The Critical Role of Soil Ecological Stoichiometric Ratios: How Does Reforestation Improve Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability?

ABSTRACT: The ecological stoichiometric characteristics of soil elements have greatly enhanced our understanding of the circulation of soil nutrients. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the alteration of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometric ratios in deep soil after afforestation. To examine the variations in stoichiometric ratios of soil elements with different vegetation types, restoration times, and soil depths, we collected soil samples from grassland, Caragana korshinskii shrubland, and Picea asperata forestland at different stand ages (10a, 25a, and 40a) in Xining City, which is located on the Loess Plateau. Our results showed that, at 25a, the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) ratios were significantly higher in the grassland soil than

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11358991 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature