Effects of enrichmemt planting with native tree species on bacterial community structure and potential impact on Eucalyptus plantations in southern China

Multi-generational planting of Eucalyptus species degrades soil quality but the introduction of legumes can improve soil fertility and microbial diversity.However,the effects of introducing non-legume native tree species on soil nutrients and bacterial community structure remain poorly understood.This study investigated the impacts of the conversion of third generation monoculture Eucalyptus plantations to mixed systems including Eucalyptus urograndis with Cinnamomum camphora(EC)and E.urograndis with Castanopsis hystrix(EH),on soil chemical and biochemical properties and bacterial community structure,diversity and functions.First generation E.urophylla plantations were the control.Results show that planting the third generation Eucalyptus led to a significant decrease in p H,organic matter,nutrient content,enzyme activities(invertin,acid phosphataes,and urease),and bacterialα-diversity compare to the controls.However,the mixed planting showed significant improvement in soil chemical and biochemical attributes and bacterialα-diversity,although the E.urograndis and C.hystrix planting had no improvement.Chloroflexi(oligotrophic bacteria)were significantly enriched in third generation Eucalyptus and Eucalyptus+C.hystrix,while proteobacteria increased significantly in the E.urograndis with C.camphora plantings.The relative abundance of multiple metabolic pathways increased significantly in the third generation Eucalyptus plantations whereas membrane transportrelated genes were enriched in soils of the mixed systems.The changes in bacterial community structures in the two mixed systems were driven by diversity,organic matter and acid phosphatase,while bacterial functions were affected by invertase,NO_(3)^(-)-N,diversity and urease.These results suggest that the transformation of successive monoculture Eucalyptus plantations into mixed plantations reduces the depletion of soil nutrients and enhances the ecological function of soil microorganisms.

Advances in eucalypt research in China

Eucalypt plantations in China currently exceed4.5 Mhm^2, and this country has the third largest area of such plantations after India and Brazil. China's eucalypt industry now comprises a complex, multifaceted industry including seedling propagation, fertilizer production and supply, plantation silviculture, harvesting and transport,wood processing for products including lumber, pulp and paper, and wood-based panels, as well as bioenergy production and various forest byproducts and non-wood forest products. In 2015, the combined value of output of this whole industry was around 300 billion CNY. Chinese research and development(R&D) has been instrumental in supporting growth and development across the whole breadth of the country's eucalypt industry. In this report,recent advances in this R&D are reviewed under six key topics:(1) advanced propagation technology;(2) genetic resources and breeding;(3) targeted silviculture;(4) eucalypt disease and pest management;(5) enhancing plantation ecology and sustainability; and(6) wood processing and byproduct technology. R&D has greatly facilitated expansion and proliferation of all parts of China's eucalypt industry. This industry is now of major importance to China's economy; it involves tens of thousands of growers and companies that provide livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people.