DYNAMICS OF SOIL NUTRIENTS AND STOICHIOMETRY IN MONGOLIAN SCOTS PINE (PINUS SYLVESTRIS VAR. MONGOLICA) PLANTATION, IN A SEMIARID AREA OF CHINA

The aim of this study was to investigate about soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratio in Mongolian scots pine plantation forests. Our results showed that along 5 depth increments (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, and 80-100 cm), the concentration and storage of total soil organic carbon (TSOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) decrease. A significantly higher TSOC, TN, and TP concentration and storage was recorded at 0-20 cm, indicating that more C, N, and P were found in the upper soil profile. Similarly, the C:N and C: P stoichiometry and soil TSOC concentrations were significantly higher than soil N:P and TN and TP concentrations, indicating that coniferous plantation forests store more C compared to N and P. TSOC, TN, and TP (p<0.01) concentrations and storage were positively correlated at depth of 0-20 and 20-40 cm, showing a relatively constrained C:N:P ratio in this plantation forest. Furthermore, stand density, basal area, and total biomass carbon affected TSOC, TN, and TP concentration. Our findings provide key references to further research studies in Mongolian scots pine plantation regarding TSOC, TN, as well as TP and their variations and storage along other parameters (tree age, soil texture, ground flora, seasons etc.) at the Research Station of Liaoning Institute of Sand-fixation and Afforestation (42 degrees 420 N, 122 degrees 290 E, 220.67 m above sea level), Zhanggutai region, Liaoning Province, southeastern Horqin sandy region, China.