Mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus and Acacia mangium increase labile carbon and phosphorus levels in Ferralsol soils in the Cerrado biome, Brazil

• Published in: Southern forests Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 342 - 351
• Main Authors: Cabreira, Wilbert Valkinir, Pereira, Marcos Gervasio, Balieiro, Fabiano de Carvalho, Matos, Eduardo da Silva, Rodrigues, Renato de Aragão Ribeiro, dos Santos, Raissa Nascimento
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Menlo Park Taylor & Francis 30.11.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acacia mangium; Carbon; Clay soils; Emission analysis; Eucalyptus; forest nutrition; Fractionation; fractionation of phosphorus; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; organic carbon; Organic matter; organic phosphorus; Organic soils; Phosphorus; Plantations; Soil analysis; Soil organic matter; Tropical environments; Tropical soils; Brazil
• ISSN: 2070-2620; 2070-2639
• DOI: 10.2989/20702620.2020.1733764

In order to clarify the effect of mixed planting in the dynamics of phosporus (P), we assessed the fractions of this element in mixed plantings of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis (Urograndis) and Acacia mangium in a tropical soil clay, analysing changes in the fractions of P and examining the correlation of these changes with the fractions of soil organic matter. Pure stands of Urograndis (E) and A. mangium (A) (0A:100E and 100A:0E) and mixed stands of the two species (50A:50E and 37A:66E) were established. The fractionation of P, the granulometric fractionation of organic matter and the labile carbon (POXC) were determined at soil depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm. Regarding the availability of P, organic parts contributed 34.6% to 38.1% relative to the total P, with the highest percentages being observed for the moderately labile fraction. Highest levels of labile organic P were observed in the mixed plantations. About soil carbon (C), the highest levels of the more labile C fractions were recorded in plantations in which Acacia was present. Mixed plantations were found to show a greater balance between labile P and C fractions. The C fractions warrant particular attention in future studies, notably those related to the emission of greenhouse gases.