Impact of grassland afforestation on soil carbon in New Zealand: a review of paired-site studies

Soil Research ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Davis ◽  
L. M. Condron
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Soil C ◽  
The Impact

Afforestation of grassland provides an opportunity for partial mitigation of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere through carbon (C) fixation in biomass, but little is known of the impact of afforestation on soil C. To determine the impact of afforestation on soil C levels, data from published papers, theses, and unpublished studies of paired adjoining grassland and afforested sites in New Zealand were assembled and compared. The forest sites within each pair were planted into grassland rather than some other land use, and were a minimum of 10 years old. A total of 28 paired sites had information on both mineral soil C concentration and bulk density, 17 with the forest part of the pair aged 10-20 years, and 11 with the forest aged more than 20 years. Forest floor C information was available for 9 sites. Only 3 of the forest stands had been harvested. Results indicated that afforestation of grassland soils reduces upper mineral soil (mainly 0-10 cm layer) C levels by about 4.5 t/ha or 9.5% in the short-term; however, beyond forest age 20 years there was no difference mineral in soil C between the two systems. Soil bulk density in the 0-10 cm layer was unaffected by afforestation during the first rotation. This allowed comparison of a larger number of sites (27 with forest aged 10-20 years, 18 with forest aged >20 years) that had C concentration data only. Analysis of this larger data set confirmed results obtained from the C mass data alone. Effects of afforestation on mineral soil C were most pronounced in the upper soil and declined rapidly with depth to the extent that at most sites there was no influence of afforestation on soil C below the 0-10 cm layer. At some sites, however, the impact of afforestation proceeded to greater depths, and further study is required to determine reasons for differences between sites in this regard. The impacts of afforestation on soil C observed from the paired-site studies agree well with those of recent analyses for the upper soil layer using New Zealand national soils databases. At greater depths, however, analyses using the databases appear to greatly overestimate the influence of afforestation on soil C. The available data indicate that C accumulating in the forest floor is likely to exceed any short-term reduction in mineral soil C arising from grassland afforestation.

Short-term impact of forest soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil mesofauna density and oribatid mite diversity

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1136-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P Battigelli ◽  
John R Spence ◽  
David W Langor ◽  
Shannon M Berch
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Soil ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Oribatid Mite ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the short-term impact of forest soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil mesofauna, in general, and oribatid mite species, in particular. Both soil compaction and organic matter removal reduced the density of soil mesofauna. Stem-only harvesting reduced total mesofauna densities by 20% relative to uncut forest values. A combination of whole-tree harvest and forest floor removal with heavy soil compaction significantly reduced total soil mesofauna densities by 93% relative to the uncut forest control. Removal of the forest floor represents a substantial loss of habitat for most soil mesofauna. The forest floor apparently buffered the mineral soil by limiting both the impact of soil compaction and fluctuations in soil temperature and moisture. The relative abundance of Prostigmata and Mesostigmata increased with treatment severity, whereas that of Oribatida decreased. Species richness of the oribatid mite fauna was reduced as the severity of treatments increased. The number of rare oribatid species (those representing <1% of the total oribatid mite sample) decreased by 40% or more relative to the uncut forest control. Evenness also decreased as treatment severity increased. Oppiella nova and Suctobelbella sp. near acutidens were the dominant oribatid species in both the forest floor and mineral soil, regardless of treatment. Soil compaction and organic matter removal significantly impacted the density and diversity of soil mesofauna and oribatid mite fauna in the short term at these study sites.

Carbon and nitrogen distribution and accumulation in a New Zealand scrubland ecosystem

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1246-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal A Scott ◽  
Joseph D White ◽  
Jackie A Townsend ◽  
David Whitehead ◽  
John R Leathwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Carbon Accumulation ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C And N

Reversion of agricultural land to native woody vegetation can sequester carbon (C), influencing regional and global C budgets. We examined whole-ecosystem differences in C and nitrogen (N) storage and distribution, and sapwood - leaf area relationships in a scrubland vegetation chronosequence in New Zealand dominated by manuka (Leptospermum scoparium J.R. et G. Forst) and kanuka (Kunzea ericoides var. ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson). At 25 years, manuka dominated, and vegetation C was 6.5 kg C·m-2. In the 55-year-old stand, stem density was similar for the two species, and vegetation C storage was 15.1 kg C·m-2, similar to the 35-year-old stand (p = 0.9). Foliar biomass comprised 3-5% of vegetation C stock but contained 26%-37% of vegetation N. Root biomass was 10-15% of total and varied little with stand age. The sapwood - leaf area relationship differed significantly for the two species (p < 0.05). Mineral soil C and N (to 0.30 m) did not vary with stand age, but forest floor C and N were highest in the 55-year-old stand (2 kg C·m-2; p < 0.01). Soil and forest floor C/N ratios were significantly higher in the 35-year-old stand (p < 0.04), possibly because of high interspecific competition for N. While the sampling intensity was too limited to allow spatial extrapolation, our results suggest that carbon accumulation in this scrubland is rapid and similar to plantation forests, suggesting that land abandonment could significantly impact New Zealand's C budget.

Nitrogen storage and availability during stand development in a New Zealand Nothofagus forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 344-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
P W Clinton ◽  
R B Allen ◽  
M R Davis
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Nitrogen Storage ◽  
Nothofagus Forest ◽  
Mature Stands

Stemwood production, N pools, and N availability were determined in even-aged (10, 25, 120, and >150-year-old) stands of a monospecific mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Poole) forest in New Zealand recovering from catastrophic canopy disturbance brought about by windthrow. Nitrogen was redistributed among stemwood biomass, coarse woody debris (CWD), the forest floor, and mineral soil following disturbance. The quantity of N in stemwood biomass increased from less than 1 kg/ha in seedling stands (10 years old) to ca. 500 kg/ha in pole stands (120 years old), but decreased in mature stands (>150 years old). In contrast, the quantity of N stored in CWD declined rapidly with stand development. Although the mass of N stored in the forest floor was greatest in the pole stands and least in the mature stands, N availability in the forest floor did not vary greatly with stand development. The mass of N in the mineral soil (0–100 mm depth) was also similar for all stands. Foliar N concentrations, net N mineralization, and mineralizable N in the mineral soil (0–100 mm depth) showed similar patterns with stage of stand development, and indicated that N availability was greater in sapling (25 years old) and mature stands than in seedling and pole stands. We conclude that declining productivity in older stands is associated more with reductions in cation availability, especially calcium, than N availability.

The impact of short‐term food regulations in New Zealand schools

2012 ◽  
Vol 112 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penni Cushman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Food Regulations

scholarly journals Are we adequately reviewing confusion inducing drugs in patients referred to the memory assessment service?

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S193-S193
Author(s):  
Siddhant Hegde ◽  
Rashi Negi ◽  
Hari Shanmugaratnam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Support Worker ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Memory Assessment ◽  
Dementia Syndrome ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
The Impact

AimsThe aim of this quality improvement evaluation project is to establish the standard of current practice in relation to reviewing confusion inducing drugs (CIDs) at the time of referral, as it has been hypothesised that these medications contribute to short term cognitive impairment. This is essential in order to establish the validity of the diagnostic processes of dementia syndrome in the memory assessment services.BackgroundIt has long been established that anti-cholinergic medications (ACMs) have contributed to short-term cognitive impairment in patients taking them. This is compounded with the fact that these medications may be continued without review, for longer than was originally intended. The impact of polypharmacy, subsequent anti-cholinergic burden, and the overlapping presence of delirium, may call into question the validity of a diagnosis of dementia in patients who have not been correctly vetted during the course of their assessment. This quality improvement evaluation aims to assess whether patients’ medications are being reviewed before diagnosing a memory disorder. This is in accordance with guidance set out by the NG97 NICE guidelines, The Royal College of Psychiatrists Memory Service National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP), and the National Institute on Ageing and Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA).MethodAll new referrals to the memory assessment service during July and August 2019 were systematically reviewed and data extracted from the memory referral document and entries on RIO from first point of contact. The following data were recorded: patient ID, GPCOG/6CIT score, final diagnosis, CID prescriptions and CID review.ResultThe results were collated using a data-set of 216 patients (136 females and 80 males,) of which the mean age was 79 years. It was noted that 36% of patients had not had any sort of cognitive assessment before referral, which identifies an area for improvement. However the most substantial finding was that only 10 patients (5%) had a CID prescription review documented in the RIO notes.ConclusionOur data suggest that in our memory assessment service, only a small proportion of patients are having a documented review of their CIDs prior to diagnosis of dementia. In order to improve this and thus improve compliance with guidelines from the Royal College of Psychiatrists MSNAP and the NIA-AA, measures will be taken to issue each dementia support worker and nurse with a CID prescription review card, which will list those medications to consider and flag for review.

scholarly journals Effects of agricultural credit on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 592-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Ali Chandio ◽  
Yuansheng Jiang ◽  
Feng Wei ◽  
Xu Guangshun
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Agricultural Credit ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of short-term loan (STL) vs long-term loan (LTL) on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The econometric estimation is based on cross-sectional data collected in 2016 from 18 villages in three districts, i.e. Shikarpur, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The sample data set consist of 180 wheat farmers. The collected data were analyzed through different econometric techniques like Cobb–Douglas production function and Instrumental variables (two-stage least squares) approach. Findings This study reconfirmed that agricultural credit has a positive and highly significant effect on wheat productivity, while the short-term loan has a stronger effect on wheat productivity than the long-term loan. The reasons behind the phenomenon may be the significantly higher usage of agricultural inputs like seeds of improved variety and fertilizers which can be transformed into the wheat yield in the same year. However, the LTL users have significantly higher investments in land preparation, irrigation and plant protection, which may lead to higher wheat production in the coming years. Research limitations/implications In the present study, only those wheat farmers were considered who obtained agricultural loans from formal financial institutions like Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited and Khushhali Bank. However, in the rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan, a considerable proportion of small-scale farmers take credit from informal financial channels. Therefore future researchers should consider the informal credits as well. Originality/value This is the first paper to examine the effects of agricultural credit on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. This paper will be an important addition to the emerging literature regarding effects of credit studies.

scholarly journals Effects of land use change from natural forest to plantation on C, N and natural abundance of 13C and 15N along a climate gradient in eastern China

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mbezele Junior Yannick Ngaba ◽  
Ya-Lin Hu ◽  
Roland Bol ◽  
Xiang-Qing Ma ◽  
Shao-Fei Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract Soil C and N turnover rates and contents are strongly influenced by climates (e.g., mean annual temperature MAT, and mean annual precipitation MAP) as well as human activities. However, the effects of converting natural forests to intensively human-managed plantations on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) dynamics across various climatic zones are not well known. In this study, we evaluated C, N pool and natural abundances of δ13C and δ15N in forest floor layer and 1-meter depth mineral soils under natural forests (NF) and plantation forest (PF) at six sites in eastern China. Our results showed that forest floor had higher C contents and lower N contents in PF compared to NF, resulting in high forest floor C/N ratios and a decrease in the quality of organic materials in forest floor under plantations. In general, soil C, N contents and their isotope changed significantly in the forest floor and mineral soil after land use change (LUC). Soil δ13C was significantly enriched in forest floor after LUC while both δ13C and δ15N values were enriched in mineral soils. Linear and non-linear regressions were observed for MAP and MAT in soil C/N ratios and soil δ13C, in their changes with NF conversion to PF while soil δ15N values were positively correlated with MAT. Our findings implied that LUC alters soil C turnover and contents and MAP drive soil δ13C dynamic.

scholarly journals Tourism under the Early Phase of COVID-19 in Four APEC Economies: An Estimation with Special Focus on SARS Experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7543
Author(s):  
Bao-Linh Tran ◽  
Chi-Chung Chen ◽  
Wei-Chun Tseng ◽  
Shu-Yi Liao
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
International Tourism ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Tourism Demand ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Impact

This study examines how experience of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) influences the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on international tourism demand for four Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and New Zealand, over the 1 January–30 April 2020 period. To proceed, panel regression models are first applied with a time-lag effect to estimate the general effects of COVID-19 on daily tourist arrivals. In turn, the data set is decomposed into two nation groups and fixed effects models are employed for addressing the comparison of the pandemic-tourism relationship between economies with and without experiences of the SARS epidemic. Specifically, Taiwan and Hong Kong are grouped as economies with SARS experiences, while Thailand and New Zealand are grouped as countries without experiences of SARS. The estimation result indicates that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has a significant negative impact on tourism demand, in which a 1% COVID-19 case increase causes a 0.075% decline in tourist arrivals, which is a decline of approximately 110 arrivals for every additional person infected by the coronavirus. The negative impact of COVID-19 on tourist arrivals for Thailand and New Zealand is found much stronger than for Taiwan and Hong Kong. In particular, the number of tourist arrivals to Taiwan and Hong Kong decreased by 0.034% in response to a 1% increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases, while in Thailand and New Zealand, a 1% national confirmed cases increase caused a 0.103% reduction in tourism demand. Moreover, the effect of the number of domestic cases on international tourism is found lower than the effect caused by global COVID-19 mortality for the economies with SARS experiences. In contrast, tourist arrivals are majorly affected by the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Thailand and New Zealand. Finally, travel restriction in all cases is found to be the most influencing factor for the number of tourist arrivals. Besides contributing to the existing literature focusing on the knowledge regarding the nexus between tourism and COVID-19, the paper’s findings also highlight the importance of risk perception and the need of transmission prevention and control of the epidemic for the tourism sector.

scholarly journals Free atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment increased above ground biomass but did not affect symbiotic N<sub>2</sub>-fixation and soil carbon dynamics in a mixed deciduous stand in Wales

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Hoosbeek ◽  
M. Lukac ◽  
E. Velthorst ◽  
A. R. Smith ◽  
D. L. Godbold
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Co2 ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Face Experiment ◽  
Leaf N Content

Abstract. Through increases in net primary production (NPP), elevated CO2 is hypothesized to increase the amount of plant litter entering the soil. The fate of this extra carbon on the forest floor or in mineral soil is currently not clear. Moreover, increased rates of NPP can be maintained only if forests can escape nitrogen limitation. In a Free atmospheric CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment near Bangor, Wales, 4 ambient and 4 elevated [CO2] plots were planted with patches of Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa and Fagus sylvatica on a former arable field. After 4 years, biomass averaged for the 3 species was 5497 (se 270) g m−2 in ambient and 6450 (se 130) g m−2 in elevated [CO2] plots, a significant increase of 17% (P = 0.018). During that time, only a shallow L forest floor litter layer had formed due to intensive bioturbation. Total soil C and N contents increased irrespective of treatment and species as a result of afforestation. We could not detect an additional C sink in the soil, nor were soil C stabilization processes affected by elevated [CO2]. We observed a decrease of leaf N content in Betula and Alnus under elevated [CO2], while the soil C/N ratio decreased regardless of CO2 treatment. The ratio of N taken up from the soil and by N2-fixation in Alnus was not affected by elevated [CO2]. We infer that increased nitrogen use efficiency is the mechanism by which increased NPP is sustained under elevated [CO2] at this site.

scholarly journals Aspen and white spruce productivity is reduced by organic matter removal and soil compaction

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (03) ◽  
pp. 306-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kabzems
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Organic Matter Removal

Declines in forest productivity have been linked to losses of organic matter and soil porosity. To assess how removal of organic matter and soil compaction affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and year 1, 5 and 10 post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment plant community responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.)-dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate [2-cm impression], heavy [5-cm impression]). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen (198 cm compared to 472–480 cm) as well as white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) height (82 cm compared to 154–156 cm). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At Year 10, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor + whole tree removal treatments. Recovery of soil properties was occurring in the 0 cm to 2 cm layer of mineral soil. Bulk density values for the 0 cm to 10 cm depth remained above 86% of the maximum bulk density for the site, a soil condition where reduced tree growth can be expected.

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