Changes in Soil Properties and Water Conservation Function of Subtropical Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest along a Chronosequence at Laoshan,Anhui

An investigation on soil properties,water-holding capacity of forest floor and soil in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest across a chronosequence was conducted in Laoshan natural reserve,southern Anhui.Results from the study showed that there existed significant differences in soil properties and water conservation function among different stages of the forest.During the forest rehabilitation,the forest floor was developed,soil physical and chemical properties were improved,and their water conservation functions were enhanced gradually along with the stand development.Based on the total and effective water-holding capacity of forest floor and soil(0-40 cm),the order of the water conservation function for the forest stands studied was: 65-year stand(2 415,645 t/hm2) 48-year stand(2 407,634 t/hm2) 36-year stand(2 273,562 t/hm2) 18-year stand(2 079,462 t/hm2),indicating that the hydrological effect of soil was greater significantly in the old stand than in the young stand.