Abstract:
Objective Soil structure degradation occurs in coniferous plantations, and broadleaf transformation can facilitate its restoration. However, how broadleaf transformation regulates cementing agents to enhance soil aggregate stability remains unclear.
Methods This study was conducted in pure Pinus massoniana forest (PM) and coniferous-broadleaf mixed forests at Longli Forest Farm in Guizhou province. Aggregate stability was assessed using the wet-sieving method, with mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and the content of aggregates with a diameter > 0.250 mm(R0.25) employed as evaluation indicators. The contributions of soil organic carbon (SOC) and iron/aluminum (Fe/Al) oxides to aggregate stability were evaluated using correlation analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and random forest modeling.
Results 1) In both 0−20 cm and 20−40 cm soil layers, the mass fraction of aggregates > 1.000 mm generally increased in coniferous-broadleaf mixed forests compared with PM (P < 0.05 or P > 0.05), but the improvement of aggregate stability was more pronounced in the 0−20 cm layer. 2) Except for complexed aluminum oxides (Alp), which were significantly lower in coniferous-broadleaf mixed forests than in PM (P < 0.05), soil aggregate organic carbon (SAOC) and other Fe/Al oxides generally increased compared with PM. 3) In the 0−20 cm layer, free iron oxides (Fed), SOC, and amorphous iron oxides (Feo) showed significant positive correlations with aggregates > 1.000 mm, with Fed contributing the most to aggregate stability. In the 20−40 cm layer, free aluminum oxides (Ald) exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with aggregates > 0.500−1.000 mm (P < 0.01) and played a dominant role in stabilizing aggregates. 4) The contents of Fed, Feo, Ald, and SOC were significantly regulated by soil pH.
Conclusions Broadleaf transformation can enhance aggregate stability by increasing SOC and Fe/Al oxide contents, among which Fed and Ald contribute more strongly than SOC. These findings provide a basis for soil structure restoration in coniferous plantations.