Fractal features of soil particle size distributions and their potential as an indicator of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion

To study the fractal dimensions of the soil particle size distributions (PSDs) within different plantations (of Pinus densiflora, Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Larix kaempferi) and evaluate PSDs as an indicator of the likelihood of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion, the soil porosity of 0-20 cm soil layers was measured at different plantations in the Yaoxiang Forest Farm, Shandong Province, China. The results showed that the fractal dimension (D-m) values varied from 2.59 to 2.70 among the different plantations and were significantly negatively correlated to sand content and positively correlated to silt content and clay content. Significant negative correlations were observed between D-m and both soil organic matter (SOM) (P < 0.05) and available phosphorus (P < 0.01). The multifractal entropy dimension (D-1) and entropy dimension/capacity dimension (D-1/D-0) parameters were not significantly correlated with SOM, although significant correlations were found between SOM and each of D-0,Delta alpha, and Delta f(alpha). Compared with the other plantations, the Robinia pseudoacacia plantation had higher nutrient contents, higher D-0 and D-1 values and lower D-m values. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) ordination, we concluded that Robinia pseudoacacia and Pinus densiflora shared a similar habitat and that Robinia pseudoacacia is more likely to invade Pinus densiflora plantations for soil.