Hydropedological Characteristics of the Cathedral Peak Research Catchments

Harrison, Rowena; Tol, Johan van; Amiotte‐Suchet, Philippe

doi:10.3390/hydrology9110189

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 34 publications

(50 reference statements)

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“…Taking hydropedological characteristics into account has been shown to improve the modelling accuracy in Afromontane catchments [47,48]. The soil characteristics typically taken into account in hydrological modelling include soil texture, soil structure, soil organic matter, soil water retention, soil depth, and hydraulic conductivity.…”

Section: Implication For the Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil-Forming Factors of High-Elevation Mountains along the East African Rift Valley: The Case of the Mount Guna Volcano, Ethiopia

Sisay,

Tsegaye,

Tolossa

et al. 2024

Soil Systems

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The soils of the high-elevation mountains along the East African Rift Valley are poorly understood. Assessing the potential of soils for agriculture, climate change mitigation, and environmental functioning requires insight into how they relate to the factors influencing soil formation. Between 3000 and 4120 m a.s.l., 85 soil profiles of Mount Guna were described and sampled. Standard physicochemical analyses were done on all pedons. Additionally, X-ray diffraction, Alox and Feox content, and P fixation were performed on six selected profiles. Soils on Mount Guna included Andosols, Phaeozems, Leptosols, Regosols, Cambisols, Luvisols, and Vertisols. With increasing elevation, clay content, bulk density, and pH decreased while the C:N ratio remained constant. In contrast, sand, silt, silt-to-clay ratio, SOC, Ntotal, and SOCS increased. With a factor analysis, the soil-forming factors’ elevation/climate could be disentangled from the factor’s parent material as these affect topsoil and subsoil differently. In the ordination based on climate/elevation and parent material, Andosols and Vertisols stood out while other Reference Soil Groups (RSG) showed indistinct patterns. Soil erosion appeared as an additional soil-forming factor not accounted for by the factor analysis. The distribution of the RSG was significantly associated with elevation belts (p < 0.001), lithology (p < 0.001), and landcover (p < 0.003). On the summital ridge, the Andosols were crucial for groundwater storage due to high precipitation. Shallow and stony soils in the mid-elevation belt contributed to runoff generation. Average soil carbon stock ranged from 8.1 to 11 kg C m−2 in the topsoil and from 29.2 to 31.9 kg C m−2 in the upper meter, emphasizing the global importance of high-elevation areas for carbon sequestration.

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Section: Implication For the Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil-Forming Factors of High-Elevation Mountains along the East African Rift Valley: The Case of the Mount Guna Volcano, Ethiopia

Sisay,

Tsegaye,

Tolossa

et al. 2024

Soil Systems

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Impact of fire exclusion and aspect on soil carbon fractions in Afromontane grasslands, Cathedral Peak, South Africa

Dlamini,

Kotzé,

Thevenot

et al. 2024

European J Soil Science

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Despite the importance of South Africa's Afromontane grasslands for ecosystem services (water supply and biodiversity), soil organic carbon (SOC) research remains limited. These grasslands evolved with fire, and fire exclusion leads to native plant afforestation. This study investigated SOC fractions and origin to understand the impact of fire‐exclusion‐driven afforestation and aspect on SOC storage in Afromontane grasslands. This study in Cathedral Peak Research Catchments, initiated in the 1940s, compared an afforested fire‐excluded site (AF) to a periodically burnt (accidental fires, 2–5 years interval) grassland (PB) within the same catchment (Catchment‐IX). Additionally, it compared a south‐facing periodically burnt grassland (Catchment‐IX) to a north‐facing biennially burnt grassland (Catchment‐VI). Soil samples collected at soil‐depth increments (0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–60 and 60–100 cm) revealed that, within Catchment IX, PB had more topsoil SOC stocks and microbial activity than AF but similar active carbon (C) concentrations. As expected, δ13C values revealed that SOC in PB originates from C4 grasses, whilst it mostly originates from C3 plants in AF. The south‐facing slope (Catchment‐IX) had more SOC stocks, microbial activity and active C compared to the north‐facing slope (Catchment‐VI). Fire‐exclusion‐driven afforestation changed SOC input from roots to litter, thus reducing SOC storage. Cooler south‐facing slopes are better C reservoirs. Afromontane grasslands show greater potential for C sequestration than afforested systems.

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Hydropedological Characteristics of the Cathedral Peak Research Catchments

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Soil-Forming Factors of High-Elevation Mountains along the East African Rift Valley: The Case of the Mount Guna Volcano, Ethiopia

Soil-Forming Factors of High-Elevation Mountains along the East African Rift Valley: The Case of the Mount Guna Volcano, Ethiopia

Impact of fire exclusion and aspect on soil carbon fractions in Afromontane grasslands, Cathedral Peak, South Africa

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