Physicochemical Surface-soil Properties after Litter-removal Manipulation in a Cambodian Lowland Dry Evergreen Forest

Abstract

Litter plays key roles in forest ecosystems, and forest degradation is likely to spur a further decline in leaf litterfall inputs to forest soils. However, the effects on physicochemical surface-soil properties remain largely unknown, especially in seasonal tropical forest ecosystems. We initiated a litterremoval manipulation experiment in a Cambodian lowland evergreen forest undergoing intensive selective logging. Litter removal performed for 2 and 4.4 years respectively triggered an increase in bulk density and decrease in surface-soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents to 67 and 73% of the original levels, respectively. After only 2 years of treatment, bulk density rose to very high value (>1.40 Mg m -3 ) likely preventing further soil compaction, while the C and N reduction effects lasted over 2 years. Greater soil compaction occurs in stands with a smaller initial bulk density. However, C (N)-rich soils did not necessarily lose a greater relative proportion of C (N) than C (N)-poor soils. Although N remained above C following the litter removal, conservative trends in the C:N ratio suggested a limited capacity for N retention. Together, our data suggest that shifts in leaf litter inputs in response to localized human disturbances may have rapid and lasting consequences on physicochemical surface-soil properties; possibly accelerated by a tropical climate. Moreover, a speedy recovery to an adequate litter supply, at least before reaching the upper soil compaction limit, is essential to conserve forest ecosystems.

Effects of simulated historical tree litter raking on the understorey vegetation in a central European forest

“…; Ito et al. ). However, most of previous studies showed no immediate impact of litter raking on soil chemistry (Sayer ).…”

“…Basic substrates have a higher buffer of basic cations, as compared to acidic substrates, and are less susceptible to cation loss. Similarly, nutrient-poor soils are rapidly depleted of N and P when subjected to litter raking (Hofmeister et al 2008;Leff et al 2012;Ito et al 2014). However, most of previous studies showed no immediate impact of litter raking on soil chemistry (Sayer 2005).…”

Carbon Stock of Rubber Based Agroforestry System

“…Menurut Siringoringo (2014), kadar bahan organik tanah akan terjaga melalui serasah, sisa akar/ranting dari pohon, dan biomassa tanaman sela yang dikomposkan sehingga terjadi peningkatan aktivitas fauna tanah. Ito et al (2014) juga melaporkan bahwa kandungan karbon tanah nyata dipengaruhi oleh serasah tanaman dan biomassa tanaman sela. Perbedaan rata-rata kandungan C-tanah antara yang memiliki serasah dan tidak memiliki serasah dapat mencapai 67%.…”

Effects of large aboveground biomass loss events on the deadwood and litter mass dynamics of seasonal tropical forests in Cambodia

“…The annual rainfall during the period April 2011-March 2012 (2128 mm year 1 in the year before the LT mass survey in March 2012) was the second largest within the same 12-year period. 2005, 2006, 2008 5 , 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 2 Siem Reap EF Dd 28 1486 2005, 2006, 2008 5 , 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 , 2015 3 Kratie EF Im 111 1748 2005, 2006, 2008 5 , 2010, 2011, 2012 4 Kratie EF Im 89 1748 2005, 2006 5 Kratie EF Dc 100 1748 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 6 Kampot EF Le 688 2530 2005, 20085 , 2010, 2012, 2013, 20147 Kampot EF Sl 675 25302005, 20085 , 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 among all of the three main forest-cover regions (Akinaga 1943) at 23 688 m a.s.l. : (i) three PSPs in EF and another three in DF in the Mekong Basin; (ii) two PSPs in EF and six PSPs in DF along the coast of Tonlé Sap Lake; (iii) six PSPs in EF and two PSPs in DF in the Krâvanh (Cardamom) Mountains (Fig.…”

“…However, few DOM data have been collected in seasonal tropical forests (Vogt et al 1986, Yoneda et al 1991, Kiyohara et al 2004, Palace et al 2012. Data on DOM dynamics are scarce (Kiyono et al 2010, Ito et al 2014; in particular, long-term LT mass trends have been little studied (Hopkins 1966, Spain 1984, Wieder and Wright 1995. Countrywide DOM estimates have never been calculated for the compilation of national carbon accounts or sustainable forest management in the seasonal forests of Indochinese countries.…”