Corymbia citriodora Girdling Aiming Forest Restoration Intensifies the Production of Labile C, N and P in the Soil

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 55; no. 16; pp. 2408 - 2421
• Main Authors: Cabreira, Wilbert Valkinir, de Carvalho Balieiro, Fabiano, Pereira, Marcos Gervasio, dos Santos, Raissa Nascimento
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 07.09.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: C:N ratio; C:P ratio; Clearcutting; Environmental restoration; Girdling; Indigenous species; Light-fraction organic matter; Native organisms; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Organic matter; particle size fractionation; Phosphorus; POXC; Restoration; Soil; Soil structure; Trees
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2024.2359581

Understanding the effect of different C. citriodora removal management in a Conservation Unit (CU) aimed at forest restoration on the dynamics of the labile and stable fractions of the SOM and to quantify the stoichiometric relationships of these fractions. Soil samples were collected in four areas in the União Biological Reserve (REBIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, namely: forest (FF); C. citriodora trees submitted to girdling (GR); C. citriodora trees submitted to the practice of clear cutting and subsequent planting of native species (PL); abandoned C. citriodora trees without management practice (EU). In these samples, the total content of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the air-dried fine earth (ADFE) were determined; in light-fraction organic matter (LFOM) and in the particle size fractions of SOM. It was observed that the C:N and C:P ratios were higher in the EU area and lower in PL in both ADFE and LFOM samples. In EU, lower levels of C, N and P were observed in the SOM particulate fraction. GR favors the production of less recalcitrant and more labile material when compared to EU. The short time (4 years) of implementation of the system in PL directly affects the low production of LFOM; however, this material has high levels of N and P, favoring the low C:N and C:P ratio. EU intensifies the concentration of nutrients in stable fractions in the soil, which can favor the preservation of the soil structure, mitigating its losses.