The potential of Eucalyptus plantations to restore degraded soils in semi-arid Morocco (NW Africa)
Idioma
en
Article de revue
Este ítem está publicado en
Annals of Forest Science. 2017, vol. 74, n° 3, p. 1-10
Springer Nature (since 2011)/EDP Science (until 2010)
Resumen en inglés
Key message Short-rotation forestry using eucalyptus in degraded oak forests in the semi-arid area of NW Morocco can be a useful strategy to avoid further degradation and carbon loss from this ecosystem, but it might be ...Leer más >
Key message Short-rotation forestry using eucalyptus in degraded oak forests in the semi-arid area of NW Morocco can be a useful strategy to avoid further degradation and carbon loss from this ecosystem, but it might be constrained by nutrient and water supply in the long term.Context Land degradation and deforestation of natural forests are serious issues worldwide, potentially leading to altered land use and carbon storage capacity.Aims Our objectives were to investigate if short-rotation plantations can restore carbon pools of degraded soils, without altering soil fertility.Methods Carbon and nutrient pools in above- and below-ground biomass and soils were assessed using stand inventories, harvested biomass values, allometric relationships and selective sampling for chemical analyses.Results Carbon pools in the total ecosystem were low in the degraded land and in croplands (6–13 Mg ha−1) and high in forests (66–94 in eucalyptus plantations; 86–126 in native forests). The soil nutrient status of eucalyptus stands was intermediate between degraded land and native forests and increased over time after eucalyptus introduction. All harvest scenarios for eucalyptus are likely to impoverish the soil but, for the moment, the soil nutrient status has not been affected.Conclusion Afforestation of degraded land with eucalyptus can be a useful restoration tool relative to carbon storage and soil fertility, provided that non-intensive forestry is applied.< Leer menos
Palabras clave
foresterie
stockage du carbone
courte rotation
eucalyptus
carbone
zone semi aride
écosystème
biomasse
maroc
déforestation
fertilité du sol
Palabras clave en inglés
carbon
semi-arid zone
ecosystem
soil fertility
afforestation
carbon pools
soil nutrients
cork oak
tree cultivation
Orígen
Importado de HalCentros de investigación