Spatial Variability of Soil Hydrophobicity in Fire-Prone Eucalyptus and Pine Forests, Portugal

Doerr, Stefan H.; Shakesby, Richard A.; Walsh, R. P. D.

doi:10.1097/00010694-199804000-00006

Cited by 213 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Further, beyond the 0-0.1 m layer, the effect of land use on water repellency disappeared. This observation is counter to prior suggestions that E. globulus induces water repellency around the roots of the plant (Doerr et al 1998). We found the likelihood and severity of water repellency to be much higher on sandy-surfaced soils (Fig.…”

Section: Effects Of Land Use and Soil Properties On Water Repellencycontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Although this result is not unexpected given the widespread nature of water repellency on agricultural soils in this region (Blackwell 2000) and previous reports of water repellency associated with eucalypts, it has not been quantified in southern Australia, despite >0.5 Mha of eucalypt reforestation in the last two decades (Gavran 2013). Although water repellency has been previously reported in E. globulus plantations in Portugal (Doerr et al 1998;Ferreira et al 2000;Coelho et al 2005; Rodríguez-Alleres and Benito 2011), a feature of those studies was that the different land uses were geographically distant with uncontrolled soil and site differences, whereas in this study, the result is based on paired sites in which these differences are minimised. Indeed, analysis of soil characteristics at paired sites demonstrated no difference in other soil properties, strengthening the conclusion that repellency was induced via eucalypt reforestation.…”

Section: Effects Of Land Use and Soil Properties On Water Repellencymentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Although implications of reforestation have been considered in terms of water yield (Jackson et al 2005;GerbensLeenes et al 2009), water quality (Diaz-Chavez et al 2011) and soil carbon storage (Cowie et al 2006;Harper et al 2012), the impacts on soil water repellency have not been specifically considered, either in terms of ongoing site management in eucalypt plantations or as part of the sustainability criteria for bioenergy plantations (Scarlat and Dallemand 2011). This is despite the reported association of eucalypts with water repellency in plantation-grown Eucalyptus globulus in the Iberian Peninsula (Doerr et al 1998;Ferreira et al 2000;Rodríguez-Alleres and Benito 2011) and in natural forests in Australia (McGhie and Posner 1980;Crockford et al 1991;Prosser and Williams 1998;Harper et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Eucalyptus reforestation induces soil water repellency

Walden¹,

Harper²,

Mendham³

et al. 2015

Soil Res.

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Abstract. There is an increasing interest in eucalypt reforestation for a range of purposes in Australia, including pulpwood production, carbon mitigation and catchment water management. The impacts of this reforestation on soil water repellency have not been examined despite eucalypts often being associated with water repellency and water repellency having impacts on water movement across and within soils. To investigate the role of eucalypt reforestation on water repellency, and interactions with soil properties, we examined 31 sites across the south-west of Western Australia with paired plots differing only in present land use (pasture v. plantation). The incidence and severity of water repellency increased in the 5-8 years following reforestation with Eucalyptus globulus. Despite this difference in water repellency, there were no differences in soil characteristics, including soil organic carbon content or composition, between pasture and plantation soils, suggesting induction by small amounts of hydrophobic compounds from the trees. The incidence of soil water repellency was generally greater on sandy-surfaced (<10% clay content) soils; however, for these soils 72% of the pasture sites and 31% of the plantation were not water repellent, and this was independent of measured soil properties. Computer modelling revealed marked differences in the layering and packing of waxes on kaolinite and quartz surfaces, indicating the importance of interfacial interactions in the development of soil water repellency. The implications of increased water repellency for the management of eucalyptus plantations are considered.

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Section: Effects Of Land Use and Soil Properties On Water Repellencycontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Land Use and Soil Properties On Water Repellencymentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Eucalyptus reforestation induces soil water repellency

Walden¹,

Harper²,

Mendham³

et al. 2015

Soil Res.

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“…In general, evergreen trees supply soil with considerably more organic material than shrubs, so as it was expected, we found the highest water repellent samples and total SOM content under the tree species studied (Pinus and Quercus). Severe soil WR can be induced by a high number of phenolic compounds found in the composition of leaves and plant tissues of oaks (Conde et al, 1998;Salminen et al, 2004) and resins, waxes, aromatic oils, and other substances in pines (Doerr et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and chemical factors controlling the patchy distribution of soil water repellency among plant species in a Mediterranean semiarid forest

et al. 2013

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Natural soil water repellency is a property that has already been observed in forest soils and is characterized by its patchydistribution. Ihere are many factors involved in its development. In this work, we have studied a large numberof chemical and biological factors underthe influence of differentplantspecies (Pinus halepensis, Quercus rotundifolia, Cistus albidus and Rosmarinus officinalis) to leam which has the greatest responsibility for its presence and persistence in the top-soillayer. We obselVed strong and significant correlations between ergosterol, giomalin related soil protein (GRSP), extractable lipids, soil organic matter (SOM) content and water repellency (WR). Our results suggested lipid fraction as the principal factor. Moreover, apart from Pinus, fungal biomass seems to be also related to the SOM content. Soil WR found under Pinus appears to be the most influenced by fungi. Quality of SOM, to be precise, lipid fraction could be responsible for WR and its relationship with fungal activity.

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“…Repellency is often associated with native vegetation (McGhie and Posner 1980;Crockford et al 1991;Blackwell 1993;Doerr et al 1998;Scott 2000) and can be an important mechanism for the selection and survival of native species (Blackwell 1993). When land under native vegetation has been cleared for agricultural purposes, reductions in repellency have been observed (McFarlane et al 1992;Wang et al 2010).…”

Section: Effects Of Soil Water Repellency In Agriculture: Land-use Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture

Roper

Davies²,

Blackwell³

et al. 2015

Soil Res.

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Abstract. Water-repellent ('non-wetting') soils are a major constraint to agricultural production in southern and south-west Australia, affecting >10 Mha of arable sandy soils. The major symptom is dry patches of surface soil, even after substantial rainfall, directly affecting agricultural production through uneven crop and pasture germination, and reduced nutrient availability. In addition, staggered weed germination impedes effective weed control, and delayed crop and pasture germination increases the risk of wind erosion. Water repellency is caused by waxy organic compounds derived from the breakdown of organic matter mostly of plant origin. It is more prevalent in soils with a sandy surface texture; their low particle surface area : volume ratio means that a smaller amount of waxy organic compounds can effectively cover a greater proportion of the particle surface area than in a fine-textured soil. Water repellency commonly occurs in sandy duplex soils (Sodosols and Chromosols) and deep sandy soils (Tenosols) but can also occur in Calcarosols, Kurosols and Podosols that have a sandy surface texture. Severity of water repellency has intensified in some areas with the adoption of no-till farming, which leads to the accumulation of soil organic matter (and hence waxy compounds) at the soil surface. Growers have also noticed worsening repellency after 'dry' or early sowing when break-of-season rains have been unreliable.Management strategies for water repellency fall into three categories: (i) amelioration, the properties of surface soils are changed; (ii) mitigation, water repellency is managed to allow crop and pasture production; (iii) avoidance, severely affected or poorly producing areas are removed from annual production and sown to perennial forage. Amelioration techniques include claying, deep cultivation with tools such as rotary spaders, or one-off soil inversion with mouldboard ploughs. These techniques can be expensive, but produce substantial, long-lasting benefits. However, they carry significant environmental risks if not adopted correctly. Mitigation strategies include furrow-seeding, application of wetting agents (surfactants), no-till with stubble retention, on-row seeding, and stimulating natural microbial degradation of waxy compounds. These are much cheaper than amelioration strategies, but have smaller and sometimes inconsistent impacts on crop production. For any given farm, economic analysis suggests that small patches of water repellency might best be ameliorated, but large areas should be treated initially with mitigation strategies. Further research is required to determine the long-term impacts of cultivation treatments, seeding systems and chemical and biological amendments on the expression and management of water repellency in an agricultural context.

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Spatial Variability of Soil Hydrophobicity in Fire-Prone Eucalyptus and Pine Forests, Portugal

Cited by 213 publications

References 27 publications

Eucalyptus reforestation induces soil water repellency

Eucalyptus reforestation induces soil water repellency

Biological and chemical factors controlling the patchy distribution of soil water repellency among plant species in a Mediterranean semiarid forest

Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture

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