Abstract:
A comparative investigation was made on soil chemical properties between a pure stand of Cinnamomum camphora and a pure stand of Pinus massoniana,which grew under geographically similar conditions and were exposed to acid deposition.The results showed that the average pH values in the upper,middle and lower soil layers in the pure stand of Cinnamomum camphora were 3.91,4.23 and 4.62,and base saturation(BS) values were 13.11%,45.06% and 55.14% respectively.The average pH values in the upper,middle and lower soil layers in pure stand of Pinus massoniana were 3.78,3.88 and 3.89,and BS values were 9.25%,11.68% and 20.96%,respectively.Contents of organic matter in the middle soil layer,total P in the middle and lower soil layers and exchangeable base cations(Ca2+ and Mg2+) in all soil layers in the pure stand of Cinnamomum camphora were significantly higher than those in the pure stand of Pinus massoniana(P<0.05).Contents of exchangeable Al3+ and H+ ions in the middle and lower soil layers and Fe3+ in the upper and middle soil layers in the pure stand of Cinnamomum camphora were clearly lower than those in the pure stand of Pinus massoniana(P<0.05).The results from this study indicated that the pure stand of Cinnamomum camphora could slow down soil acidification and improve soil fertility.