[Dynamic changes of soil ecological factors in Ziwuling secondary forest area under human disturbance].
As a widespread natural phenomenon, disturbance is considered as a discrete event occurred in natural ecosystems at various spatial and temporal scales. The occurrence of disturbance directly affects the structure, function and dynamics of ecosystems. Forest logging and forestland assart, the common human disturbances in forest area, have caused the dynamic changes of forest soil ecological factors in a relatively consistent environment. A study on the dynamics of soil bulk density, soil organic matter, soil microbes and other soil ecological factors under different human disturbance (logging and assart, logging but without assart, control) were conducted in the Ziwuling secondary forest area. The results indicated that human disturbance had a deep impact on the soil ecological factors, with soil physical and chemical properties become bad, soil organic matter decreased from 2.2% to 0.8%, and soil stable aggregates dropped more than 30%. The quantity of soil microbes decreased sharply with enhanced human disturbance. Soil organic matter and soil microbes decreased more than 50% and 90%, respectively, and soil bulk density increased from 0.9 to 1.21 g x cm(-3) with increasing soil depth. Ditch edge level also affected the dynamics of soil factors under the same disturbance, with a better soil ecological condition at low-than at high ditch edge level.
Zhou
Zhengchao
Z
State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Instiute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yangling 712100, China. zhouzhengchao@126.com
Shangguan
Zhouping
Z
D002681:China; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D006802:Human Activities; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil