Fig 1.
Sampling locations of the study area (Xing’guo County, Jiangxi province, China).
Table 1.
Differences in functional traits (mean ± 1 s.e.) between two understory vegetation types.
Significant results of paired t tests are in bold. Root C/N, root C to N ratio; Litter C/N, litter C to N ratio. TB, total biomass, g m-2; RSR, root to shoot ratio.
Fig 2.
Principal components analysis (PCA) of C and N variables based on measurements from all plots.
Filled circles, Dicranopteris; filled squares, graminoids.
Table 2.
Soil C and N variables (means ± 1 se) in plots with different understory vegetation types.
SOC, soil organic carbon, g kg-1; MBC, microbial biomass carbon, mg kg-1; WSOC, water-soluble organic carbon, mg kg-1; TN, total nitrogen, mg kg-1; AN, available nitrogen, mg kg-1; MBN, microbial biomass nitrogen, mg kg-1; WSON, water-soluble organic nitrogen, mg kg-1. Statistical results are shown in Figs 3 and 4.
Table 3.
Pairwise correlation coefficients (R) of soil carbon and nitrogen variables in the studied plots.
SOC, soil organic carbon, g kg-1; MBC, microbial biomass carbon, mg kg-1; WSOC, water-soluble organic carbon, mg kg-1; TN, total nitrogen, mg kg-1; AN, available nitrogen, mg kg-1; MBN, microbial biomass nitrogen, mg kg-1; WSON, water-soluble organic nitrogen, mg kg-1.
Table 4.
Pairwise correlation coefficients (R) of soil carbon and nitrogen variables in plots dominated by Dicranopteris or graminoids.
SOC, soil organic carbon, g kg-1; MBC, microbial biomass carbon, mg kg-1; WSOC, water-soluble organic carbon, mg kg-1; TN, total nitrogen, mg kg-1; AN, available nitrogen, mg kg-1; MBN, microbial biomass nitrogen, mg kg-1; WSON, water-soluble organic nitrogen, mg kg-1.
Fig 3.
Dependence of soil C variables on understory vegetation types.
Results of paired t tests are shown.
Fig 4.
Dependence of soil N variables on understory vegetation types.
Results of paired t tests are shown.