Response of shallow karst fissure soil quality to secondary succession in a degraded karst area of southwestern China

• Published in: Geoderma 2019-08, Vol.348, p.76-85
• Main Authors: Yan, Youjin, Dai, Quanhou, Wang, Xiangdong, Jin, Li, Mei, Lina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comprehensive evaluation; Karst rocky desertification (KRD); Shallow karst fissure (SKF); Soil fertility quality
• ISSN: 0016-7061; 1872-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.04.017

Vegetation restoration is one of the effective means to control soil erosion and an essential method of eco-environmental restoration in fragile karst rocky desertification areas. The shallow karst fissure (SKF) filled with soil has become one of the most important root habitats in this area. It is essential to scientifically evaluate the soil quality of SKF and to provide a basis for matching species with sites. Here, we explore and gain insight into the characteristics of the response of the physicochemical properties of SKF soil to different stages of vegetation succession. Additionally, we develop a synthetical assessment system to determine soil quality. The key results were as follows. Significant differences were found in the soil properties between the surface and the SKF. Compared with the surface, the SKF soil structural property was poor, but the water conditions were better. The soil nutrient content of the SKF was significantly (p