ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Ecological Stoichiometric Characteristics of Soil
at Different Depths in a Karst Plateau Mountain
Area of China
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School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University / State Engineering Technology Institute
for Karst Decertification Control, Guiyang, P. R. China
Submission date: 2018-12-18
Final revision date: 2019-01-10
Acceptance date: 2019-01-12
Online publication date: 2019-08-21
Publication date: 2019-12-09
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(1):969-978
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ABSTRACT
The study of soil ecological stoichiometry has mainly focused on surface soils. Exploring the nutrient
content and stoichiometric characteristics of deep soils in karst areas helps us to understand the intrinsic
relation mechanism and provides scientific evidence for making full use of fractured soil. We analyzed
soil nutrient content, nutrient supply intensity, stoichiometric ratios, and their inter-relations at different
soil depths in a karst plateau mountain area of China. Soil nutrient supply capacity was relatively low
in the study area. The nitrogen and potassium supply capacity was highest in the surface layer, while
phosphorus supply capacity was highest in deep soil. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium made
varying contributions to the ecological stoichiometric ratios. Soil nitrogen and phosphorus were found
to be deficient in the karst plateau mountain area of China. There was certain coordination between
nutrient supply intensity and ecological stoichiometric ratios.