TY - JOUR
T1 - Recovery of ultramafic soil functions and plant communities along an age-gradient of the actinorhizal tree Ceuthostoma terminale (Casuarinaceae) in Sabah (Malaysia)
AU - Quintela-Sabarís, Celestino
AU - Auber, Etienne
AU - Sumail, Sukaibin
AU - Masfaraud, Jean François
AU - Faucon, Michel Pierre
AU - Watteau, Françoise
AU - Saad, Ramez F.
AU - van der Ent, Antony
AU - Repin, Rimi
AU - Sugau, John
AU - Nilus, Reuben
AU - Echevarria, Guillaume
AU - Leguedois, Sophie
PY - 2019/7/14
Y1 - 2019/7/14
N2 - Background and aims: Pioneer plants may improve the ecological restoration of degraded ultramafic areas by plant-soil interaction processes. In this study, we assess the effect of the pioneer actinorhizal tree C. terminale (Casuarinaceae) on the recovery of plant communities and soil functions on degraded tropical ultramafic sites. Methods: Soil and plant samples were collected along a tree-age gradient in two degraded ultramafic sites in Sabah (Northern Borneo, Malaysia): a Technosol and a Leptosol. Chemical composition of plants and soils, and biological activity of soils were assessed at both sites. Plant colonisation was assessed by plot vegetation surveys. Results: An improvement in soil fertility parameters (pH reduction from 8.5 to 6.8, an increase in the concentrations of several nutrients and enhanced soil enzyme activities) was observed along the C. terminale age gradient. However, plant cover and diversity was only improved around mature trees at the site that was not impacted by mining. Conclusion: C. terminale promotes the recovery of several soil functions, mainly related to the storage and recycling of N, P, K, S. Besides plant-soil feedback, other environmental factors (i.e. exposition to sunlight, drought) may play an important role on revegetation of ultramafic soils.
AB - Background and aims: Pioneer plants may improve the ecological restoration of degraded ultramafic areas by plant-soil interaction processes. In this study, we assess the effect of the pioneer actinorhizal tree C. terminale (Casuarinaceae) on the recovery of plant communities and soil functions on degraded tropical ultramafic sites. Methods: Soil and plant samples were collected along a tree-age gradient in two degraded ultramafic sites in Sabah (Northern Borneo, Malaysia): a Technosol and a Leptosol. Chemical composition of plants and soils, and biological activity of soils were assessed at both sites. Plant colonisation was assessed by plot vegetation surveys. Results: An improvement in soil fertility parameters (pH reduction from 8.5 to 6.8, an increase in the concentrations of several nutrients and enhanced soil enzyme activities) was observed along the C. terminale age gradient. However, plant cover and diversity was only improved around mature trees at the site that was not impacted by mining. Conclusion: C. terminale promotes the recovery of several soil functions, mainly related to the storage and recycling of N, P, K, S. Besides plant-soil feedback, other environmental factors (i.e. exposition to sunlight, drought) may play an important role on revegetation of ultramafic soils.
KW - Nitrogen
KW - Pioneer plants
KW - Plant-soil interaction
KW - Soil enzymes
KW - Soil recovery
KW - Tropical areas
U2 - 10.1007/s11104-019-04085-y
DO - 10.1007/s11104-019-04085-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064843139
SN - 0032-079X
VL - 440
SP - 201
EP - 218
JO - Plant and Soil
JF - Plant and Soil
IS - 1-2
ER -