Effects of different plantation types on soil properties after vegetation restoration in an alpine sandy land on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Large areas of Artemisia ordosica Krasch., Caragana korshinskii Kom., and Caragana intermedia Kuang and H. C. Fu plantations were established on moving sand dunes in the Gonghe Basin （northeastern Tibetan Plateau） for vegetation restoration. Elevating our understanding of the changes in soil characteristics after the establishment of different plantation types can be useful in the context of combating deserdfication. To assess the effects of these plantation types on the restoration of sandy land, we measured soil physical-chemical properties at four depths （0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20-50 cm） in each of the three plantation types and also in non-vegetated moving sand dunes （as control sites）. Generally, the establishment of A. ordosica, C korshinskii and C intermedia plantations on sand dunes has greatly ameliorated soil quality in the Gonghe Basin. Specifically, relative to the moving sand dunes, shrub plantation has increased the silt and clay contents, total porosity and water holding capacity, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium contents. The calculated soil quality index suggested that in the Gonghe Basin, C. intermedia is the best choice for soil amelioration. In all the three plantation types, soil amelioration mainly occurred in the shallow depths.

Blue carbon sequestration following mangrove restoration:evidence from a carbon neutral case in China

Sequestration of blue carbon(C)in mangrove plantations depends on site characteristics and plantation management.This study evaluated the effects of plantation management on C sequestration at a C-neutral site in Xiamen,China.A field study was conducted on 10-year-old Sonneratia apetala and Kandelia obovata plantations(mono-Sa,mono-Ko)and a 15-year-old mixed plantation-.We found that mono-Ko had a significantly higher ecosystem C sequestration rate(3.32±0.62 kg C m^(-2)yr^(-1))than others when planted in the indirect shade of pioneer species.As a non-native species,Sonneratia performed better(0.57±0.01 kg C m^(-2)yr^(-1))when planted with Kandelia than in monotypic plantations.The temporary and long-term certified emission reduction(tCER and lCER)of the 12.98 ha mono-Ko was 4103.89 and 3693.50 net CO_(2)-e within 10 years,respectively.A literature review was conducted to show the compatibility of this study with other natural and plantation sites of China and Bangladesh(the native habitat for Sonneratia).The C sequestration of Sonneratia plantation sites in China is comparable with those in Bangladesh.However,the soil C accumulation rate for a Sonneratia monotypic plantation in Bangladesh decreased with age,yet the same did not occur in the plantations of China.