Can Brazil nut plantations recover soil properties in former pasture lands?

Rodrigo Pinheiro Bastos, Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen, Inge Stupak, Robyn Margaret Stuart, João Baptista Silva Ferraz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference abstract in proceedingsResearch

Abstract

Soils of livestock pastures are heavily degraded in the Amazon region compared to conditions immediately after deforestation. We hypothesized that incoming-generating Brazil nut plantations (Bertholletia excelsa) and natural succession secondary forests can recover soil properties of these lands. To test this, we sampled two 200-cm soil pits in four vegetation types: pasture (PA), Brazil-nut plantation (BN), secondary forest (SF) and primary forest (PF). Soil samples were collected at nine fixed depths to measure bulk density, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and C/N-ratio. The SOC concentration, TN and C/N-ratio did not differ significantly among vegetation types in any soil layer, even if the mean SOC concentrations of BN and SF were between those of PA and PF in the 0-5 cm layer. Bulk densities of PA (1.47 g cm-3) and PF (1.11 g cm-3) differed significantly in 0-5 cm, while those of BN (1.31 g cm-3) and SF (1.34 g cm-3) were in between and not significantly different from PA nor PF. pH differed significantly among vegetation types in the 0-5 cm layer, except BN and SF. The highest pH was found in PA (4.7), probably due alkaline ashes from initial slash-and-burn, and the lowest in PF (3.5). pH was generally higher in PA down to at least 30 cm. The results suggest that SOC and TN were robust to land use changes, while bulk density and pH were more sensitive. BN and SF showed potentials for recovery of soil properties as bulk density and pH.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLinking Science and Practice for a Better World : Book of absracts
EditorsGiselda Durigan
Number of pages1
Publication date1 Sep 2017
Pages281
Article numberS118.02
ISBN (Print)9788594244017
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2017
EventVII World Conference on Ecological Restoration - Recanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention, Foz do Iguassu, Brazil
Duration: 28 Aug 20171 Sep 2017
Conference number: 7
http://ser2017.org

Conference

ConferenceVII World Conference on Ecological Restoration
Number7
LocationRecanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention
Country/TerritoryBrazil
CityFoz do Iguassu
Period28/08/201701/09/2017
Internet address

Keywords

  • ???Skov- og landskabshistorie???

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