Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups
Abstract Background Natural afforestation of former agricultural lands with alder species is common in Europe. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by actinomycetes associated with alder species has been widely used for improvement of soil properties of abandoned agricultural lands, but relatively little is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Forest Ecosystems |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0 |
| _version_ | 1797966370528296960 |
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| author | Oļģerts Nikodemus Dārta Kaupe Imants Kukuļs Guntis Brūmelis Raimonds Kasparinskis Iluta Dauškane Agita Treimane |
| author_facet | Oļģerts Nikodemus Dārta Kaupe Imants Kukuļs Guntis Brūmelis Raimonds Kasparinskis Iluta Dauškane Agita Treimane |
| author_sort | Oļģerts Nikodemus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Natural afforestation of former agricultural lands with alder species is common in Europe. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by actinomycetes associated with alder species has been widely used for improvement of soil properties of abandoned agricultural lands, but relatively little is known of the interactions of these processes with soil type and chemical composition. We conducted a space-for time study with soil sampling under and outside grey alder tree canopies on two different soil groups to explore effects of colonisation of former agricultural lands by alder on soil properties. Results The results were analysed using analysis of variance. During the first 25 years after afforestation of former agricultural lands there was a significant increase in content of Ctot, Ntot, K+, Fe3+, Mn2+ and available P in the topsoil (0–10 cm and 11–20 cm) of Dystric Arenosols soils, which are deficient in organic matter. Such trends were not evident in organic matter rich Endostagnic Umbrisols soils, in which exchangeable K+ concentration decreased and exchangeable Fe3+ and Al3+ concentration increased. Conclusions The results show that the effects of grey alder on soil chemical properties depend on initial soil properties. The invasion of agricultural land by grey alder leads to spatial variability of soil chemical properties creating a mosaic pattern. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:14:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e464d3c0a72d49afaee8e307db6c0135 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-5620 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:14:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forest Ecosystems |
| spelling | doaj.art-e464d3c0a72d49afaee8e307db6c01352023-01-03T01:34:01ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Forest Ecosystems2197-56202020-06-017111010.1186/s40663-020-00253-0Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groupsOļģerts Nikodemus0Dārta Kaupe1Imants Kukuļs2Guntis Brūmelis3Raimonds Kasparinskis4Iluta Dauškane5Agita Treimane6Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of LatviaFaculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of LatviaFaculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of LatviaFaculty of Biology, University of LatviaFaculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of LatviaFaculty of Biology, University of LatviaFaculty of Biology, University of LatviaAbstract Background Natural afforestation of former agricultural lands with alder species is common in Europe. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by actinomycetes associated with alder species has been widely used for improvement of soil properties of abandoned agricultural lands, but relatively little is known of the interactions of these processes with soil type and chemical composition. We conducted a space-for time study with soil sampling under and outside grey alder tree canopies on two different soil groups to explore effects of colonisation of former agricultural lands by alder on soil properties. Results The results were analysed using analysis of variance. During the first 25 years after afforestation of former agricultural lands there was a significant increase in content of Ctot, Ntot, K+, Fe3+, Mn2+ and available P in the topsoil (0–10 cm and 11–20 cm) of Dystric Arenosols soils, which are deficient in organic matter. Such trends were not evident in organic matter rich Endostagnic Umbrisols soils, in which exchangeable K+ concentration decreased and exchangeable Fe3+ and Al3+ concentration increased. Conclusions The results show that the effects of grey alder on soil chemical properties depend on initial soil properties. The invasion of agricultural land by grey alder leads to spatial variability of soil chemical properties creating a mosaic pattern.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0AfforestationGrey alderSoil propertiesUmbrisolsArenosolsTopsoil |
| spellingShingle | Oļģerts Nikodemus Dārta Kaupe Imants Kukuļs Guntis Brūmelis Raimonds Kasparinskis Iluta Dauškane Agita Treimane Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups Forest Ecosystems Afforestation Grey alder Soil properties Umbrisols Arenosols Topsoil |
| title | Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| title_full | Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| title_fullStr | Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| title_short | Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| title_sort | effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder alnus incana l moench on soil chemical properties comparing two contrasting soil groups |
| topic | Afforestation Grey alder Soil properties Umbrisols Arenosols Topsoil |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0 |
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