Long‐term Effects of Pine Plantations on Soil Quality in Southern Spain

Autor: E. Fernández-Ondoño, F. J. Martínez, Francisco Martín-Peinado, M.N. Jiménez, Francisco Bruno Navarro, M. Sierra, Leopoldo Rojo, Ana Romero-Freire
Rok vydání: 2016
Předmět:
Zdroj: Land Degradation & Development. 27:1709-1720
ISSN: 1099-145X
1085-3278
DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2566
Popis: This work evaluated how pine plantations established on old fields and degraded lands influence soil properties in comparison with adjacent unplanted areas that undergo into secondary succession, and native forests, analysing the effects of abiotic variables and stand characteristics in the afforestation process. Thirty-two paired sites (pine plantations versus unplanted areas) and 10 native forests were selected in the SE Spain. In total, 74 soil profiles were studied, and 222 composite soil samples were collected at three different depths. Soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and C : N ratio showed significantly greater values in pine plantations in relation to the unplanted areas (0–5 cm), and the mean values of soil organic carbon, nitrogen (N), C : N ratio, and cation exchange capacity in these pine plantations were similar to those found under native forests. Only K+ concentrations were clearly higher in the native forests than in the other land uses for all depths analysed. Pine plantations in the drier and warmer areas showed lower soil quality in relation to the paired unplanted areas, as well as the younger and denser ones; it may be because under these situations, more time is needed to produce an improvement. In fact, the paired net variations increased with the stand age and/or tree size. In conclusion, pine plantations were in general more efficient in improving parameters related to soil quality, especially in locations with high soil water retention capacity, which in our study area were found at higher and cooler elevations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: