Publication: The spatial variability of soil physical properties of different sized-gap in a subtropical forest, China
Issued Date
2021-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
2287075X
22870741
22870741
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85099794952
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Applied Environmental Research. Vol.43, No.1 (2021), 41-55
Suggested Citation
Supaporn Buajan, Jinfu Liu, Zhongsheng He The spatial variability of soil physical properties of different sized-gap in a subtropical forest, China. Applied Environmental Research. Vol.43, No.1 (2021), 41-55. doi:10.35762/AER.2021.43.1.4 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/77079
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
The spatial variability of soil physical properties of different sized-gap in a subtropical forest, China
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Gap areas create heterogeneity in the spatial environment, which is important to plant regeneration and diversity. Soil physical properties (SPP) are factors that affect plant growth. This study aims to assess the spatial variability of SPP in different gap sizes and to determine the effect of gap size on SPP. We used geostatistical analysis to illustrate the spatial patterns of SPP variability within 9 gaps, classified into three sizes (small, medium, and large) and under the canopy at the Castanopsis kawakamii natural reserve forest, the soil samples were collected entire gap area at 20 cm depth with the grid system (resolution: 3 m × 3 m). The following SPPs were determined using soil cores: soil bulk density (SBD), soil water mass content (SWMC), soil volumetric moisture content (SVMC), maximum moisture capacity (MMC), capillary water capacity (CWC), minimum water-holding capacity (MWHC), soil capillary porosity (SCP), and soil total porosity (STP). We found that every SPP, except SCP and STP, significantly differed with gap size. Gap sizes generally improved the SPPs, especially in the small and large gaps, indicating that the soil there was more suitable for plant growth than the soil under the canopy. The highest spatial variability of SPPs was observed in the large gaps. Gap size affected SPP and its spatial variability. The results from this study will be useful for work on forest gap regeneration and conservation, especially around the study site.