Effect of initial soil properties on six-year growth of 15 tree species in tropical restoration plantings
Por:
Martinez-Garza, Cristina, Campo, Julio, Ricker, Martin, Tobon, Wolke
Publicada:
1 dic 2016
Resumen:
In restoration plantings in degraded pastures, initial soil nutrient
status may lead to differential growth of tropical tree species with
diverse life history attributes and capacity for N-2 fixation. In 2006,
we planted 1,440 seedlings of 15 native tree species in 16 fenced plots
(30 x 30 m) in a 60-year-old pasture in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico,
in two planting combinations. In the first year, we evaluated bulk
density, pH, the concentration of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen
(N), ammonia (NO3-), nitrate (NH4+), and total phosphorus (P) in the
upper soil profile (0-20 cm in depth) of all plots. The first two axes
of two principal component analyses explained more than 60% of the
variation in soil variables: The axes were related to increasing bulk
density, NO3-, NH4+, total N concentration, and pH. Average relative
growth rates in diameter at the stem base of the juvenile trees after 6
years were higher for pioneer (45.7%) and N-2-fixing species (47.6%)
than for nonpioneer (34.7%) and nonfixing species (36.2%). Most
N-2-fixing species and those with the slowest growth rates did not
respond to soil attributes. Tree species benefited from higher pH levels
and existing litter biomass. The pioneers Ficus yoponensis, Cecropia
obtusifolia, and Heliocarpus appendiculatus, and the N-2-fixing
nonpioneers Cojoba arborea, Inga sinacae, and Platymiscium dimorphandrum
were promising for forest restoration on our site, given their high
growth rates.
Filiaciones:
Martinez-Garza, Cristina:
Univ Autonoma Estado Morelos, CIByC, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Campo, Julio:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ecol, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
Ricker, Martin:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Biol, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
Tobon, Wolke:
Comis Nacl el Conocimiento & Uso Biodiversidad CO, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
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