| Based on the method of taking space instead of time, hydrological characteristics of litters layer and soil layer in three succession stages of natural restoration of Karst forest vegetation in the Maolan National Nature Reserve of Guizhou were studied. We chose shrubs, secondary forests and primary forests to represent the prior-(PS), middle- (MS)and later-succession (LS), respectively. The results showed that the total storage, maximum water holding capacity and modified interception capacity of litters increased through succession. The corresponding values of mentioned above were 4.31-5.38 t/hm2, 8.84-15.22 t/hm2 and 4.25-8.28 t/hm2, respectively. During the process in water holding of litter layer, the water holding capacity and absorption speed in the first 2 hours was superior to the rest of time. Water holding capacity and immersed time had visible logarithmic relationship, whereas absorption rate and immersed time was power function relationship. The average of soil bulk density at 0-30 cm depth also increased through succession, which was 1.07-1.22g/cm3. In addition, the soil bulk density increased with the soil depth increasing in each succession stage. The total soil porosity and soil water holding capacity increased along the process of succession. Compared with MS and LS, the effective retaining water storage of soil in shrubs didn’t drop behind the other two types of Karst forests, which suggested that shrubs might also played an important role in forest eco-hydrological functions. |
