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- Title
Soil Organic Carbon is Increased in Mixed-Species Plantations of Eucalyptus and Nitrogen-Fixing Acacia.
- Authors
Forrester, D.; Pares, A.; O'Hara, C.; Khanna, P.; Bauhus, J.
- Abstract
Soil organic carbon (soil C) sequestration in forests is often higher under nitrogen (N)-fixing than under non-N-fixing tree species. Here, we examined whether soil C could be increased using mixed-species plantations compared to monocultures, which are less productive aboveground than mixtures. In addition, we compared soil C sequestration under N-fixing trees with non-N-fixing trees that received N fertilizer. Monocultures of Eucalyptus globulus (E) and the N-fixing Acacia mearnsii (A) and mixtures of these species were planted in a replacement series: 100%E, 75%E + 25%A, 50%E + 50%A, 25%E + 75%A and 100%A. Soil samples were also collected from fertilized monoculture treatments (100%EFer) of E. globulus (250 kg N ha). Total organic C, N and phosphorus were determined at age 8 years at two soil depths (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) and three density fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) were quantified for 0-5 cm depth. Soil C was highest in the 50%E + 50%A mixed stand and was highly correlated with aboveground biomass, not to the percentage of A. mearnsii in mixtures. This was largely due to soil C at 10-30 cm because there were no treatment effects on soil C at 0-10 cm. All density fractions of SOM at 0-5 cm increased with the percentage of A. mearnsii. In E. globulus monocultures, N fertilization did not increase soil C when compared with unfertilized stands. These results indicate that the inclusion of N-fixing trees into eucalypt plantations may increase soil C stocks through increased productivity.
- Subjects
SOIL biology; NITROGEN-fixing trees; CARBON sequestration; EUCALYPTUS; ACACIA; MONOCULTURE agriculture
- Publication
Ecosystems, 2013, Vol 16, Issue 1, p123
- ISSN
1432-9840
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10021-012-9600-9