ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Successive Planting of Eucalyptus on Soil
Physicochemical Properties 1–3 Generations
after Converting Masson Pine Forests
into Eucalyptus Plantations
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1
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization
of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
2
College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
3
Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf Ministry of Education
and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Intelligent Simulation, Nanning Normal University,
Nanning 530001, China
Submission date: 2023-05-14
Final revision date: 2023-06-25
Acceptance date: 2023-06-29
Online publication date: 2023-08-03
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Corresponding author
Cong Wang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization
Bin He
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(5):4503-4514
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Soil physicochemical properties play a key role in plant growth and development; however, owing
to land use change and successive planting, long-term changes in soil physicochemical properties are
rarely reported. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in soil physicochemical properties
caused by the conversion of Masson pine forests to Eucalyptus plantations and the successive planting of
first-, second-, and third-generation Eucalyptus plantations in China using a space-for-time substitution
method. The results demonstrated significant differences in soil physicochemical properties between
Masson pine forest (MP) and second-generation (G2) and third-generation (G3) Eucalyptus plantations
at 0-20 and 40-60 cm soil depths (p<0.05). Alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen levels were significantly lower
in G3 than in first-generation (G1) Eucalyptus plantations at 0-20 cm soil depth (p<0.05). Available
phosphorus, available potassium, and organic matter levels were significantly lower in G2 and G3 than
in MP at a 0-20 cm soil depth (p<0.05). The pH and bulk density were significantly lower in G2 and G3
than in MP at 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm soil depths (p<0.05). However, stable isotope 15N abundance
was significantly higher in G2 and G3 than in G1 at 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil depths (p<0.05). TP was
defined as MPp<0.05). From the above results,
the conversion of Masson pine forest to Eucalyptus plantations and successive planting decreased
soil fertility. These findings highlight the advantages of Masson pines for Eucalyptus plantations and
successive planting in improving soil fertility and production by mediating the relationships between soil physicochemical properties. This study provides a theoretical reference for the sustainable management
of Masson pine forest conversion into multi-generation Eucalyptus plantations.