Decline of soil fertility during forest conversion of secondary forest to Chinese fir plantations in subtropical China

The effects of forest conversion on soil fertility are still not well understood in subtropical zones. This issue was addressed by comparing chemical properties of soil in a secondary forest and a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hooker) plantation at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology. Total N, available P, ‐N, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable Al³⁺ and H⁺ of soil were significantly lower in the pure Chinese fir plantation (PCP) than in the secondary forest while soil organic carbon (SOC), total K and exchangeable Na⁺ had a tendency to decrease in the PCP. In contrast, soil pH and percentage base saturation (PBS) significantly increased due to forest conversion, and available K, ‐N and exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ tended to increase in the PCP. Some underlying processes responsible for the differences in soil fertility between the secondary forest and the Chinese fir plantation were low litterfall and root input to soil and site preparation in coniferous plantations. There was no significant difference in the effect of slope position on chemical properties of soil in the PCP and the secondary forest. Results indicated that the conversion of secondary forests to coniferous plantations leads to a decline in soil fertility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.