Analysis of relationship between soil microbial biomass dynamics and soil physicochemical properties of Primary Korean Pine Forest in China

We analyzed and recorded the herbaceous vegetation of Primary Korean Pine Forest and soil microbial biomass dynamics using ecological community survey methods, chloroform fumigation-extraction, and other methods to study soil physical and chemical properties. The results showed that the dominant herb species in all studied forest types were Athyrium spinulosum and Leymus secalinus. Microbial biomass, carbon, and nitrogen levels decreased with the soil layer deepen. Microbial biomass declined from spring to autumn and increased slightly in winter. Microbial biomass in Primary Korean Pine Forest was higher than that in uniform plantation forests. A significant positive relationship was observed between the dynamics of microbial biomass and soil, soil pH, organic matter content, hydrolyzed nitrogen and available potassium. However, microbial biomass was not significantly correlated with soil water content, soil temperature and available phosphorus.