Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Will the conversion of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests to Chinese fir plantations affect the transportation of soil water?
  • +6
  • qi Chen,
  • Yuanqiu Liu,
  • Jiahui Huang,
  • Yunhong Xie,
  • Tianjun Bai,
  • Xi Yuan,
  • Tianqi Wang,
  • Tingqi Xiao,
  • Wenping Deng
qi Chen
Jiangxi Agricultural University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Yuanqiu Liu
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Author Profile
Jiahui Huang
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Author Profile
Yunhong Xie
Beijing Forestry University
Author Profile
Tianjun Bai
Lu Mount Forest Ecosystem Positioning Research Station
Author Profile
Xi Yuan
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Author Profile
Tianqi Wang
Shanxi Jingneng Lvlin Electric corporation limited
Author Profile
Tingqi Xiao
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Author Profile
Wenping Deng
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Author Profile

Abstract

The conversion of natural forests to planted forests has become a global trend, and the practice has wide-ranging effects on soil. This study aimed to explore the differences in soil water movement after the conversion of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests (natural forest, NF) to Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolate (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations (CFP, 20–21 years old). Soil samples from five layers (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–50 cm) were collected from NF and CFP before and after rainfall event in the Peng Chongjian watershed, Jiangxi Province. The physical properties of the soils, including the mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of soil moisture content and the soil particle composition, were determined in both forest types. The δD of soil water and the litter water-holding capacity were also measured. The results showed that the variation ranges of moisture content in each soil layer after the rainfall was 21.13%–49.40% in CFP and 21.33%–43.87% in NF. There were no significant differences in soil bulk density or porosity; the clay and silt contents were significantly increased in topsoil, while the sand was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After the rainfall, soil water in CFP responded more promptly than NF. In the process of infiltration, the contribution of rainfall to soil moisture gradually decreased with increasing soil depth. Topsoil (0–5 cm) in NF responded promptly to rainfall, but the response showed a lag effect with the increase of soil depth. With the extension of infiltration time, the contribution of precipitation to deep soil gradually increased. The results showed that the soil did not degrade after the conversion of NF to CFP, a significant guiding result for plantation cultivation.