CHANGES AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF SOIL CARBON IN EVERGREEN BROADLEAVED FOREST INVADED BY PHYLLOSTACHYS PUBESCENS IN JIANGXI PROVINCE, SOUTH CHINA

In southern China, moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forests have been expanding into surrounding vegetation such as natural broadleaved forests and coniferous plantation forests. It has been speculated that the expansion of moso bamboo forest could alter soil carbon content and soil environmental condition. Soil samples were taken at 0-20 cm depth from three vegetation types, i.e. evergreen broadleaved forest, moso bamboo forest and mixed forest with broadleaved and moso bamboo. It was found that soil properties, especially soil microbes and nitrogen, contributed significantly to the variations in soil organic carbon. Soil carbon was higher under mixed forest with broadleaved and moso bamboo compared to evergreen broadleaved forest and moso bamboo forest. In soil environment, the direct contribution of bacteria and fungi to soil carbon content was highest. If the microbe indirect effect and nitrogen direct effect were considered, the expansion of moso bamboo could have substantial consequences on soil organic carbon. The finding indicated that the expansion of moso bamboo forest into evergreen broadleaved forest could increase soil carbon content. To better understand the effects of moso bamboo invasion on ecosystem functions, future studies on soil carbon dynamics and carbon cycling is required.