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Organic Carbon and Alkalinity Increase in Topsoil after Rangeland Restoration through Atriplex Nummularia Plantation

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Title Organic Carbon and Alkalinity Increase in Topsoil after Rangeland Restoration through Atriplex Nummularia Plantation
 
Creator Zucca, Claudio
 
Contributor Garcia, Sabina Arrieta
Deroma, Mario
Madrau, Salvatore
 
Subject fodder shrub
landscape function analysis (lfa)
old man saltbush
 
Description This research studied the impact of fodder shrub plantations (Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) on topsoil properties, with particular reference to organic carbon, nitrogen, and soluble salts, in the Marrakech region (central Morocco). The studied plantation interventions were carried out to rehabilitate degraded rangeland and to mitigate desertification. The field experiment was conducted by drawing seventeen 50-m-long transects designed according to the ecological patch–interpatch approach defined by the Landscape Function Analysis. The top soil (0–5 cm) was sampled in 134 microsites, covering the main patch and interpatch types in plantation and control plots. The following variables were determined: pH, carbonates, organic carbon, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, and soluble ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ Cl_, NO3_, SO42_ and PO4 3_). Statistical analyses were carried out to analyse changes between sites and between patch types. Most of the studied properties were strongly affected by the spatial pattern defined by the plantation, particularly when the sites with higher biomass production were considered. Organic carbon increased by around 63% and 117% when the under canopy patches were compared, respectively, to the between-plants interpatches and to the control plots, a strong positive effect considering the aridity of the study area. On the other hand, a stronger increase was detected under canopy for most soluble salts and sodium adsorption rate. On average, the latter increased by 350% and up to 450% under the best developed plants, a stronger impact than observed in previous research, highlighting the very strong plant effect on the soil surface alkalinity.
 
Date 2016-04-07
2016-04-04T17:40:45Z
2016-04-04T17:40:45Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier https://mel.cgiar.org/dspace/limited
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ldr.2378/abstract
Claudio Zucca, Sabina Arrieta Garcia, Mario Deroma, Salvatore Madrau. (7/4/2016). Organic Carbon and Alkalinity Increase in Topsoil after Rangeland Restoration through Atriplex Nummularia Plantation. Land Degradation & Development, 27 (3), pp. 573-582.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/4609
Limited access
 
Language en
 
Format PDF
 
Publisher John Wiley and Sons
 
Source Land Degradation & Development;27,(2015) Pagination 573-582