Evaluation of the Effects of Litter Input Managements on the Soil Quality in Pinus yunnanensis Forest

Purpose We aimed to reveal the impact of litter input managements, involving normal litter inputs, no litter inputs and litters burned by prescribed fire, on the Pinus yunnanensis forest soil quality in central Yunnan and the result will provide scientific basis for restoration and conservation of forest soil.

Method The soil of P. yunnanensis forest with three kinds of litter managements in Mopan Mountain in central Yunnan Province was studied. The properties of soil containing bulk density, porosity, organic matter and soil nutrients concentration and soil biological properties were sampled and tested to evaluate the effects of litter input managements on soil quality. According to the methods of principal component analysis (PCA), sensibility analysis and correlation analysis, the sensitive index were screened and the valuating indicators system containing involving soil physical, chemical soil physical, chemical and biological properties.

Result The soil quality among litter input managements were decrease in the order: litters burned by prescribed fire>normal litter inputs>no litter inputs, the soil quality index of that were 0.44, 0.40 and 0.39 respectively.

Conclusion The soil quality of forest land is the best under litters burned by prescribed fire. However, the effect of burning litter on soil quality depends on the burning time and fire intensity.