Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa

Over the past 4 decades there has been considerable expansion in the plantation forestry along the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In particular there have been significant increases in eucalypt, and to a less extent, pine plantations on soils of a light sandy texture along the Zululand coastal pl...

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Autores principales: Noble, A.D., Berthelsen, S., Mather, J.
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2005
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75733
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author Noble, A.D.
Berthelsen, S.
Mather, J.
author_browse Berthelsen, S.
Mather, J.
Noble, A.D.
author_facet Noble, A.D.
Berthelsen, S.
Mather, J.
author_sort Noble, A.D.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Over the past 4 decades there has been considerable expansion in the plantation forestry along the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In particular there have been significant increases in eucalypt, and to a less extent, pine plantations on soils of a light sandy texture along the Zululand coastal plain. These soils are characteristically dominated by sands with low clay and organic matter contents, have low cation exchange capacity and water holding capacity. Pedogenesis and selected chemical attributes of a 49-year-old stand of Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus elliottii established on these sands were compared. Changes in soil pH, exchangeable cations, organic carbon, extractable Fe and Al and the surface charge characteristics were investigated. Evidence of the development of bleached A2e horizon within the surface 0-5 cm depth interval under E. grandis was confirmed through the development of surface charge fingerprints, changes in organic carbon and Fe and Al mobilization for each of the pedogenetically distinct horizons. Such development was not observed under the P. elliottii stand, suggesting that this pine species has had less impact on the soil. It is argued that the rate of A2e horizon development is not dissimilar to that observed under native forest ecosystems in Australia, although considerably slower that those observed under reclaimed sand mining operations. Whilst these systems appear to be relatively stable due to no clear felling and timber product extraction, this could drastically change with the introduction of short-term rotations of fast growing clonal plantations, questioning the long-term sustainability of these production systems on these light textured sands.
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spelling CGSpace757332023-06-08T15:28:29Z Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa Noble, A.D. Berthelsen, S. Mather, J. soil properties soil chemicophysical properties soil profiles plantations species eucalyptus grandis pinus elliottii podzols organic carbon coastal plains Over the past 4 decades there has been considerable expansion in the plantation forestry along the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In particular there have been significant increases in eucalypt, and to a less extent, pine plantations on soils of a light sandy texture along the Zululand coastal plain. These soils are characteristically dominated by sands with low clay and organic matter contents, have low cation exchange capacity and water holding capacity. Pedogenesis and selected chemical attributes of a 49-year-old stand of Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus elliottii established on these sands were compared. Changes in soil pH, exchangeable cations, organic carbon, extractable Fe and Al and the surface charge characteristics were investigated. Evidence of the development of bleached A2e horizon within the surface 0-5 cm depth interval under E. grandis was confirmed through the development of surface charge fingerprints, changes in organic carbon and Fe and Al mobilization for each of the pedogenetically distinct horizons. Such development was not observed under the P. elliottii stand, suggesting that this pine species has had less impact on the soil. It is argued that the rate of A2e horizon development is not dissimilar to that observed under native forest ecosystems in Australia, although considerably slower that those observed under reclaimed sand mining operations. Whilst these systems appear to be relatively stable due to no clear felling and timber product extraction, this could drastically change with the introduction of short-term rotations of fast growing clonal plantations, questioning the long-term sustainability of these production systems on these light textured sands. 2005 2016-06-15T04:03:09Z 2016-06-15T04:03:09Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75733 en Open Access Noble, Andrew D.; Berthelsen, S.; Mather, J. 2005. Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa. In International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS); Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD); Thailand. Land Development Department (LDD); International Water Management Institute (IWMI); FAO. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP); Khon Kaen University. Faculty of Agriculture. Management of tropical sandy soils for sustainable agriculture: a holistic approach for sustainable development of problem soils in the tropics. Proceedings of the First Symposium on Management of Tropical Sandy Soils for Sustainable Ariculture, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 27 November – 2 December 2005. Bangkok, Thailand: FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP). pp.93-100.
spellingShingle soil properties
soil chemicophysical properties
soil profiles
plantations
species
eucalyptus grandis
pinus elliottii
podzols
organic carbon
coastal plains
Noble, A.D.
Berthelsen, S.
Mather, J.
Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title_full Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title_fullStr Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title_short Changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the Zululand coastal plain, South Africa
title_sort changes in soil chemical properties under two contrasting plantation systems on the zululand coastal plain south africa
topic soil properties
soil chemicophysical properties
soil profiles
plantations
species
eucalyptus grandis
pinus elliottii
podzols
organic carbon
coastal plains
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75733
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