Results
Title

Reconstruction of soil pH by dendrochemistry of Masson pine at two forested sites in the Pearl River Delta, South China.

Authors

Yuan Wen KUANG; Da Zhi WEN; Guo Yi ZHOU; GuoWei CHU; Fang Fang SUN; Jiong LI

Abstract

• Soil acidification is a global concern. Base cation (Ca, Mg, Mn and Al) concentrations, as well as their molar ratios, were measured in tree rings of Masson pines (Pinus massoniana L.) from Dinghushan and Xiqiaoshan to reconstruct the historical changes in soil acidification in the Pearl River Delta, south China. • In Dinghushan, Ca and Mn xylem concentrations yielded significant correlations with the higher soil pHs, and Ca and Mg with the lower soil pHs. In Xiqiaoshan, only xylem Mn concentration correlated significantly with the soil pH in both layers. Significant correlations between xylem molar ratios and soil pH were revealed for Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn, Mn/Al and Ca/Al in the upper soils and for the same ratios except for Ca/Al in the deeper soils in Dinghushan. The same correlations were revealed for Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn and Mn/Al at both depths in Xiqiaoshan. • Soil pHs at 0-10 cm and 10-40 cm depths at the study sites were reconstructed by the molar ratios of Mg/Mn and Ca/Mn in the xylem of Masson pines, respectively. • Cation molar ratios in the xylem of Masson pine were superior to the single Ca, Mg, Mn and Al for soil acidity reconstruction in the Delta of China.

Subjects

CHINA; SOIL acidification; SOIL testing; PINE; XYLEM

Publication

Annals of Forest Science (EDP Sciences), 2008, Vol 65, Issue 8, p804

ISSN

1286-4560

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1051/forest:2008070