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Article

Effects of Sanqi Cultivation on Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Content in the Sanqi–Pine Agroforestry System

1
College of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
2
Key Laboratory of In-Forest Resource Protection and Utilization in Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
3
College of Biotechnology and Engineering, West Yunnan University, Lincang 677000, China
4
Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Southwest Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Kunming 650224, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Agronomy 2025, 15(9), 2123; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092123
Submission received: 23 July 2025 / Revised: 27 August 2025 / Accepted: 3 September 2025 / Published: 4 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agronomic Practices on Soil Properties and Health)

Abstract

The Sanqi–pine agroforestry (SPA) system is considered a sustainable agroforestry model. However, empirical studies that clearly elucidate the impact of Sanqi cultivation on soil fertility and the heavy metal content within the SPA system are still lacking. This study established monoculture Pinus armandii (MPA) and SPA systems to conduct a comparative analysis of dynamic changes in soil physicochemical properties and the heavy metal content of Sanqi and pine over one year (with semi-monthly sampling), followed by a comprehensive evaluation of soil fertility and heavy metal pollution. Following the land use conversion from MPA to SPA, there was a notable increase in soil moisture (SM), total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) levels within Sanqi soil. Conversely, total potassium (TK), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), plumbum (Pb), and chromium (Cr) levels experienced a significant reduction. In the case of pine soil, soil moisture (SM), pH levels, and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) content exhibited an increase. However, soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), plumbum (Pb), and chromium (Cr) contents all significantly decreased. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) demonstrated that Sanqi cultivation not only significantly enhanced soil fertility for Sanqi rather than pine but also reduced the heavy metal content in the soil of both Sanqi and pine within the SPA system. Furthermore, the Nemerow pollution index for both Sanqi and pine soils has decreased, transitioning the pollution status from relatively safe to safe. This suggests that the introduction of Sanqi promotes the sustainable development of the SPA system.
Keywords: Sanqi–pine agroforestry system; soil heavy metals; soil fertility; entropy weight method; TOPSIS; Nemerow pollution index Sanqi–pine agroforestry system; soil heavy metals; soil fertility; entropy weight method; TOPSIS; Nemerow pollution index

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, K.; Zhao, X.; Rui, R.; Li, Y.; Hei, J.; Yu, L.; Wang, S.; He, X. Effects of Sanqi Cultivation on Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Content in the Sanqi–Pine Agroforestry System. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092123

AMA Style

Liu K, Zhao X, Rui R, Li Y, Hei J, Yu L, Wang S, He X. Effects of Sanqi Cultivation on Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Content in the Sanqi–Pine Agroforestry System. Agronomy. 2025; 15(9):2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092123

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Keyu, Xiaoyan Zhao, Rui Rui, Yue Li, Jingying Hei, Longfeng Yu, Shu Wang, and Xiahong He. 2025. "Effects of Sanqi Cultivation on Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Content in the Sanqi–Pine Agroforestry System" Agronomy 15, no. 9: 2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092123

APA Style

Liu, K., Zhao, X., Rui, R., Li, Y., Hei, J., Yu, L., Wang, S., & He, X. (2025). Effects of Sanqi Cultivation on Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Content in the Sanqi–Pine Agroforestry System. Agronomy, 15(9), 2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092123

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