Growth of Atlantic Forest Trees and Their Influence on Topsoil Fertility in the Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

All evaluated tree species showed growth increases up to 21 years. The evaluated trees have potential for recovery degraded areas. The edaphic system was able to become self-sustainable under all tree stands. The evaluated trees changed the topsoil fertility differentially.

Afforestation With Tropical N-Fixing Species in The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: Carbon and Nitrogen in The Soil Profile

“…Given the uniqueness of these common gardens, they should not be neglected. Yet, differences in the topsoil properties among species located at the same study site were previously described by Barroso et al (2018) also through con dence intervals which validates our analysis.…”

“…Gaseous N losses frequently happen in N-saturated tropical systems due to soil capacity limitations (Bingham and Cotrufo 2016) (Callesen et al 2013). Yet, nitri cation in soils could reduce soil pH by producing protons in its chemical processes (Wang et al 2010) and the lowest pH was observed for P. reticulata (Barroso et al 2018), and both facts support our previous assumption.…”

“…The species had survival rate of ³ 90%, average height ranging from 13 to 15 m and the diameter at breast height ca. 13 cm for H. courbaril and C. tomentosum and 24 cm for P. reticulata (Barroso et al 2018…”

“…Despite its higher leaf litter C content, another possible explanation for the lower SOC in the 0-30 cm soil layer under P.reticulata is that the leaf litter had a more recalcitrant litter with high lignin concentration (Siqueira et al in press) which might have lowered the substrate use e ciency by microbes and therefore soil C (Marschner et al 2008;Cotrufo et al 2013). Apart from that, P.reticulata had higher growth rates (Barroso et al 2018) and the uptake of nutrients might have reduced soil C and N at a layer of 0-30 cm as well (Hoogmoed et al 2014a).…”

“…The main causes of the Atlantic Rainforest fragmentation are clearing for crops, timber, animal grazing, rewood, and urbanization. Given this scenario, forest plantations to recover the biome are urgently needed and, if well managed, revegetation of degraded sites can also contribute to meet market demand of timber and non-timber products, therefore, reducing illegal logging (Barroso et al 2018).…”