ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Planting Patterns on Soil Aggregates
and Enzyme Activities in Rocky Desertification
Areas of Karst Plateau Mountains
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School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University/State Engineering Technology Institute
for Karst Desertification Control, Guiyang, 550001, P. R. China
Submission date: 2022-04-02
Final revision date: 2022-07-28
Acceptance date: 2022-08-17
Online publication date: 2022-10-17
Publication date: 2022-12-21
Corresponding author
Dayun Zhu
School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University/State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification Control, 550001, Guiyang, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(1):405-418
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ABSTRACT
Soil aggregate characteristics and enzyme activities are key to the sustainable development of soil
quality management. However, there are presently few studies on soil aggregate nutrients, enzyme
activities, and their driving factors in areas with karst rocky desertification. As such, this study
investigated the effects of planting patterns on soil aggregate nutrients and soil enzyme activities
under six typical planting patterns (walnut, Rosa roxburghii Tratt, ryegrass, walnut-Rosa roxburghii
Tratt, Rosa roxburghii Tratt-ryegrass and walnut-ryegrass) in the karst rocky desertification area of
plateau mountains. The results indicated that: (1) there were significant differences in soil aggregate
nutrients and soil enzyme activities among the different plots, when compared to traditional farmland,
the increase in the aggregate nutrient content and soil enzyme activities was most noticeable in walnut-
Rosa roxburghii Tratt, Rosa roxburghii Tratt-ryegrass, and walnut-ryegrass, and the nutrients gradually
increased as the aggregate particle size decreased. The maximum C:N and C:P ratios were measured
in the 0.25-2 mm aggregates, while the maximum N:P ratios was measured occurred in the <0.053
mm aggregates. (2) The stoichiometric ratios had different degrees of relevance associated with the
aggregate nutrients, TN and C:N, SOC and C:P, and TP and N:P showed extremely significant linear
correlations. Moreover, a significant correlation also occurred between enzyme activity and aggregate
nutrients, particularly in macroaggregates. (3) Soil physicochemical properties, such as the soil total
porosity, capillary water holding capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and pH, had
a direct influence on enzyme activity, therefore, the soil condition can be improved by changing the
planting patterns to promote enzyme activity. These findings are helpful for the optimal allocation of
forest and grass for the comprehensive control of karst rocky desertification.