Soil nutrient characteristics in eucalypt plantation and natural forest.

By field work and laboratory experiments,the differences of some soil properties between eucalypt plantation and natural forest were examined.The results showed that contents of soil organic matter,total nitrogen,total phosphorus and total potassium in surface soils of plantations were significantly lower than those of natural forests,indicated that large part of soil nutrients had been consumed by the plants in plantation.In addition,soil bulk density increased and the soil cation exchange capacity reduced in the plantations.To keep the soil nutrient balance and sustainable development for the plantation ecosystem,we suggest that we might shift from a whole-and-burning to patch-by-plot for site preparation,practice inter-planting,plant rotation and improve biodiversity in plantation.