Soil organic carbon and dead biomass pools in woodlands from Monte region (Argentina)

Abstract

Soil and above-ground dead biomass are important carbon pools in drylands. They depend on local controls and patterns that should be studied. The objective of this work is to understand and quantify the influence of the vegetation canopy in the regulation of soil and dead biomass carbon stocks in woodlands of Monte region in Argentina. The hypothesis is that soil and dead biomass carbon stocks are lower in the intercanopy and higher under the canopy, independently of the type of canopy. Thirty sampling plots were selected, identifying three treatments: tree canopy, intercanopy and shrub canopy. In each sampling plot, soil and dead biomass were sampled. Four physiognomic-functional groups were identified. Prosopis woodlands accumulated about 38 Mg ha -1 of dead organic carbon (from soil, litter, and dead wood), followed by Suaeda woodlands with almost 35 Mg ha -1 . Mixed woodlands showed average values around 27 Mg ha -1 , while Bulnesia woodlands around 25 Mg ha -1 . The vegetation canopy, and consequently, litter and dead wood input affected soil organic carbon in topsoil. Shrubs such as Larrea spp. had a restricted ability to enrich soil compared to Prosopis spp. Soil, litter and dead wood are significant pools of carbon and should be included in programs on reducing emissions in arid regions. The hypothesis is accepted partially; there is a remarked contrast in carbon content between soils under the tree canopy and off the canopy. However, the effect of shrub canopy is intermediate between both treatments.

Relaciones entre parámetros químicos del suelo y grupos funcionales de plantas en islas de fertilidad del Chaco Árido (Argentina)

“…No significant differences were found between islands when treatments were compared separately (UC: p -value= 0.2689; LC: p -value = 0.4496; IC: p -value= 0.9059), despite that it is expected that the litter contribution from mesquite would be higher than that of creosotebush. Similar results were found in woodlands from the Monte region (Argentina) by comparing the influence of the canopy between trees and shrubs (Karlin, Zapata et al, 2021).…”

“…Trees and shrubs are sparse as a consequence of a sustained extraction within the ecosystems. They usually enhance environmental conditions under canopy compared to intercanopy (Tongway and Ludwig, 2005;Karlin, Zapata et al, 2021). Such areas are known as "fertility islands" and are the result of an important accumulation of soil particles, water, nutrients and biomass under the canopy (Rossi and Villagra, 2003;Ridolfi et al, 2008).…”

Evaluating stumps volume in managed, protective pine stands of the subtaiga forest-steppe region of Middle Siberia

“…CWD is crucial for forest productivity, nutrient cycling, carbon decomposition and sequestration, and forms a significant carbon pool in the forest ecosystem [12]. Soil, mulch, and downed logs are significant carbon pools that should be considered in programs aimed at reducing carbon emissions in arid regions [13]. Dose-response models have been developed to describe the effects of soil temperature, soil moisture content, and soil water-holding capacity on the decomposition of wood samples in contact with soil [14].…”