Thinning and understory clearance are among the two most popular forest management practices carried out to improve stand productivity in subtropical plantations. Unfortunately, studies have not fully explored the single and combination effect of thinning and understory clearance on soil microbial properties. By conducting a field manipulation experiment in a subtropical moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) plantation in Southern China, we assessed the effects of thinning, understory clearance, and their combination on soil microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) three years after treatments were first applied. We also examined the changes in soil properties after thinning and/or understory clearance. Thinning decreased soil fungal and bacterial PLFAs, and consequently soil total microbial PLFAs due to the increased soil NH4+-N, and NO3—N concentrations. Understory clearance decreased soil pH and soil water content resulting in increased soil fungal PLFAs and the ratio of soil fungal to bacterial (F:B). In addition, thinning and understory clearance caused apparent interactive effects on soil total microbial PLFAs and bacterial PLFAs, and the negative influence of thinning on soil total microbial and bacterial PLFAs were partly compensated by understory clearance. These results suggest the contrasting and interactive effect of thinning and understory clearance should be considered to assess the changes of soil microbial community and ecological processes in subtropical moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) plantations in southern China.
ObjectiveLime application and understory plant clearance are two common forest management methods employed to increase forest productivity in subtropical regions. However, the effect of these two management methods, or their combined application, on soil respiration in forest plantation settings is still not fully understood.MethodsHere, a field experiment was conducted to determine how lime application, understory clearance, and their combined application, would impact total soil respiration (Rs), autotrophic respiration (Ra), and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) in a Chinese subtropical Eucalyptus plantation. Changes in soil microclimate and microbial community (PLFAs), as well as Eucalyptus fine root biomass were also assessed.ResultsLime application stimulated Rh, but decreased Ra of understory vegetation (primarily Dicranopteris dichotoma), thus consequently inhibiting Rs. Understory clearance also reduced Rs, primarily due to reductions in soil PLFAs and associated Rh, and Ra of understory vegetation. Since the increase in Rh induced by lime application was greater than the decrease in Rh caused by understory clearance, the combined application of lime application and understory clearance decreased Rs primarily by reducing understory root respiration.ConclusionOur observations suggest that understory plants can modulate the effect of lime application on Rs, highlighting the important role of understory vegetation in regulating soil carbon cycling in subtropical Eucalyptus plantations. We concluded that the potential interactive effects should be considered in developing management practices that optimize the yield and sustainability of subtropical plantations.
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