Intensive management increases soil acidification and phytotoxic Al content in Phyllostachys praecox stands in Southeast China

Intensive management with an organic matter mulching technique on Phyllostachys praecox aims to promote economic profit, but causes severe soil acidification, which can increase soil phytotoxic Al content and induce bamboo-stand deterioration. In this work, the relationships among soil acidity, soil phytotoxic Al content, and total Al content in bamboo bodies were evaluated using the organic matter mulching technique. Results demonstrated that soil pH dramatically decreased from 6.53 to 3.60 after 16 years in P. praecox stands that developed from the former paddy field. During the bamboo-cultivation period, both phytotoxic Al content (extracted by 8-hydroxyquionline) in soils and Al content in bamboo roots increased significantly from 48.25 to 108.0 mg kg(-1) and 594.2 to 1073 mg kg(-1), respectively. Phytotoxic Al in soil and Al in bamboo were positively related to the cultivation duration with organic matter mulching technique. The current intensive management was mainly responsible for the bamboo deterioration due to dramatic acidification and increased phytotoxic Al. Therefore, an improved management should be adopted for sustainable bamboo production in the future.