Soil dynamics and carbon stocks 10 years after restoration of degraded land using Atlantic Forest tree species

Abstract

Brazil's Atlantic Forest ecosystem has been greatly affected by land use changes, with only 11.26% of its original vegetation cover remaining. Currently, Atlantic Forest restoration is receiving increasing attention because of its potential for carbon sequestration and the important role of soil carbon in the global carbon balance. Soil organic matter is also essential for physical, chemical and biological components of soil fertility and forest sustainability. This study evaluated the potential for soil recovery in contrasting restoration models using indigenous Atlantic Forest tree species ten years after their establishment. The study site is located in Botucatu municipality, São Paulo State-Brazil, in a loamy dystrophic Red-Yellow Argisol site (Typic Hapludult). Four treatments were compared: i) Control (Spontaneous Restoration); ii) Low Diversity (five fast-growing tree species established by direct seeding); iii) High Diversity (mixed plantings of 41 species established with seedlings) and; iv) Native Forest (well conserved neighboring forest fragment). The following soil properties were evaluated: (1) physical-texture, density and porosity; (2) chemical-C, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Al and pH; (3) biological-microbial biomass. Litter nutrient concentrations (P, S, K, Ca and Mg) and C and N litter stocks were determined. Within ten years the litter C and N stocks of the Low Diversity treatment area were higher than Control and similar to those in both the High Diversity treatment and the Native Forest. Soil C stocks increased through time for both models and in the Control plots, but remained highest in the Native Forest. The methods of restoration were shown to have different effects on soil dynamics, mainly on chemical properties. These results show that, at least in the short-term, changes in soil properties are more rapid in a less complex system like the Low Diversity model than in the a High Species Diversity model. For both mixed plantation systems, carbon soil cycling can be reestablished, resulting in increases in carbon stocks in both soil and litter.Key words: restoration models; recovery of degraded land; legume trees; physical properties; chemical properties; microbial biomass. Resumen Dinámica del suelo y estoque de carbono después de diez años de la restauración de tierras degradadas usando especies arbóreas del Bosque AtlánticoEl ecosistema forestal Atlántico de Brasil ha sido fuertemente afectado por los cambios en el uso de la tierra, restando solo 11,26% de su vegetación original. En la actualidad, la restauración forestal atlántica ha recibido creciente atención debido a su potencial para el secuestro de carbono y el importante papel del carbono del suelo en el equilibrio global del carbono. La materia orgánica del suelo es también esencial para el desarrollo físico, químico y biológico de la fertilidad del suelo y la sustentabilidad de los bosques. Este estudio evaluó el potencial de recuperación del suelo diez años después de su establecimiento en modelos contrastantes de restauració...

Forest Structure, Wood Standing Stock, and Tree Biomass in Different Restoration Systems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…The Ultisol site had taller trees than the Alfisol site (Table 2), a lower stem density, but higher wood volumes, although the basal areas were similar. Site conditions, such as higher natural fertility, higher clay content [30,31], and a higher water retention capacity [48,49] might initially have favored some individuals of species with a high competitive capacity, which dominated early in the process of stand development [50], suppressing the growth of other individuals. In contrast, in the Alfisol site, individuals might have grown up more evenly, since the soil conditions did not favor individual species with a higher competitive capacity.…”

“…The restoration systems (experimental treatments), with different tree species compositions and arrangements, were as follows [31][32][33]…”

“…In Brazil, wood consumption has decreased when compared to previous years (6.4 million m 3 in 2016, compared to 7.2 million m 3 in 2015) for sawn wood and by 4.5 m 3 for firewood in 2016 [6], The experiment was undertaken at two sites ( Figure 1) with contrasting soil fertility (Table 1): Site 1, Ultisol (U), with clay texture with a tendency to compaction and high fertility, with an undulated relief, at an elevation of 700 m. Former use was based on agriculture (coffee and beans) and pastures of Pennisetum purpureum Shum. ; Site 2, Alfisol (A), with sandy texture and lower fertility in comparison to Site 1 [30][31][32], with a soft undulated relief, at an elevation of 574 m. Previously, the area contained a Citrus sp. orchard and pastures of Urochloa decumbens Stapf.…”

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functional Enhancement by Forest Restoration: A Meta‐analysis in China

“…Previous studies have shown that reference sites are crucial and essential in the restoration of ecosystems, driving both the evaluation of current conditions and the setting of management targets for specific points in the future (Harris & Diggelen, 2006;Pollock et al, 2012;). An increasing number of studies concerning biomass, carbon, nutrient dynamics and soil properties have indicated a significant disparity between restored forests and natural forests (Hughes et al, 1999;Rodrigues Nogueira Jr et al, 2011;Liao et al, 2012). We compared the measures of biodiversity and ecosystem functions between restored and reference forests.…”

O papel da vegetação secundária nas funções e processos hidrológicos em bacias agrícolas

“…Na região sudeste do Brasil, a maior parte das áreas a serem restauradas podem estar sob cobertura de pastagens ou abandonadas, e possuem diferentes potenciais de regeneração natural que podem ser aproveitados para a restauração passiva. As florestas secundárias decorrentes desse processo interferem nas propriedades do solo (PENUELA; DREW, 2004;, sendo observada tendência de diminuição da densidade aparente e aumento da porosidade RODRIGUES NOGUEIRA JR. et al, 2011), provavelmente devido a maior abertura de poros resultante do crescimento e morte das raízes (BEVEN; GERMANN, 2013). No entanto, medidas diretas dos processos que indicam o movimento da água no solo ainda são escassas e o tempo necessário para que o desenvolvimento da floresta seja percebido no condicionamento do solo é altamente variável.…”