Table 1 Litter and soil properties in the Chinese fir plantations with different stand ages (0 years, 9, 17, and 26 years old)

Litter

Amount (g m⁻²)

372 ± 21 c

492 ± 32 b

643 ± 27 a

516 ± 23 b

Soil

pH

5.82 ± 0.13 a

5.61 ± 0.08 b

5.43 ± 0.22 c

5.12 ± 0.16 d

Bulk density (g cm⁻³)

1.23 ± 0.02 a

1.20 ± 0.04 a

1.18 ± 0.02 a

1.24 ± 0.03 a

OC concentration (g kg^− 1)

9.34 ± 0.01 d

13.51 ± 0.34 b

20.28 ± 0.18 a

10.83 ± 0.10 c

ROC concentration (g kg^− 1)

2.51 ± 0.14 a

2.87 ± 0.14 a

2.95 ± 0.27 a

2.49 ± 0.03 a

POC concentration (g kg^− 1)

2.89 ± 0.11 b

3.00 ± 0.01 b

4.41 ± 0.14 a

1.99 ± 0.01 c

MBC concentration (mg kg⁻¹)

125.00 ± 7.02 b

127.00 ± 3.79 b

174.00 ± 6.66 a

122.33 ± 5.36 b

WOC concentration (mg kg⁻¹)

77.61 ± 4.42 ab

90.13 ± 4.04 a

87.08 ± 4.08 a

67.94 ± 1.53 b

MOC concentration (mg kg⁻¹)

75.96 ± 0.94 c

87.65 ± 2.88 b

97.37 ± 3.08 a

93.73 ± 1.22 ab