Vegetation response to conditions caused by different soil‐preparation techniques applied to afforestation in semiarid abandoned farmland

Abstract

Twelve soil-preparation techniques used in afforestation were applied and 16 environmental variables were measured to test their effects on vegetation abundance, diversity, and cover in semiarid abandoned farmland located in southeastern Spain. The soil-preparation techniques consisted of punctual treatments-making a hole and constructing a plantation bench with different types of machinery; linear treatments-making furrows along contour lines; and surface treatments-that prepare the soil in general all over the plantation surface. Variables measured were the surface and volume affected by the soil-preparation treatments, distance from sample quadrats to the remnants of natural vegetation, surface runoff estimated by slope angle, and some edaphic characteristics such as gravel content, active lime, CaCO 3 , phosphorus, oxidizable organic matter, total soil nitrogen, pH, potassium, salinity, and clay, silt and sand content. The multivariate contrasts obtained demonstrated the existence of a significant relationship between species, samples and environmental variables. Both the distance of the quadrats from the remnants of natural vegetation and the volume of soil removed in different treatments were very weighty variables in the explanation of the variance of data, negatively affecting overall vegetation development. The accumulation or loss of surface runoff and the CaCO 3 content in soil were also important variables to explain abundance and diversity data. However, not all the species responded to the variables analysed in the same way. Identification of non-uniform spatial patterns that significantly affect vegetation suggests that afforestation policies and conservation and management strategies in these semiarid abandoned lands should always take into consideration the quality of the whole landscape. Voluminous soil treatments for afforestation should be avoided.

Methodologies for soil erosion and land degradation assessment in mediterranean‐type ecosystems

“…Small patchy patterns of contradictory developments are observed at close quarters. Also Cammeraat and Imeson (1999), Lesschen et al (2008) and Navarro et al (2006) refer to the specific patchiness and distinctive micro-topography. Fitzjohn et al (2002) outline the difficulties of this smallscale heterogeneity for monitoring, understanding, interpreting and managing, but they derive an 'effective strategy for reducing runoff and erosion risk' from the spatial variability.…”

Soil–vegetation relationships in semi-arid Mediterranean old fields (SE Spain): Implications for management

“…Only perennial species (chamaephytes, nanophanerophytes, and graminoid hemicryptophytes) were measured. These groups show a clear trend to replace therophytic species and provide greater cover and thus better soil protection (Debussche et al, 1996;Navarro et al, 2006). On the other hand, perennial species constitute more or less stable communities that could be managed as proposed for other semiarid zones with a Mediterranean climate (Bonet, 2004;Leishman and Westoby, 1992).…”

Land Use/Land Cover Change Analysis and Its Impact on Soil Properties in the Northern Part of Gadarif Region, Sudan

“…Land use widely contributes to land degradation (Fitzjohn et al, 2002;Mundia and Aniya, 2006;Kiage et al, 2007;Mwavu and Witkowski, 2008;El Tahir et al, 2009;Onur et al, 2009;Ries, 2010). Many studies reveal that land use changes and subsequent conversion lead to a deterioration in the physical and chemical properties of soil, causing degradation of the land (Braimoh and Vlek, 2004;Jiang et al, 2006;Navarro et al, 2006;Khresat et al, 2008;Emadodin et al, 2009;Göl, 2009;Korkanc et al, 2008;Li et al, 2009;Mahmoud et al, 2009;Zeng et al, 2009;Yao et al, 2010).…”