title: Reforestation in southern China: revisiting soil N mineralization and nitrification after 8 years restoration.
abstract: Nitrogen availability and tree species selection play important roles in reforestation. However, long-term field studies on the effects and mechanisms of tree species composition on N transformation are very limited. Eight years after tree seedlings were planted in a field experiment, we revisited the site and tested how tree species composition affects the dynamics of N mineralization and nitrification. Both tree species composition and season significantly influenced the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON). N-fixing Acacia crassicarpa monoculture had the highest DON, and 10-mixed species plantation had the highest DOC. The lowest DOC and DON concentrations were both observed in Eucalyptus urophylla monoculture. The tree species composition also significantly affected net N mineralization rates. The highest rate of net N mineralization was found in A. crassicarpa monoculture, which was over twice than that in Castanopsis hystrix monoculture. The annual net N mineralization rates of 10-mixed and 30-mixed plantations were similar as that of N-fixing monoculture. Since mixed plantations have good performance in increasing soil DOC, DON, N mineralization and plant biodiversity, we recommend that mixed species plantations should be used as a sustainable approach for the restoration of degraded land in southern China.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qifeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi'an
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York-Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
authors.forename: Weixing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yingwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shiqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, 300191 Tianjin, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, P.R. China.|Xiaoliang Research Station for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Maoming 525029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Faming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058465:Nitrification; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen