The effect of Robinia pseudoacacia afforestation on soil and vegetation properties in the Loess Plateau (China): A chronosequence approach

Abstract

a b s t r a c tRevegetation is one of the primary management approaches for solving the problems caused by severe soil erosion worldwide. Robinia pseudoacacia was considered a promising tree for afforestation in the highly eroded region of the Loess Plateau due to its fast growth and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, its beneficial role protecting soils from erosion has been now questioned and several negative effects on soil and vegetation have been described. In this study we aimed to analyze the effects of R. pseudoacacia plantation on plant community composition and dynamics through the effects that R. pseudoacacia has on light, soil fertility and soil water availability. We used a chronosequence from 10-40-year-old plantations and compared the environmental and vegetation characteristics of that areas with that of natural control areas with similar age. The results showed that R. pseudoacacia plantations reached maturity around 30 years and then declined in density and canopy cover. We also found that soil nutrients and moisture at the superficial soil layer improved with age until maturity of plantations, but photosynthetically active radiation at the ground level and soil moisture at deeper soil layers decreased with maturity in relation to control conditions. Plots with R. pseudoacacia of all ages had higher cover values, lower number of species but higher b-diversity values than control conditions and they also differed in species composition. These differences in structure and species composition were related to the fertilizer effect of R. pseudoacacia that favored colonization by weeds and ruderal species, and to the light interception by the canopy of trees that exclude light-demanding species, most of them perennial herbaceous species which were the dominant species in control conditions.

The Joint Effects of Precipitation Gradient and Afforestation on Soil Moisture across the Loess Plateau of China

“…On the one hand, afforestation may be feasible in areas where the MAP is higher than 520 mm. The reduction of plant density and increasing species diversity based on prudent tree species selection are critical strategies for this region [21]. Furthermore, new research has shown that planted forests have a less positive effect on carbon sequestration; however, they lead to significant water yield reduction in contrast to natural forests [55].…”

“…Under these projects, afforested areas increased from 14.8% to 21.7% by 2010, and introduced plantations became the dominant vegetation [8]. However, large-scale afforestation with introduced vegetation such as korshinsk peashrub (Caragana korshinskii, CK), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides, HR), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia, RP), required excessive amounts of soil water [21][22][23], which gradually led to the formation of dry soil layers widely across the Loess Plateau [7]. These dry soil layers have become an ominous indicator of the soil desiccation phenomenon and ecosystem vulnerability in the Loess Plateau [8].…”

Effects of Three Plantation Coniferous Species on Plant-Soil Feedbacks and Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Semi-Arid Mountain Ecosystems

“…The reforestation remains one of the most effective strategies for coping with climate change (Jean-Francois et al, 2019), which is also the most effective management method to solve the problems of soil erosion all over the world (Clemente et al 2004; Kou et al 2016). It is considered to be an effective strategy to prevent soil erosion and soil degradation, and to promote the restoration of degraded ecosystems (Zhang et al 2011).…”

Temporal Variations in Soil Enzyme Activities and Responses to Land-Use Change in the Loess Plateau, China

“…Afforestation is an efficient measure to repair destroyed natural ecosystems, which occurs by converting cropland into perennial vegetation land, has great impacts on plant primary productivity and soil physicochemical properties (i.e., soil bulk density, aggregation, soil nutrient pools, and biodiversity) [1][2][3] and in turn, influences soil biological activity, such as soil enzyme activity and microbial biomass [4,5]. Soil enzyme activities in changing land-use types have attracted special attention for this topic's relevance in soil ecosystem dynamics and ecosystem sustainability [6,7].…”