Abstract:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two soil improvement techniques (module soils and formula soils) on the growth characteristics and soil properties of street trees of Acer rubrum, to provide reference for the scientific cultivation of street trees in urban areas. In Qiqing Road, Shanghai, three kinds of soil were used to plant A. rubrum, namely control soils, module soils and formula soils. Then, the growth characteristics and soil properties of A. rubrum were investigated and analyzed. Compared with the control soils, the leaf area, leaf area index, total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents of A. rubrum significantly increased in the formula soils; the leaf area index and total nitrogen contents of A. rubrum significantly increased in the module soils. Compared with the control soils, the module soil and formula soil increased the contents of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and total chlorophyll in leaves. In addition, compared with the control soil, the soil polyphenol oxidase, β-glucosidase, pH, total carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents significantly increased in the formula soils, and only the polyphenol oxidase and pH of soil significantly increased in the module soils. According to the growth condition, physiological characteristics and soil properties, both the module soils and formula soils had a certain effect on the growth of A. rubrum, but the formula soils had a better performance, which may be more suitable for the planting of A. rubrum.

Key words: street tree, soil improvement, physiological ecology, enzyme activity, soil properties, Acer rubrum