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Effects of organic residue management and legume cover on growth of pine seedlings, nutrient leaching and soil properties

Effets de la gestion de résidus organiques et d’un couvert de légumineuses sur la croissance de semis de pin, le lessivage des nutriments et les propriétés du sol

Annals of Forest Science volume 65, page 807 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • The short-term effect of organic residue management on the growth and nutrition of Pinus pinaster Ait. seedlings, and on nutrient leaching and chemical properties of an acid soil was assessed through a lysimeter experiment. Treatments included absence, placement on the soil surface, and incorporation into the soil (with and without legume cover cropping) of organic residues (forest floor litter or forest floor litter plus harvest residues).

  • • Residues placed on the soil surface enhanced seedling growth. Organic residues reduced nutrient losses (NO −3 , Ca and Mg) and resulted in nutrient accumulation in the soil. Harvest residues positively affected K seedling nutrition status and enhanced K soil accumulation.

  • • Legume cover cropping reduced soil nutrient losses (N, Ca, Mg and K) during the early stage of seedling growth; it also improved seedling nutrition status (N and P), but without any effect on growth.

  • • Harvest residues plus forest floor litter placed on the soil surface was the most appropriate management to both reduce nutrient losses through leaching and increase height of seedlings at the end of the experimental period (two years).

Résumé

  • • L’effet à court terme de gestion des résidus organiques sur la croissance et la nutrition de semis de Pinus pinaster Ait. et sur le lessivage des nutriments et sur les propriétés chimiques d’un sol acide a été évalué par une expérimentation en lysimétre. Les traitements ont inclus l’absence, le placement à la surface du sol et l’incorporation dans le sol (avec et sans couverture de légumineuse) de résidus organiques (litière forestière ou litière forestière plus résidus de récolte).

  • • Les résidus placés à la surface de sol ont augmenté la croissance des jeunes plants. Les résidus organiques ont réduit les pertes en nutriments (NO −3 , Ca, Mg) et ont abouti à l’accumulation de nutriments dans le sol. Les résidus de récolte ont positivement affecté le statut nutritionnel en K des jeunes plants et ont augmenté l’accumulation de K dans le sol.

  • • Une couverture de légumineuse réduit les pertes de substances nutritives du sol (N, Ca, Mg et K) pendant la première période de croissance du jeune plant; elle améliore aussi le statut nutritionnel du jeune plant (N et P), mais sans aucun effet sur la croissance.

  • • Les résidus de récolte plus la litière forestière placés à la surface de sol ont constitués la gestion la plus appropriée pour à la fois réduire les pertes en nutriments par lessivage et accroître la hauteur des jeunes plants à la fin de la période d’expérimentation (deux ans).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências do Ambiente, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada de Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal

    María X. Gómez-Rey, Manuel Madeira & Ernesto Vasconcelos

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  1. María X. Gómez-Rey
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  2. Manuel Madeira
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  3. Ernesto Vasconcelos
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Correspondence to María X. Gómez-Rey.

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Gómez-Rey, M.X., Madeira, M. & Vasconcelos, E. Effects of organic residue management and legume cover on growth of pine seedlings, nutrient leaching and soil properties. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 807 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008063

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X