A Comparison of Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometry Characteristics under Different Thinning Intensities in a Subtropical Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Forest of China

Abstract

Land management using suitable thinning intensities can promote the yield of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests and alter the nutrient content and stoichiometric characteristics within the soil. However, the effects of different thinning intensities on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry of P. edulis forests have not been comprehensively studied. Here, we evaluated the effects of three thinning intensities—no thinning control (NT), moderate thinning (annual removal of 15% of mature bamboo, MT), and heavy thinning (annual removal of 33% of mature bamboo, IT)—on the soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), and total P (TP) stocks and their stoichiometry characteristics of a P. edulis forest located in the subtropical zone. The results showed that SOC, TN, and TP stocks decreased with increasing soil depth after three years of thinning. The SOC, TN, and TP stocks and the ecological stoichiometry ratios were varied with the change of thinning intensity and SOC stocks declining with the increased thinning intensity, but TN and TP stocks for the MT treatment were enhanced. The order of TN and TP stocks was MT > NT > IT. In comparison to CK, TN and TP stocks for MT increased significantly by 18.8 and 37.3%, while SOC, TN, and TP stocks for IT decreased by 31.0%, 7.2%, and 21.4%, respectively. The C:N and C:P ratios of MT decreased by 32.8% and 39.0%, and those of IT decreased by 26.5% and 15.6%, respectively. In summary, we conclude that the MT is an effective management strategy to promote soil nutrient cycling and provides a reference for formulating management strategies in subtropical Moso bamboo forests.

Effects of Enclosure Succession on the Morphological Characteristics and Nutrient Content of a Bamboo Whip System in a Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Forest on Wuyi Mountain, China

“…The nutrient content of plant organs can reflect the soil nutrient level of the plant growth environment [38]. The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbon contents of the soil in Moso bamboo forests are mainly distributed in the soil layer from 0 to 40 cm [39][40][41]. There was no significant change in the organic carbon contents of the bamboo whips in the soil layer.…”

Two Sets of Boundary Conditions in Cyclical Systems with Goodwill in Capitalization

“…Some systems are inherently periodic: businesses operating according to seasons, such as agricultural systems, fisheries, and even tourism. The periods do not need to be regulated by annual seasons: periods may correspond to rotations in the business of growing multiannual plants [12,13].…”