Pedosphere 15(6): 754--760, 2005
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2005 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Effect of afforestation on soil properties and mycorrhizal formation |
P. KAHLE1 , C. BAUM1 and B. BOELCKE2 |
1 Institute of Land Use, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, D 18051 Rostock (Germany). E-mail: petra.kahle@uni-rostock.de
2 Research Centre for Agriculture and Fishery, Institute of Agronomy and Crop Science, Dorfplatz 1, D 18276 Gülzow (Germany) |
| ABSTRACT |
| A study was conducted on Cambisols in Northern Germany to analyze the effect of fast growing trees (Salix and Populus spp.) used in agroforestry on soil chemical and physical properties and also on endo and ectomycorrhizal colonization of the fine roots. Representative plots of three trials, Gülzo w (GUL), Vipperow (VIP) and Rostock (ROS), were used to measure the topsoil inventories at the very beginning and after six (GUL), seven (VIP) and ten (ROS) years of afforestation with fast growing trees. The effect on soil organic carbon, plant available nutrients, reaction, bulk density, porosity and water conditions was analyzed. Arable soils without tree coppice were used as controls. Additionally, the endo- and ectomycorrhizal colonization of two Salix and two Populus clones were investigated at one site (GUL) in 2002. The amounts of organic carbon in the topsoil increased significantly (P < 0.01) presumably induced by leaf and root litter and also by the lack of tillage. The soil bulk density significantly decreased and the porosity of the soil increased significantly (both P < 0.01). The proportion of medium pores in the soil also rose significantly (P < 0.05 and 0.01). Generally, afforestation of arable soils improved soil water retention. Ectomycorrhizas dominated the mycorrhizal formation of the Salix and Populus clones, with the accumulation of organic matter in the topsoil suspected of supporting the ectomycor- rhizal formation. Thus, agroforestry with Salix and Populus spp. conspicuously affected chemical and additionally physical properties of the top layer of Cambisols within a period of six years. |
| Key Words: agroforestry, fast growing tree, mycorrhiza, soil organic matter, soil water retention |
| Citation: Kahle, P., Baum, C. and Boelcke, B. 2005. Effect of afforestation on soil properties and mycorrhizal formation. Pedosphere. 15(6): 754-760. |
| |
|
View Full Text
|
|
|
|
