Persistence of tree related patterns in soil nutrients following slash-and-burn disturbance in the tropics |
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Authors: | Døckersmith Ingrid C Giardina Christian P Sanford Robert L |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, USA;(2) Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA;(3) Beaumont Research Center, 461 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA. FAX No |
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Abstract: | Individual trees are known to influence soil chemical properties, creating spatial patterns that vary with distance from the
stem. The influence of trees on soil chemical properties is commonly viewed as the agronomic basis for low-input agroforestry
and shifting cultivation practices, and as an important source of spatial heterogeneity in forest soils. Few studies, however,
have examined the persistence of the effects of trees on soil after the pathways responsible for the effects are removed.
Here, we present evidence from a Mexican dry forest indicating that stem-related patterns of soil nutrients do persist following
slash-and-burn removal of trees and two years of cropping. Pre-disturbance concentrations of resin extractable phosphorus
(P), bicarbonate extractable P, NaOH extractable P, total P, total nitrogen (N) and carbon (C), KCl extractable nitrate (NO3
-), and net N mineralization and nitrification rates were higher in stem than dripline soils under two canopy dominant species
of large-stemmed trees with contrasting morphologies and phenologies (Caesalpinia eriostachys Benth. and Forchhammeria pallida
Liebm.). These stem effects persisted through slash burning and a first growing season for labile inorganic and organic P,
NaOH inorganic P, and plant-available P, and through a second growing season for labile organic P, NaOH organic P, and plant-available
P. While stem effects for extractable NO3
-, net nitrification rates, total N and C disappeared after felling and slash burning, these stem effects returned after the
first growing season. These results support the view that tree-influenced patterns of soil nutrients do persist after tree
death, and that trees contribute to the long-term spatial heterogeneity of forest soils.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | fire nitrogen phosphorus soil nutrient heterogeneity tree effects tropical dry forest |
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