Differences in soil physio-chemical properties and plant physiological characteristics for Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem under artificially planted and naturally distributed conditions

Considering the lack of wild species resources of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem, serious destruction of original habitat, low survival rate of artificial planting and low forest establishment, we investigated the differences in physiological and soil physicochemical properties between artificially planted and naturally distributed A. elata in the Northeast China, so as to improve the yield and income of A. elata vegetations. The results showed that A. elata plants adapts to warm moist soil and grow well in acidic soil with pH 5.13 ~ 5.24. The survival rate of A. elata is related to the shoot shriveling rate. Soil electrical conductivity and salinity affect the growth of A. elata. High salinity and conductivity reduces root vitality. The content of malondialdehyde in the leaves of artificially planted A. elata is higher than that in naturally distributed one, while the contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, available potassium and total carbon in surface soil of artificial plantation are significantly lower than those in natural growth region. To sum up, the integrated combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be applied properly for the cultivation of A. elata, which would improve the resistance and survival rate of A. elata.