Influence of Colophospermum mopane canopy cover on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a semi-arid African savannah

Quantitative inventory surveys were done on the woody vegetation in permanently marked plots at distance intervals from the Wik-en-Weeg Dam, Kruger National Park, in 1973. The surveys were repeated in 1990 so that changes in the community composition, the density and the canopy cover and the survival of the woody vegetation could be determined in relation to distance from the dam. Relationships with distance from the dam were shown for the relative density ofCombretumapiculatum in all height classes, the relative canopy cover of the second height class of woody plants, the relative canopy cover of C. apiculatum plants, the survival of all height classes of woody plants and the survival of C. apiculatum and Colophospermum mopane plants. It was concluded that the provision of water for game at the Wik-en-Weeg Dam had an impact on the woody vegetation in the vicinity. The relationships of parameters of the two dominant species, Combretum apiculatum and Colophospermum mopane, with distance from the dam were compared. Combretum apiculatum parameters were more sensitive to impact associated with the dam than those of Colophospermum mopane.

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Effect of biochar addition on leaf-litter decomposition at soil surface during three years in a warm-temperate secondary deciduous forest, Japan

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-53615-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yukiya Minamino ◽

Nobuhide Fujitake ◽

Takeshi Suzuki ◽

Shinpei Yoshitake ◽

Hiroshi Koizumi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Dry Conditions

AbstractThe addition of biochar to the forest floor should facilitate efficient carbon sequestration. However, little is known about how biochar addition effects litter decomposition, which is related to carbon and nutrient dynamics in forest ecosystems. This study evaluated the effect of biochar addition on leaf litter decomposition in a forest ecosystem. To examine whether leaf litter decomposition was stimulated above and below biochar, litterbag experiments were carried out for about 3 years in a field site where biochar was added at the rate of 0, 5 and 10 t ha−¹ (C0, C5 and C10 plots) to the forest floor in a temperate oak forest, Japan. Biochar addition at C10 significantly enhanced litter decomposition below biochar for 2 years after treatment and above biochar for 1 year after treatment. Litter water content in biochar plots tended to increase under dry conditions. Biochar addition enhanced litter decomposition because of increased microbial activity with increased moisture content and accelerated the decomposition progress rather than changing the decomposition pattern. However, the carbon emission through changing leaf litter decomposition was small when compared with the carbon addition by biochar, indicating that biochar could be an effective material for carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems.

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