Changes in Soil Nutrients in Different Eroded Soils in Pinus massoniana Forest Ecosystems in Fujian Province,China

We investigated changes in soil nutrients in different eroded soils in Pinus massoniana forest ecosystems in Changting County,Fujian Province,by field investigation and laboratory analysis.Our results showed that soil erosion significantly changed soil organic matter (OM),available nitrogen (AN),total potassium (TK),available potassium (AK),and pH,but did not significantly affect available phosphorus (AP).Soil OM and AN decreased with increasing soil erosion from mid-level eroded soils in Pinus massoniana forest ecosystems due to a decline in plant coverage,while TK and AK increased with increasing soil erosion across the whole-level eroded soils.Soil AP did not significantly change with increasing soil erosion.Soil pH value increased with increasing soil erosion and soil depth.Pearson correlation analysis indicated that OM was related to AN,TK,and pH.Although soil erosion was a critical control on soil nutrients,grey relational analysis showed that the slope had a great influence on all the soil nutrients and pH,and the plant coverage was important for OM,AN and AP.Our results suggested that plant restoration and comprehensive management of habitat would be an effective approach for recovering red soil erosion.