The Response of Spartina alterniflora Biomass to Soil Factors in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China

Vegetation and soil are important factors in coastal wetland landscape evolution. This paper investigates the relationship between the aboveground biomass of Spartina alterniflora and soil factors of varying settling ages in Yancheng, China using correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The results indicate the following: (1) Soil factors varied significantly with different settlement ages of S. alterniflora that expanded toward the land and sea. Soil bulk density decreased with settlement age and was lowest for growth period IV (10 – 16 year old sites) whereas an opposite trend was shown for soil moisture. Soil salinity and soil nutrients were highest for growth period III (6 – 10 year old sites) (2) Principal component analysis demonstrated that soil bulk density, moisture and salinity are the main soil factors that drive landscape evolution in S. alterniflora marshes. (3) There was a significant positive correlation between S. alterniflora biomass and the organic matter and bulk density of soil (p < 0.05). Results showed that the invasion and settlement of S. alterniflora in the coastal wetland of Yancheng are changing the physical and chemical properties of the coastal wetland soil. This study has contributed to an understanding of wetland succession in the coastal landscape.