Carbon, Nitrogen and pH in Meadow Soil at Cryptomeria japonica Forests in Mt. Wugong

  Objective  Relationship between carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and pH in meadow soil at the forests of Cryptomeria japonica(L. f.)D. Don after afforested 34 years previously in Mt. Wugong was studied to extract crucial information on the restoration and construction of the fragile ecosystem.

  Method  Samples from 0-20 cm soil layer and litter on the meadow ground were collected by 5-point sampling method at representative plots at the forests for the determinations of C- and N-indices and soil pH.

  Result  Planting of C. japonica significantly increased the total N, ammonium N, nitrate N, available N, soluble organic N, soluble organic C, and microbial biomass C in soil, as well as the organic C and total N in litter (P < 0.05), but significantly reduced soil pH (P < 0.05). Soil pH inversely correlated with the organic C, total N, ammonium N, nitrate N, available N, soluble organic N, soluble organic C, and microbial biomass C in soil, and the organic C in litter.

  Conclusion  C. japonica planting positively impacted the microbial activity as well as the quality and N mineralization capacity of the soil, and decreased the svil pH, which was closely related with the organic matter decomposition.