Open AccessEffect of initial soil properties on six‐year growth of 15 tree species in tropical restoration plantings
Author(s) -
MartínezGarza Cristina,
Campo Julio,
Ricker Martin,
Tobón Wolke
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.2508
Subject(s) - cecropia , agronomy , inga , nitrogen fixation , litter , biology , nutrient , plant litter , sowing , tropics , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , botany , nitrogen , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry
In restoration plantings in degraded pastures, initial soil nutrient status may lead to differential growth of tropical tree species with diverse life history attributes and capacity for N 2 fixation. In 2006, we planted 1,440 seedlings of 15 native tree species in 16 fenced plots (30 × 30 m) in a 60‐year‐old pasture in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, in two planting combinations. In the first year, we evaluated bulk density, pH , the concentration of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), ammonia ( NO 3 − ), nitrate ( NH 4 + ), and total phosphorus (P) in the upper soil profile (0–20 cm in depth) of all plots. The first two axes of two principal component analyses explained more than 60% of the variation in soil variables: The axes were related to increasing bulk density, NO 3 − , NH 4 + , total N concentration, and pH . Average relative growth rates in diameter at the stem base of the juvenile trees after 6 years were higher for pioneer (45.7%) and N 2 ‐fixing species (47.6%) than for nonpioneer (34.7%) and nonfixing species (36.2%). Most N 2 ‐fixing species and those with the slowest growth rates did not respond to soil attributes. Tree species benefited from higher pH levels and existing litter biomass. The pioneers Ficus yoponensis , Cecropia obtusifolia , and Heliocarpus appendiculatus , and the N 2 ‐fixing nonpioneers Cojoba arborea , Inga sinacae , and Platymiscium dimorphandrum were promising for forest restoration on our site, given their high growth rates.