title: Improvement in the biochemical and chemical properties of badland soils by thorny bamboo.
abstract: Badland soils-which have high silt and clay contents, bulk density, and soil electric conductivity- cover a large area of Southern Taiwan. This study evaluated the amelioration of these poor soils by thorny bamboo, one of the few plant species that grows in badland soils. Soil physiochemical and biological parameters were measured from three thorny bamboo plantations and nearby bare lands. Results show that bamboo increased microbial C and N, soil acid-hydrolysable C, recalcitrant C, and soluble organic C of badland soils. High microbial biomass C to total organic C ratio indicates that soil organic matter was used more efficiently by microbes colonizing bamboo plantations than in bare land soils. High microbial respiration to biomass C ratio in bare land soils confirmed environmentally induced stress. Soil microbes in bare land soils also faced soil organic matter with the high ratio of recalcitrant C to total organic C. The high soil acid-hydrolysable C to total organic C ratio at bamboo plantations supported the hypothesis that decomposition of bamboo litter increased soil C in labile fractions. Overall, thorny bamboo improved soil quality, thus, this study demonstrates that planting thorny bamboo is a successful practice for the amelioration of badland soils.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yo-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei 10066, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsai-Huei
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912-01, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Hau
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jien
authors.affiliation: Environmental Monitoring and Research Division, Monitoring and Research Department, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, 6001 W. Pershing Road, Cicero, IL 60804, USA.
authors.forename: Guanglong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012995:Solubility; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen