Stable Carbon Isotope Study of the Prairie-Forest Transition Soil in Louisiana 1

Bekele, Asfaw; Hudnall, Wayne H.

doi:10.1097/01.ss.0000100472.96182.d8

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The d 13 C value of SOM in the upper soil profile (0-10 cm) for a given site is similar to that of the vegetation at the site (Bekele and Hudnall 2003). Isotopic signals from antecedent vegetation persist deeper in the soil profile (Boutton, 1996).…”

Section: And N Distribution In Som Fractionsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Anthropogenic disturbance of natural forest vegetation on calcareous soils alters soil organic matter composition and natural abundance of 13C and 15N in density fractions

2010

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In the last century, many calcareous soils in Castilla León (northwestern Spain) have been transformed from natural Quercus ilex forest to cropped land. Reforestation with Pinus halepensis has been taking place during the past 40 years. In order to obtain a better understanding of how these disturbances affect ecosystem functioning, we studied the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) in natural forest ecosystems, cropland and Pinus plantations. Density fractionation combined with ultrasonic dispersion enables separation and study of SOM fractions: free organic matter (OM), OM occluded into aggregates and OM stabilized in organo-mineral complexes, considered on the basis of the type of physical protection provided. We separated SOM density fractions and determined the concentrations of C and N, C/N ratios and the natural isotopic abundance (d 13 C and d 15 N values). Transformation of Quercus forest to cropland resulted in major losses of SOC and N, as expected. However, subsequent reforestation with Pinus resulted in good recovery of the original SOC and soil N pools. This indicates the potential for enhanced C storage in agricultural soils by their reversion to a forested state. Study of the density fractions and their 13 C and 15 N signatures enabled better understanding of the high stability of OM in calcareous soils, and analysis of d 13 C variations throughout the profile also enabled identification of past C3/C4 vegetation change. Despite the different OC contents of soils under different land use, OM stabilization mechanisms were not significantly different. In calcareous soils, accumulation of SOC and N is mainly due to organo-mineral associations, resulting in physicochemical stabilization against further decomposition.

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Section: And N Distribution In Som Fractionsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Anthropogenic disturbance of natural forest vegetation on calcareous soils alters soil organic matter composition and natural abundance of 13C and 15N in density fractions

2010

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“…The observed mean soil organic C concentration (33.5 ± 2.2 g kg )1 ) within the 0-10 cm depth (Figure 4c) for our sites was lower than the mean (37.4 ± 3.5 g kg )1 ) within a similar depth reported for Flint Hills prairies. Similarly, the estimates of soil organic C stock within the 0-30 cm depth did not differ among the vegetation types for Keiffer prairies (mean 7.6 ± 0.4 kg C m )2 ; Bekele and Hudnall, 2003) and Flint Hills prairies (mean 7.7 ± 0.9 kg C m )2 ; Smith, 2001). Jackson et al (2002) indicated that woody plant dominance and a change in soil organic C was not consistent.…”

Section: Soil Ph Ca Mg and Kmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The 'transition' area of the prairie-forest association, recently dominated by eastern red cedar and other shrubs, was under prairie vegetation in the past and was verified using d 13 C data from plants and soil organic matter (Bekele and Hudnall, 2003). This transition area provides the opportunity to observe effects of eastern red cedar expansion on the d 15 N and soil nutrients of the calcareous prairie soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of soil δ15N and nutrients to eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) encroachment into a relict calcareous prairie

Bekele

Hudnall

2005

Plant Soil

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The calcareous prairies of Louisiana have been threatened by the encroachment of woody plants, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). The restoration and management of these rare plant communities require a thorough understanding of the soils supporting them. The knowledge of whether eastern red cedar encroachment has altered these soils is also of interest. We studied the depth distribution, at contrasting vegetation types (prairie, transition, forest) and landscape positions, of d 15 N, total N, organic C, C/N ratio, Ca, Mg, K and pH of three relict prairie-forest associations in north central Louisiana, USA. The effect of vegetation type was significant for soil d 15 N and Ca. Plant leaf samples from prairie, transition, and forest showed similar d 15 N signals, and mean values ranged between )1.6& and )1.1&. The order of soil 15

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“…Their focus is on the unique calcareous prairie ecosystem of Louisiana where prairie remnants are being encroached upon by the forest, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). Previous work by the same authors (Bekele and Hudnall, 2003) reported on observations of soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution in the same prairie-forest transition zone. Although SOC differences by vegetation type and landscape position were not statistically significant, d 13 C data suggest that the entire site may once have been dominated by prairie vegetation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

Spatial Variation of Soil Properties Relating to Vegetation Changes

Sauer¹,

Cambardella²,

Meek³

2006

Plant Soil

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Bekele and Hudnall provide an interesting perspective on the spatial variation of soil chemical properties in a natural area undergoing transition from prairie to forest. Their focus is on the unique calcareous prairie ecosystem of Louisiana where prairie remnants are being encroached upon by the forest, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). Bekele and Hudnall were especially interested in investigating any differences in spatial variability among similar sites and in documenting the scale at which the variability occurs. Geostatistical methods have been used to describe and model spatial patterns in soil data for more than 20 years. The accessibility of user-friendly geostatistical software packages has increased the use . of spatial analysis of soil's data but carries the risk that these tools are used without due consideration of the underlying theory, especially in the field of semivariogram modeling or recommended good practices. The feedback between plant community composition and species distribution and soil properties in natural systems has promise to provide enhanced insight into the short-and long-term relationships between plants and soil properties. This is an intriguing area of research that couples plant ecology and soil science and should provide valuable information on the interaction of soils with the processes of plant succession and competition. Researchers in this area are urged to be cautious in verifying the assumptions behind popular geostatistical methods and explicit in describing the important steps such as trend analysis, which can reveal critical interpretive information.

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Stable Carbon Isotope Study of the Prairie-Forest Transition Soil in Louisiana 1

Cited by 15 publications

References 37 publications

Anthropogenic disturbance of natural forest vegetation on calcareous soils alters soil organic matter composition and natural abundance of 13C and 15N in density fractions

Anthropogenic disturbance of natural forest vegetation on calcareous soils alters soil organic matter composition and natural abundance of 13C and 15N in density fractions

Response of soil δ15N and nutrients to eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) encroachment into a relict calcareous prairie

Spatial Variation of Soil Properties Relating to Vegetation Changes

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