Soil Physicochemical Changes Following Buffelgrass Establishment in Mexico

Ibarra-Flores, Fernando; Cox, Jerry R.; Martín-Rivera, Martha Hortencia; Crowl, Todd A.; Norton, Brien E.; Banner, Roger E.; Miller, Robert O.

doi:10.1080/089030699263474

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In addition to the pronounced changes in available N pools, A. gayanus invasion led to significant decreases in total soil N pools in the wet season (the growing season). Decreases in total soil N have been reported for a range of alien grass invasions (Johnson and Wedin 1997, Christian and Wilson 1999, Ibarra-Flores et al 1999, Kourtev et al 1999, Reed et al 2005, Sperry et al 2006, Drenovsky and Batten 2007. For example, total soil N pools were 40% lower in Bromus tectorum invaded communities in southeastern Utah, USA (Sperry et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…For example, total soil N pools were 40% lower in Bromus tectorum invaded communities in southeastern Utah, USA (Sperry et al 2006). However in some studies the reduction in total soil N due to alien grass invasion varied spatially (Ibarra-Flores et al 1999, Kourtev et al 1999, seasonally (Mack and D'Antonio 2003, this study), or following disturbance events such as fire (Reed et al 2005). The reduction in total soil N following alien plant invasion can be due to their effects on N uptake and N transformation rates, or alterations in disturbance regimes (Corbin and D'Antonio 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna

Rossiter‐Rachor

Setterfield

Douglas

et al. 2009

Ecological Applications

139

116

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Invasion by the African grass Andropogon gayanus is drastically altering the understory structure of oligotrophic savannas in tropical Australia. We compared nitrogen (N) relations and phenology of A. gayanus and native grasses to examine the impact of invasion on N cycling and to determine possible reasons for invasiveness of A. gayanus. Andropogon gayanus produced up to 10 and four times more shoot phytomass and root biomass, with up to seven and 2.5 times greater shoot and root N pools than native grass understory. These pronounced differences in phytomass and N pools between A. gayanus and native grasses were associated with an altered N cycle. Most growth occurs in the wet season when, compared with native grasses, dominance of A. gayanus was associated with significantly lower total soil N pools, lower nitrification rates, up to three times lower soil nitrate availability, and up to three times higher soil ammonium availability. Uptake kinetics for different N sources were studied with excised roots of three grass species ex situ. Excised roots of A. gayanus had an over six times higher-uptake rate of ammonium than roots of native grasses, while native grass Eriachne triseta had a three times higher uptake rate of nitrate than A. gayanus. We hypothesize that A. gayanus stimulates ammonification but inhibits nitrification, as was shown to occur in its native range in Africa, and that this modification of the soil N cycle is linked to the species' preference for ammonium as an N source. This mechanism could result in altered soil N relations and could enhance the competitive superiority and persistence of A. gayanus in Australian savannas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna

Rossiter‐Rachor

Setterfield

Douglas

et al. 2009

Ecological Applications

139

116

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Pasture run-down or 'N tie-up' has been reported in Queensland (Hall 2000, Lloyd 2000 and in subtropical Mexico (Ibarra-Flores et al 1999). Productivity of buffel grass declines as nitrogen becomes bound up in microbes, plant roots and organic residues or is removed…”

Section: Pasture Run-downmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, Schmidt and Lamble (2002) proposed that, on low nutrient eucalypt woodlands in Queensland, clearing may lead to an initial short-term pasture response, followed in the medium-term (10 years) by nitrate leaching and nutrient depletion. In Mexico, areas with higher rainfall and better soil fertility may be more susceptible to pasture run-down due to excessive removal of nutrients (Ibarra-Flores et al 1999). Hence causes of pasture run-down may differ depending on site capability and grazing management.…”

Section: Pasture Run-downmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Young¹,

Schlesinger²

2014

Wildl. Res.

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Context Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an introduced pasture grass that has spread over large areas of semiarid Australia with potentially significant negative consequences for biodiversity. Previous studies suggest that the response of bird communities to the changes in habitat associated with buffel grass invasion is complex. Aims This study compares the behaviour of birds between sub-sites with predominantly native vegetation where buffel grass had been removed and control sub-sites with buffel grass, which were left unmanaged, at two locations in central Australia. Our objective was to evaluate whether removing buffel grass at small scales had measurable benefits for local bird species and to better understand how the presence of buffel grass affects bird behaviour. Methods We assessed differences in microhabitat use and behaviour of all species combined and when separated into above ground, flexible and ground foraging guilds. We also tested for direct correlations between different cover types and the microhabitat use and behaviour of birds within guilds, with some further analyses of three common species individually. Key results Management of buffel grass was associated with changes in the microhabitat use and behaviour of birds when all species were combined and for all foraging guilds. Buffel grass cover was negatively correlated with the proportional time birds spent on the ground and with proportional time spent foraging. However, of the three species examined individually only the behaviour of white-winged trillers (Lalage tricolor) was consistently correlated with ground vegetation cover. Our observations also suggest birds spent less time overall at sites with high buffel grass. Conclusions Managing buffel grass in small areas creates islands of habitat that provide important opportunities for foraging at a localised scale. Buffel grass and other ground cover affects the behaviour of birds collectively, but individual species responses vary. Implications Management of buffel grass in small areas with high conservation value should be considered. Our study will help to inform land managers of the benefits of controlling buffel grass on a localised scale.

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“…Thus, it appears that other factors impact on the fate of SOC and thus on soil N, which may include initial composition of soil, vegetation and climate characteristics and landscape position. Similarly, conversion of native Mexican grassland to buffelgrass pasture resulted in a 25 and 40% decline of soil N and C stocks, respectively, at some sites, but no change or elevated soil N and C stocks at other sites (Ibarra-Flores et al 1999). Further, we observed that buffelgrass had higher shoot macronutrient contents than native grasses, irrespective of clearing history of the site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effect of woody vegetation clearing on nutrient and carbon relations of semi-arid dystrophic savanna

et al. 2009

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Throughout the savanna biome, woody vegetation is cleared to increase productivity of herbaceous pasture. While clearing can result in increased pasture production of semi-arid dystrophic savannas in the short term, it is uncertain whether production is sustained in the long term. There is insufficient knowledge of how clearing affects soil nutrient and organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Using cleared-uncleared site pairs, we evaluated techniques for time-integrated assessment of nutrient and carbon relations in Australian savanna. Short-term in situ resin incubation showed that soil at cleared sites had a higher time-integrated availability of ammonium and nitrate, indicating that nitrogen (N) may turn over faster and/or is taken up slower at cleared sites than uncleared savanna. Nitrate and ammonium availability was approximately 2-fold higher in spring than in summer, likely due to greater uptake and/or loss of nitrate during summer rains. Nitrate was a prominent N source for evergreen trees, especially before summer rain, pointing to a role of trees as permanent N sinks. Stable isotope signatures of soil and vegetation indicate that N input occurs via N 2 fixing microbiotic crusts and Acacia species. 30 years after clearing, SOC contained more C 4 grass-derived carbon than uncleared savanna, but this shift in C source was not associated with the net C gain often observed in grasslands. Interactions between altered nutrient and C relations and composition of the understorey should be assessed in context of introduced buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) which had higher macronutrient concentrations than native grasses. Heterogeneity of the studied soils highlights the need for replication at several spatial scales to infer long-term dynamics with space-for-time chronosequences. We conclude that the techniques presented here are useful for gaining knowledge of the biogeochemical processes governing savannas and the systems that result from clearing.

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Soil Physicochemical Changes Following Buffelgrass Establishment in Mexico

Cited by 22 publications

References 36 publications

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna

Invasive Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass) is an ecosystem transformer of nitrogen relations in Australian savanna

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Effect of woody vegetation clearing on nutrient and carbon relations of semi-arid dystrophic savanna

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