Effect of vegetation type on the eco-stoichiometric characteristics of soils from around Chaohu Lake

To investigate the effect of vegetation type on the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of wetlands, soil samples were collected from a reed (Phragmites communis) stand, flower field, grassland, and poplar (Populus euramevicana ‘San Martino’ and P. deltoides ‘Lux’) plantation along Chaohu Lake, and the soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) levels of the samples were measured. The SOC, TN, and TP contents of the flower field were highest, whereas those of the grassland were lowest (flower field > poplar plantation > reed stand > grassland), and the SOC, TN, and TP contents, as well as their stoichiometry were significantly affected by vegetation type (P < 0.05). Furthermore, soil SOC, TN, and TP were significantly correlated (P < 0.01), regardless of vegetation type, and the soil carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio was stable, whereas the soil carbon to phosphorus (C/P) and nitrogen to phosphorus (N/P) ratios were affected by vegetation type (poplar plantation > flower field > grassland > reed stand). Therefore, soil P can become the nutrient-limitation indicator in this specific study area. In addition, soil pH was the main environmental determinant of SOC, TN, and TP contents and of the ecological chemometrics of soils around Chaohu Lake.