Effect of initial soil properties on six‐year growth of 15 tree species in tropical restoration plantings

Abstract

In restoration plantings in degraded pastures, initial soil nutrient status may lead to differential growth of tropical tree species with diverse life history attributes and capacity for N2 fixation. In 2006, we planted 1,440 seedlings of 15 native tree species in 16 fenced plots (30 × 30 m) in a 60‐year‐old pasture in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, in two planting combinations. In the first year, we evaluated bulk density, pH, the concentration of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), ammonia (NO3−), nitrate (NH4+), and total phosphorus (P) in the upper soil profile (0–20 cm in depth) of all plots. The first two axes of two principal component analyses explained more than 60% of the variation in soil variables: The axes were related to increasing bulk density, NO3−, NH4+, total N concentration, and pH. Average relative growth rates in diameter at the stem base of the juvenile trees after 6 years were higher for pioneer (45.7%) and N2‐fixing species (47.6%) than for nonpioneer (34.7%) and nonfixing species (36.2%). Most N2‐fixing species and those with the slowest growth rates did not respond to soil attributes. Tree species benefited from higher pH levels and existing litter biomass. The pioneers Ficus yoponensis, Cecropia obtusifolia, and Heliocarpus appendiculatus, and the N2‐fixing nonpioneers Cojoba arborea, Inga sinacae, and Platymiscium dimorphandrum were promising for forest restoration on our site, given their high growth rates.

Effects of Initial Soil Properties on Three-Year Performance of Six Tree Species in Tropical Dry Forest Restoration Plantings

“…Finally, tree species respond differently to soil conditions [31]. For example, in restoration plantings in the humid forest, slow-growing species were not as sensitive to soil conditions as fast-growing species [32]. In TDF, fast-growing species have a regenerative strategy associated with high availability of light [33], soil nutrients [22,34], and susceptibility to drought [35].…”

Restoration planning to guide Aichi targets in a megadiverse country

“…Moreover, some experts emphasized the inclusion of soil conditions (e.g., structure and fertility), which reveal the soil nutrient status that affects the availability of nutrients for reforestation plants or enrichment plantations (Martínez‐Garza et al. ). These indicators could be included either as a benefit to maximize selection of high‐fertility areas (i.e., where recovery proceeds with little human intervention or where restoration plans often reach the desired endpoint faster [Roa‐Fuentes et al.…”

Demographic costs and benefits of natural regeneration during tropical forest restoration

“…Experimental plots include eight control (unplanted) plots, eight plots planted with 12 animal‐dispersed tree species and eight plots planted with 12 wind‐dispersed species (Martínez‐Garza et al . ). Each plot is separated from neighbouring plots by 35 m of active pasture.…”

“…For the size parameter in the process model for survival and growth, we used informed priors based on regressions of survival and growth vs. size for planted trees in the same study site, monitored during the same period of early succession (Martínez‐Garza et al . ). While these informed priors did not qualitatively change our results, their use improved model convergence.…”