Soil properties and water conservation function of Pinus tabulaeformis plantation with different stand densities

【Objective】 This paper was to discuss the soil properties and water conservation function of Pinus tabulaeformis plantation with different densities.【Method】 30 year-old P.tabulaeformis plantation with six different stand densities(1 367,1 861,2 517,2 617,3 012 and 3 683 plant/hm2) in western Qinling mountains were taken as the research object.The soil and litter samples were collected to measure soil physical and chemical properties,soil water-holding capacity,and litter water-holding characteristics.【Result】 Stand density had significant influence on the soil water content,organic matter content,bulk density,total porosity,soil maximal water-holding capacity and capillary water-holding capacity.P.tabulaeformis plantation with stand density of 2 617 plant/hm2 had low soil bulk density(1.14 g/cm3),large total porosity(62.57%),high organic matter content which was 1.63 times to that of plantation with density of 1 367 plant/hm2,and good soil water-holding capacity(1 251.40 t/hm2).【Conclusion】 P.tabulaeformis plantation with proper density was beneficial to improve soil structure,fertility and water-holding capacity and had better water conservation function.2 617 plant/hm2 was a reasonable stand density for P.tabulaeformis plantation in western Qinling mountains.