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In this study, we have considered the relationship between the spatial configuration of land use and water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Using land use types, landscape metrics, and long-term water quality data, as well as statistical and spatial analysis, we determined that most water quality parameters were negatively correlated with non-wood forest and urban areas but were strongly positively correlated with the proportion of forest area. Landscape indices such as patch density, contagion, and the Shannon diversity index were able to predict some water quality indicators, but the mean shape index was not significantly related to the proportions of farmland and water in the study area. Regression relationships were stronger in spring and fall than in summer, and relationships with nitrogen were stronger than those of the other water quality parameters ( R > 0.80) in all three seasons. Redundancy analysis showed that declining stream water quality was closely associated with configurations of urban, agricultural, and forest areas and with landscape fragmentation (PD) caused by urbanization and agricultural activities. Thus, a rational land use plan of adjusting the land use type, controlling landscape fragmentation, and increasing the proportion of forest area would help to achieve a healthier river ecosystem in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil respiration (Rs) was continuously measured in a subtropical forest for 3 years. • Significant diurnal, seasonal and annual variations of Rs were observed. • Significant temperature effects on Rs were found in the active phenological seasons. • The highest value of Q 10 occurred at the end-season. • Despite higher daytime Rs, no significant diurnal variations in Q 10 were detectable. Soil respiration (Rs) is a major flux of the carbon cycle in forest ecosystems, and time-scale-dependent variations in Rs are critical for evaluating carbon sequestration capacity, which is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated diurnal, phenological seasonal and annual variations in Rs over three years (2015–2017) in a Pinus massoniana forest in subtropical China based on automated Rs chamber measurements at hourly intervals. Soil temperature and moisture at the 5 cm soil depth were simultaneously measured, and precipitation data were collected to examine their influences on Rs. Our results showed that the daytime mean and total Rs were significantly higher than their respective nighttime counterparts over the course of a year. Daily Rs ranged from 0.42 to 4.63 µmol CO 2 m−2s−1, with the maximum value in August and the minimum value in February. The temperature sensitivity of Rs (Q 10) did not significantly differ between daytime and nighttime, but it was significantly higher at the end-season (autumn) than during the nongrowing season. The effects of soil temperature but not soil moisture on Rs varied with phenological season, showing significant soil temperature effects in the active phenological seasons (spring and autumn) but not in the steady-state phenological seasons (growing season and nongrowing season). This seasonal-dependent temperature effect on Rs may be a result of the effect of rapidly changing temperature in spring and autumn on leaf phenology, plant growth and physiological activity, soil microbial and enzyme activity, and litter decomposition rate. Our results suggest that long-term data covering monthly, seasonal, and annual variations in Rs and its biotic and abiotic environments are needed for more precisely calculating and predicting the carbon balance of forest ecosystems on various time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the soil carbon dynamics and cycling in terrestrial ecosystems in response to environmental changes, we studied soil respiration, litter decomposition, and their relations to soil temperature and soil water content for 18-months (Aug. 2010–Jan. 2012) in three different-aged Pinus massoniana forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China. Across the experimental period, the mean total soil respiration and litter respiration were 1.94 and 0.81, 2.00 and 0.60, 2.19 and 0.71 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, and the litter dry mass remaining was 57.6%, 56.2% and 61.3% in the 20-, 30-, and 46-year-old forests, respectively. We found that the temporal variations of soil respiration and litter decomposition rates can be well explained by soil temperature at 5 cm depth. Both the total soil respiration and litter respiration were significantly positively correlated with the litter decomposition rates. The mean contribution of the litter respiration to the total soil respiration was 31.0%–45.9% for the three different-aged forests. The present study found that the total soil respiration was not significantly affected by forest age when P. masonniana stands exceed a certain age (e.g. >20 years old), but it increased significantly with increased soil temperature. Hence, forest management strategies need to protect the understory vegetation to limit soil warming, in order to reduce the CO2 emission under the currently rapid global warming. The contribution of litter decomposition to the total soil respiration varies across spatial and temporal scales. This indicates the need for separate consideration of soil and litter respiration when assessing the climate impacts on forest carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest tree species distributed across a wide range of geographical areas are subjected to differential climatic and edaphic conditions and long-term selection, leading to genotypes with morphological and physiological adaptation to the local environment. To test the ability of species to cope with changing environmental conditions, we studied the ecophysiological features of Quercus variabilis using seedlings grown in geographically widely isolated populations (Exp. I, in situ) and in a common garden (Exp. II, ex situ) using seedlings originating from those populations. We found that Q. variabilis plants grown in different locations along a south-north gradient had different levels of nutrients (N, P, K) and carbon-physiological performance (photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrates, such as soluble sugars and starch), and that these physiological differences were not correlated with local soil properties. These geographic variations of plant physiology disappeared when plants from different locations were grown in the same environment. Our results indicate that the physiological performance of Q. variabilis plants is mainly determined by the climatic variations across latitude rather than by their soils or by genetic differentiation. The adaptive ability of Q. variabilis found in the present study suggests that this species has the potential to cope, at least to some extent, with changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mixing effects on degradation of lignin and cellulose in mixed leaf litter from Pinus massoniana Lamb., Cupressus funebris Endl., and/or Quercus variabilis Bl., and elucidate the interactions with abiotic factors. The litter bag method was used in the field experiment, and the three predominant species in the Three Gorges Reservoir region were treated as single-, pair-, and tri-species combinations with equal proportions of litter mass. Lignin and cellulose losses in the litter treatments were measured, and the mixing effects were evaluated based on the sampling phase and decomposition period. At the end of the one-year decomposition period, mixing species increased lignin loss by 3.3% for the cypress + oak combination and cellulose loss by 3.9%, 1.8%, and 0.8% for the pine + oak, cypress + oak, and pine + cypress + oak combinations, respectively. The pine + oak and cypress + oak combinations exhibited greater lignin and cellulose loss than the tri-species mixture. Accelerated lignin degradation also apparently occurred in the pine + cypress combination as decomposition proceeded. Generalized linear models suggested that the investigated environmental factors (in terms of average temperature and cumulative precipitation) and changing litter quality (lignin, cellulose, and lignin/cellulose) had significant effects on nonadditive lignin loss, whereas only the changing litter quality factors significantly affected nonadditive cellulose loss. In summary, mixing two or three of the studied species alters cycling of recalcitrant substrates in plantations, and mixed planting with Quercus appears to strengthen both the lignin and cellulose degradation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the adaptive strategies of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency, particularly the plasticity of structural and physiological responses, is crucial for predicting plant growth. Our study aimed to investigate the growth, root morphological and resistance trait responses of Pinus massoniana seedlings under a fact-based low-P range.A P manipulation experiment (0–9.299 mg·kg−1) was carried out to measure biomass, root morphological and resistance traits of P. massoniana seedlings.The root to shoot biomass ratio changed, however, the belowground biomass did not change in response to decreased P content of the growing substrate. Seedlings extended fine roots (0–2 mm in length) thus increased root surface area to enhance P uptake. The length of coarse root (> 5 mm) and root average diameter increased with P addition. A strong response was found in root resistance traits, which also exhibited higher plasticity and made greater contributions to growth. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, acid phosphatase activity, and organic acid content all decreased with P addition, but root vigor showed a more sensitive response, making it a potentially informative indicator for changes in P conditions.Physiological traits related to root resistance were more sensitive and important in plant growth regulation, while root morphological traits showed different adaptative strategies among root classes to regulate biomass and absorptive function. The combined effects of morphological and resistance traits alleviate the limitation of P on plant growth. Our findings will provide insights into the adaptive strategies of plantation growing in subtropical regions under limiting nutrient environment.Methods: Understanding the adaptive strategies of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency, particularly the plasticity of structural and physiological responses, is crucial for predicting plant growth. Our study aimed to investigate the growth, root morphological and resistance trait responses of Pinus massoniana seedlings under a fact-based low-P range.A P manipulation experiment (0–9.299 mg·kg−1) was carried out to measure biomass, root morphological and resistance traits of P. massoniana seedlings.The root to shoot biomass ratio changed, however, the belowground biomass did not change in response to decreased P content of the growing substrate. Seedlings extended fine roots (0–2 mm in length) thus increased root surface area to enhance P uptake. The length of coarse root (> 5 mm) and root average diameter increased with P addition. A strong response was found in root resistance traits, which also exhibited higher plasticity and made greater contributions to growth. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, acid phosphatase activity, and organic acid content all decreased with P addition, but root vigor showed a more sensitive response, making it a potentially informative indicator for changes in P conditions.Physiological traits related to root resistance were more sensitive and important in plant growth regulation, while root morphological traits showed different adaptative strategies among root classes to regulate biomass and absorptive function. The combined effects of morphological and resistance traits alleviate the limitation of P on plant growth. Our findings will provide insights into the adaptive strategies of plantation growing in subtropical regions under limiting nutrient environment.Results: Understanding the adaptive strategies of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency, particularly the plasticity of structural and physiological responses, is crucial for predicting plant growth. Our study aimed to investigate the growth, root morphological and resistance trait responses of Pinus massoniana seedlings under a fact-based low-P range.A P manipulation experiment (0–9.299 mg·kg−1) was carried out to measure biomass, root morphological and resistance traits of P. massoniana seedlings.The root to shoot biomass ratio changed, however, the belowground biomass did not change in response to decreased P content of the growing substrate. Seedlings extended fine roots (0–2 mm in length) thus increased root surface area to enhance P uptake. The length of coarse root (> 5 mm) and root average diameter increased with P addition. A strong response was found in root resistance traits, which also exhibited higher plasticity and made greater contributions to growth. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, acid phosphatase activity, and organic acid content all decreased with P addition, but root vigor showed a more sensitive response, making it a potentially informative indicator for changes in P conditions.Physiological traits related to root resistance were more sensitive and important in plant growth regulation, while root morphological traits showed different adaptative strategies among root classes to regulate biomass and absorptive function. The combined effects of morphological and resistance traits alleviate the limitation of P on plant growth. Our findings will provide insights into the adaptive strategies of plantation growing in subtropical regions under limiting nutrient environment.Conclusion: Understanding the adaptive strategies of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency, particularly the plasticity of structural and physiological responses, is crucial for predicting plant growth. Our study aimed to investigate the growth, root morphological and resistance trait responses of Pinus massoniana seedlings under a fact-based low-P range.A P manipulation experiment (0–9.299 mg·kg−1) was carried out to measure biomass, root morphological and resistance traits of P. massoniana seedlings.The root to shoot biomass ratio changed, however, the belowground biomass did not change in response to decreased P content of the growing substrate. Seedlings extended fine roots (0–2 mm in length) thus increased root surface area to enhance P uptake. The length of coarse root (> 5 mm) and root average diameter increased with P addition. A strong response was found in root resistance traits, which also exhibited higher plasticity and made greater contributions to growth. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, acid phosphatase activity, and organic acid content all decreased with P addition, but root vigor showed a more sensitive response, making it a potentially informative indicator for changes in P conditions.Physiological traits related to root resistance were more sensitive and important in plant growth regulation, while root morphological traits showed different adaptative strategies among root classes to regulate biomass and absorptive function. The combined effects of morphological and resistance traits alleviate the limitation of P on plant growth. Our findings will provide insights into the adaptive strategies of plantation growing in subtropical regions under limiting nutrient environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous input and degradation of organic matter is crucial for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration during stand development. However, it remains unclear how the relative contribution of plant residues and microbial necromass to SOC changes with stand age and what are the determinants of the change pattern. The space-for-time substitution (chronosequence) approach was used to establish plots of Pinus massoniana plantations at five stand ages (6, 13, 29, 38, and 57 years). Soil samples were collected in each plot to determine the relative contribution of plant residues and microbial necromass to SOC storage by using SOC-normalized content of lignin and microbial necromass carbon (MNC). Lignin increased initially from young to mature but then decreased in over-mature plantation (R 2 = 0.54, P < 0.01) and was dominated by vanillyl phenols (79 %–89 %). MNC decreased at first from young to mature but then increased in over-mature plantation (R 2 = 0.50, P < 0.05) and it was dominated by fungal necromass carbon (54–63 %). Partial least squares path modeling revealed that stand age directly positively affected lignin and MNC, and indirectly maintained their change patterns through tree growth and microbial attributes. Stand age had a total positive effect (0.57) on lignin and a total negative effect (−0.54) on MNC. Regression analysis showed that the ratio of SOC to total nitrogen (SOC/TN) was positively correlated with lignin (R 2 = 0.76, P < 0.01) yet negatively correlated with MNC (R 2 = 0.58, P < 0.01). Additionally, the diameter at breast height, pH, and the ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass together with SOC/TN regulated the patterns of lignin and MNC with stand age. Overall, this study highlights the opposite pattern of lignin and MNC and emphasizes the importance of considering both tree growth and microbial attributes when developing SOC sequestration strategies with stand age. [Display omitted] • Lignin is mainly dominated by vanillyl phenols with stand age. • Microbial necromass carbon is mainly dominated by the fungal necromass carbon with stand age. • Microbial necromass initially decreases but then increases as stand developed. • Lignin initially increase but then decrease as stand developed. • Tree growth and microbial attributes govern lignin and microbial necromass change with stand age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a global environmental problem, and Quercus variabilis has a stronger tolerance to Cd stress than do other species. We aimed to explore the physiological response and molecular mechanisms of Q. variabilis to Cd stress. In this study, the antioxidant enzyme activities of leaves were determined, while the photosynthetic parameters of leaves were measured using Handy PEA, and ion fluxes and DEGs in the roots were investigated using noninvasive microtest technology (NMT) and RNA sequencing techniques, respectively. Cd stress at different concentrations and for different durations affected the uptake patterns of Cd2+ and H+ by Q. variabilis and affected the photosynthetic efficiency of leaves. Moreover, there was a positive relationship between antioxidant enzyme (CAT and POD) activity and Cd concentration. Transcriptome analysis revealed that many genes, including genes related to the cell wall, glutathione metabolism, ion uptake and transport, were significantly upregulated in response to cadmium stress in Q. variabilis roots. WGCNA showed that these DEGs could be divided into eight modules. The turquoise and blue modules exhibited the strongest correlations, and the most significantly enriched pathways were the phytohormone signaling pathway and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, respectively. These findings suggest that Q. variabilis can bolster plant tolerance by modulating signal transduction and increasing the synthesis of compounds, such as lignin, under Cd stress. In summary, Q. variabilis can adapt to Cd stress by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and regulating the fluxes of Cd2+ and H+ ions and the expression of Cd stress-related genes. [Display omitted] • Different concentrations and durations of Cd stress affect Cd2+/H+ flux patterns in the root. • Catalase, Peroxidase and Proline activity in leaves were positively correlated with cadmium content. • Q. variabilis improves its Cd2+ tolerance by regulating signal transduction and increasing lignin synthesis. • Q. variabilis has the potential to be used for heavy metal remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) additions affect plant C:N:P stoichiometry via changes in AMF communities in a Chinese fir plantation. Methods: Experimental plots in a 10-year-old Chinese fir plantation were treated with N addition (LN, 30 kg•ha−1•yr−1, and HN, 60 kg•ha−1•yr−1) and P addition (LP, 20 mg•kg−1, and HP, 40 mg•kg−1) for 2 years starting from 2017. Soil properties, leaf C:N:P stoichiometry, and changes in AMF community composition and diversity were measured. Results: N or P addition increased soil N availability, decreased P availability, and increased N:P in the leaves and soil. Changes in soil pH induced by N and P additions affected the colonization rate and spore density of AMF. AMF colonization rate was increased by N or P addition, and AMF diversity was increased by LN addition. N and P additions altered AMF species composition, and the dominant genus of the AMF in the soil was Glomus in all treatments. The interaction of N and P treatments had no significant effect on AMF diversity. AMF colonization rate and diversity, rather than its composition, affected leaf C:N:P stoichiometry. Conclusion: N and P additions affected colonization rate and diversity of AMF though changes in soil pH, which drove leaf C:N:P stoichiometry, and potentially affected forest productivity via the fungi-soil-plant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although stand age affects biomass partitioning and allometric equations, the size of these effects and whether it is worth incorporating stand age into allometric equations, requires further attention. We sampled a total of 90 trees for 10 Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations at seven stand age classes to obtain the data of tree component biomass using destructive harvesting. A multilevel modeling approach was applied to examine how stand age effects differ among tree components and predictor variables (diameter at breast height, DBH and tree height, H). Age class-specific allometric equations and the best fitting generalized equation that included stand age as a complementary variable were developed for each tree component. Large differences in both the intercept and slope for different stand age classes indicated that stand age affected allometric models. Branch and leaves were more sensitive to the environment and were the tree components most affected by stand age. Age class-specific allometric equations fitted well (R2 > 0.65, p < 0.001) using DBH and the combined form DBH2H as predictor variables. Including stand age as a complementary variable improved the fit of generalized allometric equations. Stem, aboveground and total tree biomass predicted by the multilevel model and generalized equation were comparable to the observed data. However, the multilevel model and generalized equations had a relatively low predictive capacity for branch, leaf and root biomass. These results could improve our capacity to evaluate carbon sequestration and other ecosystem functions in plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient for plant growth in most forest ecosystems. In response to P deficiency, plants alter root exudates (organic acids, phosphatases, and protons) to increase P bioavailability in soils. However, little is known about how bioavailable P pools (soluble-P, exchangeable-P, hydrolysable-P, and ligand-P extracted by CaCl2, citric acid, enzyme mixture, and HCl solution, respectively) change with stand age, especially for plantation forests. We selected a chronosequence of second-generation Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., Taxodiaceae] plantations with increasing age including 3, 8–11, 16, 20, 25, 29, and 32 years. We measured total P and four bioavailable P pools in organic (O) and mineral horizons, and rhizosphere soil, as well as root exudates in the rhizosphere, litter biomass on the forest floor, and annual P uptake. Soluble-P, exchangeable-P, and ligand-P in the O horizon increased with stand age due to litter accumulation. Exchangeable-P and ligand-P in mineral soil decreased with stand age because of the increasing annual P uptake that depleted inorganic P. Exchangeable-P and ligand-P in the rhizosphere increased with stand age because the decrease in pH and citric acid concentration led to phosphate being more strongly bound to Fe and Al oxyhydroxides. Consequently, the trees' ability for P mobilization decreased with stand age, but the P recycling within the tree increased. Continuous mineralization of hydrolysable-P by acid phosphatase replenished inorganic P pools, especially in solution. The progressive incorporation of P in the biological cycle with increasing tree age indicates that extending rotation periods might be an appropriate measure to increase P supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a key factor that affects terrestrial biogeochemical cycles with a growing trend, especially in the southeast region of China, where shortage of available phosphorus (P) is particularly acute and P has become a major factor limiting plant growth and productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish a mutualistic symbiosis with plants, and play an important role in enhancing plant stress resistance. However, the response of AMF to the combined effects of N deposition and P additions is poorly understood. Thus, in this study, a field experiment was conducted in 10-year Chinese fir forests to estimate the effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition (low-N, 30 kg ha−1 year−1 and high-N, 60 kg ha−1 year−1) and phosphorus (P) addition treatments (low-P, 20 mg kg−1 and high-P, 40 mg kg−1) on AMF since April 2017, which was reflected in AMF root colonization rates and spore density of rhizosphere soil. Our results showed that N deposition significantly decreased AMF root colonization rates and spore density. In N-free plots, P addition significantly decreased AMF root colonization rates, but did not significantly alter spore density. In low-N plots, colonization rates significantly decreased under low P addition, but significantly increased under high P addition, and spore density exhibited a significant decline under high P additions. In high-N plots, colonization rates and spore density significantly increased under P additions. Interactive effects of simulated N deposition and P addition on both colonization rates and spore density were significant. Moderate N deposition or P addition can weaken the symbiotic relationship between plants and AMF, significantly reducing AMF colonization rates and inhibiting spore production. However, a moderate addition of P greatly enhances spore yield. In the case of interactive effects, the AMF colonization rates and spore density are affected by the relative content of N and P in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Nitrogen depositions significantly increase soil respiration (Rs) rates. • Nitrogen depositions significantly decrease the temperature sensitivity of Rs. • Soils emit 470 kg CO 2 ha−1 yr−1 per 1 kg N ha−1 yr−1 added to Moso bamboo forests. • Models based on temperatures of soil and air may quantify annual soil CO 2 effluxes. • The N saturation threshold of Moso bamboo forests may be 60 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Abstract Nitrogen (N) deposition plays an important role in regulating forest productivity and microbial biomass and activities, ultimately influencing soil respiration (Rs). However, the effects of increasing atmospheric N depositions on Rs in subtropical Moso bamboo forests remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a 4-year field experiment in a subtropical Moso bamboo forest to quantify the effect of simulated N depositions at four rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha−1 yr-1) on Rs. The mean Rs rate of the control was 353.17 ± 53.23 mg CO 2 m-2 h-1 or 30.75 ± 2.38 t CO 2 ha-1 yr-1. Soil respiration showed significantly higher sensitivity (Q 10) to soil temperature than to air temperature, and the Rs rate was significantly positively related to soil microbial biomass carbon, soil temperature, and NO 3 -. In response to N addition treatments of 30, 60, and 90 kg N ha-1 yr-1, the mean annual Rs increased by approximately 45.7%, 37.7%, and 13.0%, respectively, compared with the control. Nitrogen depositions decreased the temperature sensitivity of Rs, leading to predictions that they may be able to mitigate the priming effects of future climate warmings on Rs in Moso bamboo forests in the coming decades. Combined models based on the significant relationships between Rs rates, daily mean air temperatures, and hourly soil temperatures at a depth of 5 cm may reliably and feasibly estimate annual soil CO 2 efflux. On average, soil emitted 470 kg CO 2 ha-1 yr-1 per 1 kg N ha-1 yr-1 added, which declined when N addition surpassed the N saturation threshold of 60 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Our findings provide a method for estimating annual soil CO 2 efflux and new insights into the effects of N deposition rates on soil CO 2 efflux in Moso bamboo forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Only stem harvest can avoid P loss due to<23% P stock allocated in stem. • Higher P fluxes showed stronger P acquisition and recycling in mature plantations. • The combined use of acquisition and recycling strategies favors P biological cycle. • The maximum annual P uptake by trees occurred at stand age of 22 years. The cycling dynamics and supply–demand balance of nutrients can provide useful information for improving the management of tree plantations and maintaining their long-term productivity. Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth; however, its cycling characteristics and availability in soils along different stand developmental stages remain unclear, especially in intensively managed plantations. In this study, we examined the stocks, distribution, flux, and supply–demand balance of P across a chronosequence of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.; Taxodiaceae) plantations aged 3, 8–11, 16, 21, 25, 29, and 32 years. <22.18% tree P stock allocated for stem across a chronosequence, suggesting that only stem harvest could return more than three-quarters of tree P stock to soil. The annual P resorption, P return, and P-use efficiency increased with stand age, indicating strong P recycling. Indicators of P acquisition and recycling strategies significantly increased with stand age and promoted P fluxes. The combination of acquisition and recycling strategies might favor the entrainment of P into the biological cycle. With the increase in stand age, the available soil P stocks initially decreased and then increased after 11 years, while the annual P uptake increased at first and then stabilized after 22 years. Based on the best fitted model, the lower soil P supply and higher tree P demand in 9- to 40-year-old plantations revealed that timely and appropriate fertilization could enhance soil P supply and improve stand productivity. This work provides crucial information about the time of fertilization and appropriate harvest methods for the sustainable management of forest P nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High soil P content was found in eastern and northern subtropical China. • Soil clay strongly and negatively affected regional-scale variation in soil P. • Humidity index and DBH indirectly affected soil available P via soil clay content. • Extending the rotation period benefits the recovery of soil P availability. Evaluating the environmental effects on soil phosphorus (P) availability is the key to understanding P cycling and regulating forest productivity. However, what and how environmental factors affect soil P availability in regional plantation ecosystems remains unclear. The study evaluated the effects of climatic factors, nitrogen deposition rate, stand attributes, litter characteristics, and soil-associated properties on soil P availability in Masson pine plantations across subtropical China using stepwise regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses. At the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths, soil total P ranged from 0.24 to 0.43 g kg−1 and from 0.24 to 0.48 g kg−1, respectively. Similarly, soil available P varied from 0.35 to 7.55 mg kg−1 and from 0.14 to 4.34 mg kg−1, respectively. Soil total and available P had high values in the eastern and northern distribution areas of subtropical China. Soil total P linearly decreased with an increase in bulk density, clay and pH but linearly increased with an increase in DBH. These four factors had a similar contribution (15.5–35.1 %) to soil total P. Soil available P linearly decreased with an increase in bulk density and clay. The relative contribution of clay (48.1–75.7 %) to soil available P was higher than that of bulk density (16.2–33.5 %). Soil total P decreased during the initial 30 years of plantations and then increased. But other variables (e.g., climate, nitrogen deposition, and litter) had no significant impacts on soil P. Overall, the SEM explained 35.4 % and 28.1 % of soil available P variations at the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively, and revealed that clay had strong total effects (β = -0.526 and −0.396) on the soil available P. These results reveal the dominant roles of soil texture (especially clay) in affecting soil P availability in Masson pine plantations and suggest that extending the rotation period benefits soil P recovery in pine plantation ecosystems of subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation is an effective method to increase carbon (C) sinks and address climate change. It is crucial to understand how the stand growth affects C sequestration capacity, especially when the trade-offs with timber production from plantations have not been fully examined. We used a chronosequence approach to estimate C storage in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations (including the trees, understory, litter, and soils) at seven stand ages (3, 8–11, 16, 21, 25, 29, and 32 years). Ecosystem C storage increased nonlinearly from 76.4 to 282.2 t ha−1 with stand age and was fitted with a logistic model that had a maximum C storage and age of 271.9 t ha−1 and 33 years, respectively, to reach 95% of the maximum stored C. The C increment was mainly contributed by an increase in tree biomass, which ranged from 2.8 to 177.7 t ha−1 and comprised 4–64% of the total ecosystem C. Live root C (sum of the stump, coarse, and fine root C) showed a logistic increase from 2.0 to 26.3 t ha−1 with stand age and constituted 2.5–9.3% of ecosystem C. Understory plants and litter represented a small pool (<2% of ecosystem C). The C storage in shrubs and litter slightly increased, while that in herbs decreased as the stands aged. Soil C storage was an important and relatively stable pool, ranging from 69.6 to 130.1 t ha−1. Stand volume was also best fitted with a logistic model with a maximum value of 552.6 m3 ha−1. Additionally, the time needed to reach 95% of the maximum volume was 25 years. Hence, extending the rotation age to over 30 years for Chinese fir plantations could potentially maximize the synergistic benefits of C storage to mitigate climate change and obtain timber products for economic profit. [Display omitted] • Chinese fir plantations have high carbon (C) sequestration capacity. • Accumulation of ecosystem C was mainly contributed by increase in tree biomass C. • Soil C storage remained relatively stable except for stand at age of 21 years. • Rotation extension enhances ecosystem C storage and large-trees' timber production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ordered weighted averaging method was used to handle ecosystem service trade-offs. • Ecological sources were selected based on the conservation efficiency. • Proposed a resistance surface framework considering the characteristics of the karst. • Ecological security patterns showed that large-scale farmland hampered connectivity. The construction of ecological security patterns (ESPs) from the perspective of ecosystem services is vital in regional sustainability. However, previous approaches have often not considered the complex trade-offs between ecosystem services during the construction of ESPs. Taking the Daning river basin in karst areas of southwest China as our study area, we improve the current methodological framework to construct an ESP by integrating ecosystem service trade-offs, typical characteristics of the karst area, and circuit theory. The multi-criterion decision method of ordered weighted averaging was used to balance ecosystem service trade-offs and to determine the ecological sources with the optimum conservation efficiency. The resistance surface based on land use was modified by the nighttime light intensity and rocky desertification index. Circuit theory was then applied to identify corridors, pinch points and barriers. The results showed that the spatial patterns of the six ecosystem services (food provision, carbon sequestration, soil retention, water yield, habitat quality and ecological recreation) varied considerably within the study area. By comparing the conservation efficiencies, scenario 5 was selected as the optimal scenario, and the conservation efficiencies of six ecosystem services within the ecological sources were > 1 and were more balanced, illustrating the flexibility and feasibility of our method. The modified resistance surface comprehensively reflected the dual influence of human activity and rocky desertification on ecosystems. The ESP in the Daning river basin included 34 ecological sources, 66 key corridors, ecological corridors with an area of 957 km2, and 100 pinch points and 36 barriers distributed on the corridors. The ecological sources mostly covered by forest land were mainly distributed in the north and east of the study area. The key and ecological corridors were densely located in the south and central areas, where pinch points were also mainly concentrated. Barriers were distributed on the edge of ecological sources and corridors. Based on ESP, the Daning river basin was divided into ecologically important areas in northern and eastern and ecologically improving areas in central and southern, the corresponding ecological restoration measures were also proposed. In summary, this study makes up for the shortcomings of constructing ESPs by the simple spatial overlaying of ecosystem services. Our findings could also effectively enhance the robustness and sustainability of ESPs in karst areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Forest restoration programmes in China have targeted ecosystem services and livelihoods. • Forest restoration programmes have improved key ecosystem service indicators. • The key ecosystem services of the persisting forest are irreplaceable. • Forest restoration programmes have not had a negative impact on livelihood. • The inequalities of livelihoods among households may lead to a resurgence of deforestation. China has made tremendous efforts in forest restoration (FR), and has established ambitions to govern its fragile ecosystem and improve green welfare until 2035. However, debate still exists over whether FR can simultaneously improve ecosystem services and enhance livelihoods. In this paper, we test the impacts of forest restoration on key ecosystem services and livelihoods via a case study of Badong County in the TGRA, China. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach were used to evaluate the soil erosion rate (SER) and net primary productivity (NPP), and we analyzed livelihoods through 520 surveys. Our results revealed that forestland increased significantly from 45.34% to 69.63% during 1990–2015. The annual average SER significantly dropped from 67.01 to 51.18 t·ha−1·yr−1 during 2001–2015, and the annual average NPP increased from 547.12 gC·m−2·a−1 in 2000 to 609.81 gC·m−2·a−1 in 2015. However, the afforestation area offered disadvantages when compared with the persisting forest area in SER and NPP. Households in ecologically fragile areas have equal opportunities in, among others, infrastructure and government policies, but their income and living conditions are often heterogeneous. The per capita income and area of residence improved under FR. Nonetheless, the inequality in per capita income between participating households (PHs) and nonparticipating households (NPHs) increased. Compared with NPHs, PHs lost more cropland, and agricultural income, and more PH householders were forced to find new livelihood activities. These inequalities are not conducive to the sustainable development of FR. Accordingly, we recommend that restoration efforts should focus on forest quality and habitat availability improvement in the persisting forest area and afforestation area, and on new reforestation programmes where appropriate. The government should provide sustainable and science-based ecological subsidies and help PHs obtain alternative livelihood activities, which contribute to higher household income and poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the interspecific differentiation characteristics of species originating from recent radiation, the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technique was used to explore the kinship, population structure, gene flow, genetic variability, genotype-environment association and selective sweeps of Picea asperata complex with similar phenotypes from a genome-wide perspective. The following results were obtained: 14 populations of P. asperata complex could be divided into 5 clades; P. wilsonii and P. neoveitchii diverged earlier and were more distantly related to the remaining 6 spruce species. Various geological events have promoted the species differentiation of P. asperata complex. There were four instances of gene flow among P. koraiensis , P. meyeri , P. asperata , P. crassifolia and P. mongolica . The population of P. mongolica had the highest level of nucleotide diversity, and P. neoveitchii may have experienced a bottleneck recently. Genotype-environment association found that a total of 20,808 genes were related to the environmental variables, which enhanced the adaptability of spruce in different environments. Genes that were selectively swept in the P. asperata complex were primarily associated with plant stress resistance. Among them were some genes involved in plant growth and development, heat stress, circadian rhythms and flowering. In addition to the commonly selected genes, different spruce species also displayed unique genes subjected to selective sweeps that improved their adaptability to different habitats. Understanding the interspecific gene flow and adaptive evolution of Picea species is beneficial to further understanding the species relationships of spruce and can provide a basis for studying spruce introgression and functional genomics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Forest management changes the physical environments and nutrient dynamics and then regulates the forest productivity. Soil phosphorus (P) availability is critical for productivity in tropical and subtropical forests. However, it was still poorly understood how soil P content and fraction respond to various forest management practices in these regions. Here, we measured the soil total P, available P, and Hedley's P fractions, including inorganic and organic P (Pi and Po), in subtropical pine plantations treated with understory removal (UR), non-dominant species thinning (NDST) and dominant species thinning (DST) after nine years. Compared to plantations without management (CK), treatments such as UR, NDST, and DST decreased soil total P at 0-10 cm and soil available P at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm. Increases in resin-Pi, NaOH-Pi, and C.HCl-Pi resulted in a higher total Pi in 0-10 cm ( p < 0.05) in treated plots (UR, NDST, and DST) than in CK plots. UR, NDST, and DST treatments increased NaHCO 3 -Po and NaOH-Po ( p < 0.05) but decreased C.HCl-Po at a depth of 0-10 cm. Regardless of management treatments, soil total P, available P, and P fractions in 0-10 cm showed higher contents than those in 10-20 cm. There were positive relationships between total P and total Po ( p < 0.01) and between available P and total Pi. There were also positive relationships between total P, available P, NaHCO 3 -Pi, and NaOH-Pi ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, forest management such as UR, NDST, and DST decreased soil total P and available P, and transforming soil P fractions to available P will meet the P demand following management in the pine plantations of subtropical China., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer QZ declared a shared affiliation with the authors ZJ, LZ, LL, CL, YS, JZ, WX to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2024 Jian, Zeng, Lei, Liu, Shen, Zhang, Xiao and Li.)

The taxonomic classification of Picea meyeri and P. mongolica has long been controversial. To investigate the genetic relatedness, evolutionary history, and population history dynamics of these species, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology was utilized to acquire whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, which were subsequently used to assess population structure, population dynamics, and adaptive differentiation. Phylogenetic and population structural analyses at the genomic level indicated that although the ancestor of P. mongolica was a hybrid of P. meyeri and P. koraiensis, P. mongolica is an independent Picea species. Additionally, P. mongolica is more closely related to P. meyeri than to P. koraiensis, which is consistent with its geographic distribution. There were up to eight instances of interspecific and intraspecific gene flow between P. meyeri and P. mongolica. The P. meyeri and P. mongolica effective population sizes generally decreased, and Maxent modeling revealed that from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the present, their habitat areas decreased initially and then increased. However, under future climate scenarios, the habitat areas of both species were projected to decrease, especially under high-emission scenarios, which would place P. mongolica at risk of extinction and in urgent need of protection. Local adaptation has promoted differentiation between P. meyeri and P. mongolica. Genotype‒environment association analysis revealed 96,543 SNPs associated with environmental factors, mainly related to plant adaptations to moisture and temperature. Selective sweeps revealed that the selected genes among P. meyeri, P. mongolica and P. koraiensis are primarily associated in vascular plants with flowering, fruit development, and stress resistance. This research enhances our understanding of Picea species classification and provides a basis for future genetic improvement and species conservation efforts., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A large amount of stable soil organic matter (SOM) is derived from microbial necromass, which can be assessed by quantifying amino sugar biomarkers. Pinus massoniana Lamb. Plantations are widely distributed in China and play a vital role in forest carbon sequestration. However, the patterns of soil microbial residue remain poorly understood. In this study, amino sugars were used to characterize patterns of soil microbial residues at three soil depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) in P. massoniana plantations of different ages (young, middle-aged, near-mature, mature, and over-mature; denoted as YG, MD, NM, MT, and OM, respectively). In the topsoil (0-10 cm), the total nitrogen (TN) content of the OM forest was the highest, whereas the soil organic carbon (SOC) content of the MT forest was the highest. Consistent with changes in SOC and TN, total microbial residue content decreased with increasing soil depth. However, the total microbial residues C to SOC contribution increased considerably with increasing depth, suggesting that more SOC was derived from microbial residues in the subsoil than that from the topsoil. The fungal residue C to SOC contribution was higher than that of bacterial residue C. Total amino sugar content in the topsoil increased with increasing age, and MT and OM had a significantly higher content than that of other forests. At all soil depths, SOC and TN content predominantly determined microbial necromass, whereas soil microbial biomass content predominantly determined microbial necromass in the topsoil; soil pH predominantly determined microbial necromass in the 10-20 cm soil layer; and soil pH and Ca 2+ content were the primary factors in the soil layer below 20 cm. The study provides valuable insights into controls of microbial-derived organic C could be applied in Earth system studies for predicting SOC dynamics in forests., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

In woody plants, bark is an important protective tissue which can participate in photosynthesis, manage water loss, and transport assimilates. Studying the bark anatomical traits can provide insight into plant environmental adaptation strategies. However, a systematic understanding of the variability in bark anatomical traits and their drivers is lacking in woody plants. In this study, the bark anatomical traits of 23 Picea species were determined in a common garden experiment. We analyzed interspecific differences and interpreted the patterns in bark anatomical traits in relation to phylogenetic relationships and climatic factors of each species according to its global distribution. The results showed that there were interspecific differences in bark anatomical traits of Picea species. Phloem thickness was positively correlated with parenchyma cell size, possibly related to the roles of parenchyma cells in the radial transport of assimilates. Sieve cell size was negatively correlated with the radial diameter of resin ducts, and differences in sieve cells were possibly related to the formation and expansion of resin ducts. There were no significant phylogenetic signals for any bark anatomical trait, except the tangential diameter of resin ducts. Phloem thickness and parenchyma cell size were affected by temperature-related factors of their native range, while sieve cell size was influenced by precipitation-related factors. Bark anatomical traits were not significantly different under wet and dry climates. This study makes an important contribution to our understanding of variability in bark anatomical traits among Picea species and their ecological adaptations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Nie, Dong, Liu, Tan, Wang, Yuan, Ma, An, Liu, Xiao, Jiang, Jia and Wang.)

The effects of tree age on the growth of cutting seedlings propagated from ancient trees have been an important issue in plant breeding and cultivation. In order to understand seedling growth and stress resistance stability, phenotypic measurements, physiological assays, and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing were performed on sown seedlings propagated from 5-year-old donors and cutting seedlings propagated from 5-, 300-, and 700-year-old Platycladus orientalis donors. In this study, the growth of cutting seedlings propagated from ancient trees was significantly slower; the soluble sugar and chlorophyll contents gradually decreased with the increase in the age of donors, and the flavonoid and total phenolic contents of sown seedlings were higher than those of cutting seedlings. Enrichment analysis of differential genes showed that plant hormone signal transduction, the plant-pathogen interaction, and the flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways were significantly up-regulated with the increasing age of cutting seedlings propagated from 300- and 700-year-old donors. A total of 104,764 differentially expressed genes were calculated using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and 8 gene modules were obtained. Further, 10 hub genes in the blue module were identified, which revealed that the expression levels of JAZ , FLS , RPM1/RPS3 , CML , and RPS2 increased with the increase in tree age. The results demonstrated that the age of the donors seriously affected the growth of P. orientalis cutting seedlings and that cutting propagation can preserve the resistance of ancient trees. The results of this study provide important insights into the effects of age on asexually propagated seedlings, reveal potential molecular mechanisms, and contribute to an improvement in the level of breeding and conservation of ancient germplasm resources of P. orientalis trees.

To evaluate the effects of donor ages on growth and stress resistance of 6-year-old seedlings propagated from 5-, 2000-, and 3000-year-old Platycladus orientalis donors with grafting, cutting, and seed sowing, growth indicators and physiological and transcriptomic analyses were performed in 6-year-old seedlings in winter. Results showed that basal stem diameters and plant heights of seedlings of the three propagation methods decreased with the age of the donors, and the sown seedlings were the thickest and tallest. The contents of soluble sugar, chlorophyll, and free fatty acid in apical leaves of the three propagation methods were negatively correlated with donor ages in winter, while the opposite was true for flavonoid and total phenolic. The contents of flavonoid, total phenolic, and free fatty acid in cutting seedlings were highest in the seedlings propagated in the three methods in winter. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes showed phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism pathways, and their expression levels were up-regulated in apical leaves from 6-year-old seedlings propagated from 3000-year-old P. orientalis donors. In addition, hub genes analysis presented that C4H , OMT1 , CCR2 , PAL , PRX52 , ACP1 , AtPDAT2 , and FAD3 were up-regulated in cutting seedlings, and the gene expression levels decreased in seedlings propagated from 2000- and 3000-year-old donors. These findings demonstrate the resistance stability of cuttings of P. orientalis and provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of seedlings of P. orientalis propagated from donors at different ages in different propagation methods against low-temperature stress.

Analyzing the molecular and physiological processes that govern the uptake and transport of nitrogen (N) in plants is central to efforts to fully understand the optimization of plant N use and the changes in the N-use efficiency in relation to changes in atmospheric N deposition changes. Here, a field experiment was conducted using the ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) and Suillus grevillei (Sg). The effects of N deposition were investigated using concentrations of 0 kg·N·hm -2 a -1 (N0), a normal N deposition of 30 kg·N·hm -2 a -1 (N30), a moderate N deposition of 60 kg·N·hm -2 a -1 (N60), and a severe N deposition of 90 kg·N·hm -2 a -1 (N90), with the goal of examining how these factors impacted root activity, root absorbing area, NH 4 + and NO 3 - uptake kinetics, and the expression of ammonium and nitrate transporter genes in Pinus massoniana seedlings under different levels of N deposition. These data revealed that EMF inoculation led to increased root dry weight, activity, and absorbing area. The NH 4 + and NO 3 - uptake kinetics in seedlings conformed to the Michaelis-Menten equation, and uptake rates declined with increasing levels of N addition, with NH 4 + uptake rates remaining higher than NO 3 - uptake rates for all tested concentrations. EMF inoculation was associated with higher V max values than were observed for non-mycorrhizal plants. Nitrogen addition resulted in the upregulation of genes in the AMT1 family and the downregulation of genes in the NRT family. EMF inoculation under the N60 and N90 treatment conditions resulted in the increased expression of each of both these gene families. NH 4 + and NO 3 - uptake kinetics were also positively correlated with associated transporter gene expression in P. massoniana roots. Together, these data offer a theoretical foundation for EMF inoculation under conditions of increased N deposition associated with climate change in an effort to improve N absorption and transport rates through the regulation of key nitrogen transporter genes, thereby enhancing N utilization efficiency and promoting plant growth. Synopsis: EMF could enhance the efficiency of N utilization and promote the growth of Pinus massoniana under conditions of increased N deposition.

Living grass mulching (LGM) is an important orchard floor management that has been applied worldwide. Although LGM can effectively enhance soil nutrient availability and fertility, its effects on microbial-mediated soil nutrient cycling and main drivers are unclear. Meanwhile, the variation of enzyme activities and soil nutrient availability with LGM duration have been rarely studied. This study aims to explore the effects of mulching age and soil layer on enzyme activities and soil nutrients in citrus orchards. In this study, three LGM ( Vicia villosa ) treatments were applied, i.e., mulching for eight years, mulching for four years, and no mulching (clean tillage). Their effects on the enzyme activities and soil nutrients were analyzed in different soil layers of citrus orchards in subtropical China, i.e., 0-10, 10-20, and 20-40 cm. Compared to clean tillage, mulching for four years had fewer effects on enzyme activities and soil nutrients. In contrast, mulching for eight years significantly increased available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) nutrients, β -glucosidase, and cellobiohydrolase activities in the soil layer of 0-20 cm. In the soil layer of 0-40 cm, microbial biomass carbon (C), N, P, N-acetylglucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase, and acid phosphatase activities also increased ( P < 0.05). Mulching for eight years significantly promoted C, N, and P-cycling enzyme activities and total enzyme activities by 2.45-6.07, 9.29-54.42, 4.42-7.11, and 5.32-14.91 times, respectively. Redundancy analysis shows that mulching treatments for eight and four years had soil layer-dependent positive effects on soil enzyme activities. Microbial C and P showed the most significant positive correlation with enzyme activities, followed by moisture content, organic C, and available N ( P < 0.05). Available nutrients contributed almost 70% to affect enzyme activities significantly and were the main drivers of the enzyme activity variation. In summary, LGM could improve soil enzyme activities by increasing available nutrients. The promotion effect was more significant under mulching for eight years. Therefore, extending mulching age and improving nutrient availability are effective development strategies for sustainable soil management in orchard systems. Our study can provide valuable guidelines for the design and implementation of more sustainable management practices in citrus orchards., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Li, Gou, Jian, Hu, Chen, Xiao and Liu.)

As a key component of terrestrial ecosystems, soil interacts directly with aboveground vegetation. Evaluating soil quality is therefore of great significance to comprehensively explore the interaction mechanism of this association. The purpose of this study was to fully understand the characteristics of aboveground vegetation, soil quality, and their potential coupling relationship among different forest types in Hunan Province, and to provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the mechanisms underlying soil-vegetation interactions in central China. We have set up sample plots of five kinds of forests (namely broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, coniferous broad-leaved mixed forest, bamboo forest, and shrub forest) in Hunan Province. To explore the differences of vegetation characteristics and soil physical and chemical properties among the five stand types, variance analysis, principal component analysis, and regression analysis were used. Finally, we explored the coupling relationship between soil quality and aboveground vegetation characteristics of each forest. We found that there were significant differences in soil quality among the forest types, ranked as follows: shrub forest > bamboo forest > broad-leaved forest > mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest > coniferous forest. In general, there was a negative correlation between vegetation richness and soil quality in the broad-leaved forest and the shrub forest, but they showed a positive correlation in the coniferous forest, the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest, and the bamboo forest. As a necessary habitat condition for aboveground vegetation, soil directly determines the survival and prosperity of plant species. These results indicated that for vegetation-soil dynamics in a strong competitive environment, as one aspect wanes the other waxes. However, in a weak competitive environment, the adverse relationship between vegetation and soil is less pronounced and their aspects can promote., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shen, Li, Chen, Cheng, Xiao, Wu and Zeng.)