Paper Titles

Remote Sensing and GIS for Integrated Modeling and Analysis for Mapping of Groundwater Potential Zones in Sarada River Basin, Visakhapatnam, India
p.1

Using Basaltic Tuff for Decreasing the Growth Activity of Cyanobacteria
p.14

Feeding Ecology and Reproductive Biology of some Economically Important Fish Species in the Tono Reservoir, Ghana
p.23

Comparative Effects of Dominant Forest Tree Species on Soil Characteristics and Microbial Biomass
p.34

HomeInternational Letters of Natural SciencesInternational Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 78Comparative Effects of Dominant Forest Tree...

Comparative Effects of Dominant Forest Tree Species on Soil Characteristics and Microbial Biomass

Article Preview

Abstract:

Tree species differ in litter quality and belowground biomass, thereby exerting species-specific impact on soil properties and microbial biomass. A study was conducted to find out the comparative effects of Podocarpus falcatus and Croton macrostachys on basic soil characteristics and microbial biomass, in the Munessa forest, Ethiopia. Four experimental plots under the canopies the respected tree species (two from each) were established for sample collection. From these plots, soil samples were collected from a depth 0-10 cm and 10-25 cm. The results showed that, from the depth 0-10 cm, concentration of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) was larger under C. macrostachys and from the depth 10-25 cm these values were greater under P. falcatus. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in cation exchange capacity being larger under C. macrostachys. There were no differences in microbial composition between the plots. However, the total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) concentration as an entry for microbial biomass determination tended to be significantly larger in soil under Podocarpus plots (382.7 ± 60.9 nmol PLFA g^-1 dry soil) vs. 262.2 ± 32.8 nmol PLFA g^-1 dry soil (Croton plots). The varying impacts of tree species on soil characteristics and microbial biomass may be partly explained by differences in functional traits related to life-history strategy of the respected species.

By email View Pdf

Info:

Periodical:

International Letters of Natural Sciences (Volume 78)

Pages:

34-42

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56431/p-ukj6al

Citation:

Cite this paper

Online since:

April 2020

Authors:

Yonas Yohannes*, Olga B. Shibistova, Georg Guggenberger

Keywords:

Croton macrostachys, Munessa Forest, PLFA, Podocarpus falcatus

Export:

RIS, BibTeX

Permissions:

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

Share:

Citation:

* - Corresponding Author

[1] C.R. Tilbury, Two new chameleons (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae) from isolated Afromontane forests in Sudan and Ethiopia, Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. 47 (1998) 293-299.

[2] F.V. Breitenbach, The indigenous trees of Ethiopia. 2nd ed., Ethiopian Forestry Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1963.

[3] D, Teketay, Seed and regeneration ecology in dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia: I. Seed production - population structures, Tropical Ecology. 46(1) (2005) 29-44.

[4] I. Friies, Forests and Forest Trees of Northeast Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin, London, UK, 1992.

[5] T.C. Whitmore, Canopy gaps and the two major groups of forest trees. Ecology 70 (1989) 536-538.

DOI: 10.2307/1940195

[6] D.U. Hooper, et al., Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge, Ecological. Monograph. 75 (2005) 3–35.

[7] N. Legesse, Indigenous trees of Ethiopia: Biology, Uses and Propagation Techniques, AAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1995.

[8] B. Taye, G. Haase, S. Teshome, Forest genetic resources of Ethiopia: Status and proposed actions, in: S. Edwards et al., (Eds.), Forest Genetic Resources Conservation: Principles, Strategies and Actions, The National forest genetic resources conservation strategy development workshop, IBCR and GTZ; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1999, p.39–47.

DOI: 10.1017/cbo9780511551543.006

[9] D. Binkley, The influence of tree species on forest soils: processes and patterns, in: D.J. Mead, I.S. Cornforth (Eds.), Proceedings of the Trees and Soil Workshop, Lincoln University Press, Canterbury, New Zealand, 1994, p.1–33.

[10] J. Bauhus, D. Paré, L. Côté, Effects of tree species, stand age and soil type on soil microbial biomass and its activity in a southern boreal forest, Soil Biology &. Biochemical. 30 (1998) 1077 – 1089.

DOI: 10.1016/s0038-0717(97)00213-7

[11] E. Hackl, Composition of the microbial communities in the mineral soil under different types of natural forest, Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 37 (2005) 661 – 671.

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.08.023

[12] X. Fang, et al., The effects of forest type on soil microbial activity in Changbai Mountain, Northeast China, Annals of Forest Science. 73 (2016) 473-482.

DOI: 10.1007/s13595-016-0540-y

[13] E. Ayres, et al., Tree species traits influence soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in high elevation forests, PLoS ONE. 4 (2009) e5964.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005964

[14] S. Hättenschwiler, Effects of Tree Species Diversity on Litter Quality and Decomposition, in: M. Scherer-Lorenzen, C. Körner, E.D. Schulze (Eds.), Forest Diversity and Function. Ecological Studies (Analysis and Synthesis), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2005, pp.149-164.

DOI: 10.1007/3-540-26599-6_8

[15] F. Bernhard-Reversat, Changes in relationships between initial litter quality and CO2 release during early laboratory decomposition of tropical leaf litters, European Journal of Soil & Biology. 34 (1998) 117-122.

DOI: 10.1016/s1164-5563(00)88648-3

[16] S.J. Grayston, D. Vaughan, D. Jones, Rhizosphere carbon flow in trees, in comparison with annual plants: the importance of root exudation and its impact on microbial activity and nutrient availability, Applied Soil Ecology. 5 (1996) 29-56.

DOI: 10.1016/s0929-1393(96)00126-6

[17] F. Fritzsche et al., Soil–plant hydrology of indigenous and exotic trees in an Ethiopian montane forest, Tree Physiology. 26 (2006) 1043–1054.

DOI: 10.1093/treephys/26.8.1043

[18] R.P. Phillips, T.J. Fahey, Tree Species and Mycorrhizal Associations Influence the Magnitude of Rhizosphere Effects, Ecology. 87(5) (2006) 1302–1313.

DOI: 10.1890/0012-9658(2006)87[1302:tsamai]2.0.co;2

[19] P.S. Kourtev, J.G. Ehrenfeld, M. Haggblom, Experimental analysis of the effect of exotic and native plant species on the structure and function of soil microbial communities, Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 35 (2003) 895-905.

DOI: 10.1016/s0038-0717(03)00120-2

[20] Y. Ashagrie, et al., Changes in soil organic carbon, nitrogen and sulfur stocks due to the conversion of natural forest into tree plantations (Pinus patula and Eucalyptus globulus) in the highlands of Ethiopia, World Resource Review. 15 (2003) 462-482.

[21] Y. Ashagrie, W. Zech, G. Guggenberger, Transformation of a Podocarpus falcatus dominated natural forest into a monoculture Eucalyptus globulus plantation at Munessa, Ethiopia: Soil organic C, N and S dynamics in primary particle and aggregate-size fractions, Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment. 106 (2005) 89-98.

DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2004.07.015

[22] G. Tesfaye, et al., Regeneration of seven indigenous tree species in a dry Afromontane forest southern Ethiopia, Flora. 205 (2010) 135-143.

DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2008.12.006

[23] G.W. Gee, J.W. Bauder, Particle-size analysis, in: A. Klute (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. 2nd ed. Agron. Monogr. 9. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI. 1986, p.383–411.

DOI: 10.2136/sssabookser5.1.2ed.c15

[24] G.P. Gillman, E.A. Sumpter, Modification to the compulsive exchange method for measuring exchange characteristics of soils, Australian Journal of Soil Research. 24 (1986) 61-66.

DOI: 10.1071/sr9860061

[25] E.G. Bligh, W.J. Dyer, A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification, Canadian Journal of Biochemistry & Physiology. 37 (1959) 911-917.

DOI: 10.1139/o59-099

[26] L. Zelles Fatty acid patterns of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides in characterization of microbial communities in soil: a review, Biology & Fertility of Soils. 29 (1999) 111-129.

DOI: 10.1007/s003740050533

[27] L. Zelles, Phospholipid fatty acid profiles in selected members of soil microbial communities, Chemosphere. 35 (1997) 275-294.

DOI: 10.1016/s0045-6535(97)00155-0

[28] P.A. Olsson, A. Johansen, Lipid and fatty acid composition of hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at different growth stages, Mycological Research. 104 (2000) 429–434.

DOI: 10.1017/s0953756299001410

[29] F. Fritzsche, W. Zech, G. Guggenberger, Soils of the Main Ethiopian Rift Valley escarpment: A transect study, Catena. 70 (2007) 209–219.

DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2006.09.005

[30] FAO, ISRIC, ISSS, World Reference Base for Soil Resources, World Soil Resources Report, #84. FAO, Rome, Italy, 1998.

[31] A. Abate, Biomass and nutrient studies of selected tree species of natural and plantation forests: Implications for a sustainable management of the Munessa-Shashemene Forest, Ethiopia, Ph.D. dissertation, Universität Bayreuth, Germany, 2004.

[32] Z. Koukoura, A.P. Mamolos, K.L. Kalburtji, Decomposition of dominant plant species litter in a semi-arid grassland, Applied Soil Ecology. 23 (2003) 13-23.

DOI: 10.1016/s0929-1393(03)00006-4

[33] M.V. Lutzow et al., Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions - a review, European Journal of Soil Science. 57 (2006) 426-445.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00809.x

[34] M. Abraham, Leaf Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release from Cordia africana Lam. and Croton macrostachyus Del. Tree Species, Journal of Environment and Earth Science. 4(1) (2014) 1-7.

[35] B. Berg, C. McClaugherty, Decomposition as a Process: Some Main Feature, in: Plant Litter: Decomposition, Humus Formation, Carbon Sequestration. 2nd ed.: Springe, Berlin, Germany 2008, ch. 2, pp.11-31.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-38821-7_2

[36] R.M.A. Block, K.C.J. Van Rees, J.D. Knight, A review of fine root dynamics in Populus lantations, Agroforestry Systems. 76 (2006) 73–84.

DOI: 10.1007/s10457-005-2002-7

[37] E. Hackl, et al., Microbial nitrogen turnover in soils under different types of natural forest, Forest Ecology & Management. 188 (2004) 101-112.

DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2003.07.014

[38] W.T. Feng, X.M. Zo., D. Schaefer, Above- and belowground carbon inputs affect seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass in a subtropical monsoon forest of southwest China, Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 41 (2009) 978-983.

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.10.002

[39] H. Jin, O.J. Sun, J. Liu, Changes in soil microbial biomass and community structure with addition of contrasting types of plant litter in a semiarid grassland ecosystem, Journal of Plant Ecology. 3 (2010) 209-217.

DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtq001

[40] T. Wubet et al., Mycorrhizal status of indigenous trees in dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia, Forest Ecology and Management. 179 (2003) 387-399.

DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1127(02)00546-7

[41] M.C. Fisk, T.J. Fahey, Microbial biomass and nitrogen cycling responses to fertilization and litter removal in young northern hardwood forests, Biogeochemistry. 53 (2001) 201-223.

[42] A.E. Strand, Irreconcilable Differences: Fine-Root Life Spans and Soil Carbon Persistence, Science. 319 (2008) 456-458.

DOI: 10.1126/science.1151382

[43] Y. Feng, et al., Soil microbial communities under conventional-till and no-till continuous cotton systems, Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 35 (2003) 1693-1703.

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2003.08.016

[44] P. Chan-Woo, et al., Differences in soil aggregate, microbial biomass carbon concentration, and soil carbon between Pinus rigida and Larix kaempferi plantations in Yangpyeong, central Korea, Forest Science and Technology. 8(1) (2012) 38-46.

DOI: 10.1080/21580103.2012.658217