Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities
Short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) provide sustainable, renewable biomass energy and offer potential ecosystem services, including increased carbon storage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. Establishing SRWCs on degraded lands has potential to enhance soil properties throu...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1806 |
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| author | Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile Maricar Aguilos Suna Morkoc Joshua Heitman John S. King |
| author_facet | Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile Maricar Aguilos Suna Morkoc Joshua Heitman John S. King |
| author_sort | Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) provide sustainable, renewable biomass energy and offer potential ecosystem services, including increased carbon storage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. Establishing SRWCs on degraded lands has potential to enhance soil properties through root and organic matter turnover. A better understanding of SRWC planting density and its associated root turnover impacts on soil–air–water relations can improve management. In this study, we investigate the effects of planting density for a low-input American sycamore SRWC (no fertilization/irrigation) on soil physical properties for a degraded agricultural site in the North Carolina piedmont. The objectives were (1) to estimate the distributions of coarse and fine root biomass in three planting densities (10,000, 5000, and 2500 trees per hectare (tph)) and (2) to assess the effects of planting density on soil hydraulic properties and pore size distribution. Our results show that planting at 10,000 tph produced significantly higher amounts of fine root biomass than at lower planting densities (<i>p</i> < 0.01). In the 25,000 tph plots, there was significantly higher amounts of coarse root biomass than for higher planting densities (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The 10,000 tph plots had lower plant available water capacity but larger drainable porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity compared with lower planting densities (<0.05). The 10,000 tph plots total porosity was more dominated by larger pore size fractions compared with the 5000 and 2500 tph. Generally, our findings show similar patterns of soil hydraulic properties and pore size distributions for lower planting densities. The results from 10,000 tph indicate a higher air-filled pore space at field capacity and more rapid drainage compared with lower planting densities. Both characteristics observed in the 10,000 tph are favorable for aeration and oxygen uptake, which are especially important at wet sites. Overall, the results suggest that improved soil health can be achieved from the establishment of American sycamore SRCs on marginal lands, thereby providing a green pathway to achieving environmental sustainability with woody renewable energy. |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj.art-cd351d2cdc6f4c268ca3674b177271d52023-11-23T08:22:38ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-12-011212180610.3390/f12121806Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting DensitiesOmoyemeh Jennifer Ile0Maricar Aguilos1Suna Morkoc2Joshua Heitman3John S. King4Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USAMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, Ankara 06170, TurkeyDepartment of Crop and Soil Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USAShort rotation woody crops (SRWCs) provide sustainable, renewable biomass energy and offer potential ecosystem services, including increased carbon storage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. Establishing SRWCs on degraded lands has potential to enhance soil properties through root and organic matter turnover. A better understanding of SRWC planting density and its associated root turnover impacts on soil–air–water relations can improve management. In this study, we investigate the effects of planting density for a low-input American sycamore SRWC (no fertilization/irrigation) on soil physical properties for a degraded agricultural site in the North Carolina piedmont. The objectives were (1) to estimate the distributions of coarse and fine root biomass in three planting densities (10,000, 5000, and 2500 trees per hectare (tph)) and (2) to assess the effects of planting density on soil hydraulic properties and pore size distribution. Our results show that planting at 10,000 tph produced significantly higher amounts of fine root biomass than at lower planting densities (<i>p</i> < 0.01). In the 25,000 tph plots, there was significantly higher amounts of coarse root biomass than for higher planting densities (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The 10,000 tph plots had lower plant available water capacity but larger drainable porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity compared with lower planting densities (<0.05). The 10,000 tph plots total porosity was more dominated by larger pore size fractions compared with the 5000 and 2500 tph. Generally, our findings show similar patterns of soil hydraulic properties and pore size distributions for lower planting densities. The results from 10,000 tph indicate a higher air-filled pore space at field capacity and more rapid drainage compared with lower planting densities. Both characteristics observed in the 10,000 tph are favorable for aeration and oxygen uptake, which are especially important at wet sites. Overall, the results suggest that improved soil health can be achieved from the establishment of American sycamore SRCs on marginal lands, thereby providing a green pathway to achieving environmental sustainability with woody renewable energy.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1806bioenergy treeswet marginal sitesroot biomasspore size distributionwater retention componentssaturated hydraulic conductivity |
| spellingShingle | Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile Maricar Aguilos Suna Morkoc Joshua Heitman John S. King Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities Forests bioenergy trees wet marginal sites root biomass pore size distribution water retention components saturated hydraulic conductivity |
| title | Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities |
| title_full | Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities |
| title_fullStr | Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities |
| title_short | Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (<i>Platanus occidentalis</i> L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities |
| title_sort | root biomass distribution and soil physical properties of short rotation coppice american sycamore i platanus occidentalis i l grown at different planting densities |
| topic | bioenergy trees wet marginal sites root biomass pore size distribution water retention components saturated hydraulic conductivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1806 |
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