chinese fir forests in subtropical China. A structural equation model (SEM) was developed based on these soil nutrients indicators in order to better evaluate the soil fertility index (SFI) in these studied forests. The results show that soil nutrient contents changed with the soil depth in different age groups. The SOM decreased in a specific order: over mature > mature > near mature > middle > young stands. The TN content of the soil gradually decreased with increased soil depth throughout all age groups. The SEM indicated that the TN had the highest weight of 0.4154, while the TP had the lowest weight at 0.1991 for estimating the SFI. The weights of other indicators (AN, SOM, AP, and AK) ranged 0.2138−0.3855 in our study. The established SEM satisfied the fitness reference values and was able to accurately describe the forest soil nutrient status through the SFI. The overall SFI values were significantly higher in over mature stands than in young-aged stands and in topsoil than in deeper soil in all examined forests. Soil TN, AP, and AK were the most important nutrient indicators to the evaluation of the SFI in the study sites. The results confirmed that the SEM was suitable to estimate the weights of the SFI and better describe the soil nutrient status in forests. Our research provides an innovative approach to assess a soil nutrient status and soil fertility and provides a scientific basis for accurate implementation of soil nutrient assessment in forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Zhao
- Faculty of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xiaoyu Cao
- Faculty of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Forest Resources Management and Monitoring in Southern Area, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Jiping Li
- Faculty of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Forest Resources Management and Monitoring in Southern Area, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Zhengchang Xie
- Faculty of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yaping Sun
- Faculty of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yuanying Peng
- College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA
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Rana S, Xu Z, Jemim RS, Liu Z, Wang Y, Geng X, Cai Q, Feng J, Zhou H, Zhang T, Li M, Guo X, Li Z. Soil Quality Assessment in Tourism-Disturbed Subtropical Mountain Meadow Areas of Wugong Mountain, Central Southeast China. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12081136. [PMID: 36013316 PMCID: PMC9409796 DOI: 10.3390/life12081136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Meadow soil is a vital ecosystem component and can be influenced by meadow vegetation. Evaluating soil quality in mountain meadows subjected to different levels of tourism disturbance is essential for scientific research, ecological restoration, and sustainable management. This study aimed to evaluate meadow soil quality at different tourism-disturbance levels and attempted to establish a minimum data set (MDS) with compatible indicators for soil quality assessment of subtropical mountain meadows. We analyzed fifteen soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators in control check (CK), light disturbance (LD), medium disturbance (MD), and severe disturbance (SD) meadow areas in Wugong Mountain, west of Jiangxi, China. In addition, a soil quality index (SQI) was determined using the established MDS based on the integrated soil quality index. Average soil permeability, soil pH, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and number of fungal OTUs were finally introduced into the MDS to evaluate meadow soil quality at different tourism-disturbance levels. The study found that the soil of the Wugong Mountain meadow was acidic, the bulk density was loose, and the nutrient content was rich. Additionally, SQI decreased with increase in tourism-disturbance level. The mean SQI values of the Wugong Mountain meadow areas were: CK, 0.612; LD, 0.493; MD, 0.448; and SD, 0.416. Our results demonstrate that the SQI based on the MDS method could be a valuable tool with which to indicate the soil quality of mountain meadow areas, and the SQI can be regarded as a primary indicator of ecological restoration and sustainable management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohel Rana
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Ziheng Xu
- Palm Eco-Town Development Co., Ltd., Building 3A, Haihui Center, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou 450000, China;
| | - Razia Sultana Jemim
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China;
| | - Zhen Liu
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Yanmei Wang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Xiaodong Geng
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Qifei Cai
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Jian Feng
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Huina Zhou
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Tao Zhang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Mingwan Li
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Xiaomin Guo
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China;
| | - Zhi Li
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (S.R.); (Z.L.); (Y.W.); (X.G.); (Q.C.); (J.F.); (H.Z.); (T.Z.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-177-5255-9889
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