Composition and properties of soil humus in a mixed forest ofCunninghamia lanceolata andTsoongiodendron odorum

Abstract

This study was conducted in Xinkou Experimental Forestry Farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Sanming, Fujian Province in January 1999. Taking pure stand of Chinese fir as control, the authors measured and studied the content of organic carbon, content of humic acid (HA), ratio of HA of fulvic acid (FA), and the characteristics of infrared light spectrum and visible light spectrum of soil humus in the mixed forest of Chinese fir and Tsoong’tree. Compared to humus composition in the pure stand of Chinese fir, the content of soil organic C, HA content, and the E₄ value of HA for different layers of soil, except for the ratio of HA to FA, showed a significant increase in the mixed forest, while the ratios of E₄ to E₆ had a little decrease. The infrared light spectrum of humic acid had an absorptive peak at 1650 cm⁻¹. It is concluded that the levels of humification and aromaticity of soil humus are higher in the mixed forest, which is favorable for the improvement of soil structure and nutrient supply, thus improving the soil fertility to a certain degree.

Keywords

Chinese fir / Tsoong’s tree / Mixed forest / Soil humus fraction / Optical properties / S714.5 / S791.27.02 / A

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