In Brazil, most Eucalyptus stands have been planted on Cerrado (shrubby savanna) or on Cerrado converted into pasture. Case studies are needed to assess the effect of such land use changes on soil ...fertility and C sequestration. In this study, the influence of Cerrado land development (pasture and Eucalyptus plantations) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) stocks were quantified in southern Brazil. Two contrasted silvicultural practices were also compared: 60 years of short-rotation silviculture (EUCSR) versus 60 years of continuous growth (EUCHF). C and N soil concentrations and bulk densities were measured and modelled for each vegetation type, and SOC and SON stocks were calculated down to a depth of 1 m by a continuous function. Changes in SOC and SON stocks mainly occurred in the forest floor (no litter in pasture and up to 0.87 kg C m⁻² and 0.01 kg N m⁻² in EUCSR) and upper soil horizons. C and N stocks and their confidence intervals were greatly influenced by the methodology used to compute these layers. C/N ratio and ¹³C analysis showed that down to a depth of 30 cm, the Cerrado organic matter was replaced by organic matter from newly introduced vegetation by as much as 75-100% for pasture and about 50% for EUCHF, poorer in N for Eucalyptus stands (C/N larger than 18 for Eucalyptus stands). Under pasture, 0-30 cm SON stocks (0.25 kg N m⁻²) were between 10 and 20% greater than those of the Cerrado (0.21 kg N m⁻²), partly due to soil compaction (limit bulk density at soil surface from 1.23 for the Cerrado to 1.34 for pasture). Land development on the Cerrado increased SOC stocks in the 0-30 cm layer by between 15 and 25% (from 2.99 (Cerrado) to 3.86 (EUCSR) kg C m⁻²). When including litter layers, total 0-30 cm carbon stocks increased by 35% for EUCHF (4.50 kg C m⁻²) and 53% for EUCSR (5.08 kg C m⁻²), compared with the Cerrado (3.28 kg C m⁻²), independently of soil compaction.
Nitrogen fertilizer inputs increased sharply over the last decade in Brazilian eucalypt plantations. Due to the economic and potential environmental cost of fertilizers, mixed plantations with ...N-fixing species might be an attractive option to improve the long-term soil N status. A randomized block design was set up in southern Brazil, including a replacement series and an additive series design, as well as a nitrogen fertilization treatment. The development of mono-specific stands of Eucalyptus grandis (0A:100E) and Acacia mangium (100A:0E) was compared with mixed plantations in proportions of 1:1 (50A:50E), and other stands with different densities of acacia for the same density of eucalypts. The objective was to assess the effect of inter-specific interactions on the early development of the two species. Aboveground biomass was measured 6, 12, 18 and 30 months after planting, sampling 6–10 trees of each species per treatment at each age, and allometric equations were established in 0A:100E, 100A:0E, 50A:50E and 50A:100E. The height and basal area of E. grandis seedlings were enhanced by 12% and 30%, respectively by N fertilization at age 1 year. Inter-specific competition led to a stratified canopy, with suppression in acacia growth earlier for basal area than for height. The mean number of stems per acacia tree at 36 months after planting was significantly higher in pure stands (3.7), than in 50A:50E (2.7) and in the additive series (between 1.6 and 1.8). H/D ratios were highly sensitive to inter-tree competition for the two species. The suppressed acacia understorey in mixed-species stands did not influence biomass production and partitioning within eucalypts. This pattern led to biomass accumulation combining the two species in 50A:100E that was about 10% higher than in 0A:100E, from age 12 months onwards. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) amounted to 25 Mg ha-1 and 37 Mg ha-1 from age 18 to 30 months in 100A:0E and 0A:100E, respectively. Acacia ANPP in 50A:100E amounted to 2 Mg ha-1 over the same period, as a result of substantial inter-specific competition. An increment in biomass production in these very fast-growing eucalypt plantations was achieved introducing acacia as an understorey and not in the 50A:50E design, as observed in other studies.
Nitrogen fertilizer inputs increased sharply over the last decade in Brazilian eucalypt plantations. Due to the economic and potential environmental cost of fertilizers, mixed plantations with ...N-fixing species might be an attractive option to improve the long-term soil N status. A randomized block design was set up in southern Brazil, including a replacement series and an additive series design, as well as a nitrogen fertilization treatment. The development of mono-specific stands of
Eucalyptus grandis (0A:100E) and
Acacia mangium (100A:0E) was compared with mixed plantations in proportions of 1:1 (50A:50E), and other stands with different densities of acacia for the same density of eucalypts. The objective was to assess the effect of inter-specific interactions on the early development of the two species. Aboveground biomass was measured 6, 12, 18 and 30 months after planting, sampling 6–10 trees of each species per treatment at each age, and allometric equations were established in 0A:100E, 100A:0E, 50A:50E and 50A:100E. The height and basal area of
E. grandis seedlings were enhanced by 12% and 30%, respectively by N fertilization at age 1 year. Inter-specific competition led to a stratified canopy, with suppression in acacia growth earlier for basal area than for height. The mean number of stems per acacia tree at 36 months after planting was significantly higher in pure stands (3.7), than in 50A:50E (2.7) and in the additive series (between 1.6 and 1.8).
H/
D ratios were highly sensitive to inter-tree competition for the two species. The suppressed acacia understorey in mixed-species stands did not influence biomass production and partitioning within eucalypts. This pattern led to biomass accumulation combining the two species in 50A:100E that was about 10% higher than in 0A:100E, from age 12 months onwards. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) amounted to 25
Mg
ha
−1 and 37
Mg
ha
−1 from age 18 to 30 months in 100A:0E and 0A:100E, respectively. Acacia ANPP in 50A:100E amounted to 2
Mg
ha
−1 over the same period, as a result of substantial inter-specific competition. An increment in biomass production in these very fast-growing eucalypt plantations was achieved introducing acacia as an understorey and not in the 50A:50E design, as observed in other studies.
The sustainability of fast-growing tropical Eucalyptus plantations is of concern in a context of rising fertilizer costs, since large amounts of nutrients are removed with biomass every 6-7 years ...from highly weathered soils. A better understanding of the dynamics of tree requirements is required to match fertilization regimes to the availability of each nutrient in the soil. The nutrition of Eucalyptus plantations has been intensively investigated and many studies have focused on specific fluxes in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. However, studies dealing with complete cycles are scarce for the Tropics. The objective of this paper was to compare these cycles for Eucalyptus plantations in Congo and Brazil, with contrasting climates, soil properties, and management practices. The main features were similar in the two situations. Most nutrient fluxes were driven by crown establishment the two first years after planting and total biomass production thereafter. These forests were characterized by huge nutrient requirements: 155, 10, 52, 55 and 23kgha⁻¹ of N, P, K, Ca and Mg the first year after planting at the Brazilian study site, respectively. High growth rates the first months after planting were essential to take advantage of the large amounts of nutrients released into the soil solutions by organic matter mineralization after harvesting. This study highlighted the predominant role of biological and biochemical cycles over the geochemical cycle of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations and indicated the prime importance of carefully managing organic matter in these soils. Limited nutrient losses through deep drainage after clear-cutting in the sandy soils of the two study sites showed the remarkable efficiency of Eucalyptus trees in keeping limited nutrient pools within the ecosystem, even after major disturbances. Nutrient input-output budgets suggested that Eucalyptus plantations take advantage of soil fertility inherited from previous land uses and that long-term sustainability will require an increase in the inputs of certain nutrients.
The sustainability of fast-growing tropical
Eucalyptus plantations is of concern in a context of rising fertilizer costs, since large amounts of nutrients are removed with biomass every 6–7 years ...from highly weathered soils. A better understanding of the dynamics of tree requirements is required to match fertilization regimes to the availability of each nutrient in the soil. The nutrition of
Eucalyptus plantations has been intensively investigated and many studies have focused on specific fluxes in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. However, studies dealing with complete cycles are scarce for the Tropics. The objective of this paper was to compare these cycles for
Eucalyptus plantations in Congo and Brazil, with contrasting climates, soil properties, and management practices.
The main features were similar in the two situations. Most nutrient fluxes were driven by crown establishment the two first years after planting and total biomass production thereafter. These forests were characterized by huge nutrient requirements: 155, 10, 52, 55 and 23
kg
ha
−1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg the first year after planting at the Brazilian study site, respectively. High growth rates the first months after planting were essential to take advantage of the large amounts of nutrients released into the soil solutions by organic matter mineralization after harvesting. This study highlighted the predominant role of biological and biochemical cycles over the geochemical cycle of nutrients in tropical
Eucalyptus plantations and indicated the prime importance of carefully managing organic matter in these soils. Limited nutrient losses through deep drainage after clear-cutting in the sandy soils of the two study sites showed the remarkable efficiency of
Eucalyptus trees in keeping limited nutrient pools within the ecosystem, even after major disturbances. Nutrient input–output budgets suggested that
Eucalyptus plantations take advantage of soil fertility inherited from previous land uses and that long-term sustainability will require an increase in the inputs of certain nutrients.
