Comparisons of Understorey Vegetation and Soil Fertility in Plantations and Adjacent Natural Forests in the Ethiopian Highlands

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Michelsen ◽  
N. Lisanework ◽  
I. Friis ◽  
N. Holst
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands

scholarly journals Improving Productivity of Traditional Andean Small Farmers by Bio-Rational Soil Management: I. The Potato Case

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-290
Author(s):  
J. Franco ◽  
G. Main ◽  
O. Navia ◽  
N. Ortuño ◽  
J. Herbas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Andean Potato ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Considerable Damage

The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture demands high investments; its in discriminated and inadequate application to obtain immediate crop response has caused considerable damage to the environment and human health, either due to a direct effect or indirect contamination of farmer fields and water sources by highly toxic products. On the other hand, as a result of soil fertility losses, farmers move to new areas for farming, causing a complex migration phenomena and devastation of natural forests. In an effort to find new alternatives for the management of crop pests compatible with the environment and agro-ecologically friendly, some technologies recently developed have been offered to small Andean potato farmers. Among these, the recycling of organic residues and the management of natural soil microorganisms which are important alternatives to reduce the importation and use of toxic agro-chemicals as well as to preserve and recuperate soil fertility and thus reach a sustainable potato production by Andean farmers. This will not only guarantee food security, but will also have favorable impact on the yield and quality of potato and other crops.Accepted for publication: December 28, 2011

Relations between tree canopy composition and understorey vegetation in a European beech-sessile oak old growth forest in Western Romania

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Dölle ◽  
Any Mary Petritan ◽  
Iovu Adrian Biris ◽  
Ion Catalin Petritan
Keyword(s):  
European Beech ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Canopy Layer ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Sessile Oak ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Western Romania

AbstractThe diversity relationship between tree and herb layer has often been investigated, but the results are contradictory. Moreover, few studies of deciduous European species have been conducted to date in natural or near-natural forests, while such studies in old-growth forest with considerable co-dominance of oak are missing.In one of the best preserved natural European beech-sessile oak forests (Runcu-Grosi Natural Reserve, Western Romania) we investigated whether there is a correlation between canopy-layer diversity and herb-layer diversity. Structural diversity, vegetation composition, ecological and functional traits were evaluated. Our results show that the herb-layer diversity is higher under canopy with greater tree-layer diversity, and the diversity of both layers depend on whether the overstorey is dominated by beech or sessile oak. Herb layers of plots with oak co-dominance showed higher indicator values for light and temperature, and a higher proportion of graminoides and shrub species. In contrast, herb-layer in beech plots is dominated by juvenile trees, mainly beech and competitive herb species. Oak plots are characterised by a generally more evenly distributed herb-layer composition. Species richness of herb-layer was higher under a diversely structured overstorey, which was mainly achieved when oak was present in the canopy, and correlated negatively with litter thickness, which was highest in beech plots. We conclude that the identity of the dominant canopy species is most important for herb layer species composition and diversity. Furthermore, the plots with oak occurrence in the overstorey even with weak proportion (around 20% of stand basal area) features a higher biodiversity of species in the understorey.

Stone bunds for soil conservation in the northern Ethiopian highlands: Impacts on soil fertility and crop yield

2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Vancampenhout ◽  
Jan Nyssen ◽  
Desta Gebremichael ◽  
Jozef Deckers ◽  
Jean Poesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands

scholarly journals Influence of integrated soil fertilization on the productivity and economic return of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and soil fertility in northwest Ethiopian highlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 714-727
Author(s):  
Getachew Alemayehu ◽  
Asefa Abate
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Allium Sativum ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Marginal Rate ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Cropping Seasons

Abstract Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the main economical spices produced by poor smallholder farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia for both marketing and consumption. However, its productivity in the area has ever been declining mainly due to soil fertility depletion. Hence, an experiment was conducted under irrigation for two years in 2017 and 2018 in one of northwest Ethiopian highlands known as Lay Gayint to assess the productivity response of garlic to NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure applications. Factorial combinations of four levels of N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers (0–0–0; 70–21–9; 112–37–16; and 159–58–25 kg ha−1) and four levels of fresh cattle manure (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha−1) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Unlike that of NPS inorganic fertilizers application and its interaction with cattle manure, physicochemical properties of the experimental soil were highly significantly improved with cattle manure application. Most growth and bulb yield parameters of garlic were significantly influenced by combined applications of NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure, and their responses were more pronounced with the progress of the cropping seasons. Combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 15 and 10 t ha−1 cattle manure gave the highest bulb yields (18.03–22.05  t ha−1), net benefits (Ethiopian Birr 509,456–626,814 per hectare), and marginal rate of returns (1,492.35–2,005.15%) in both study years of 2017 and 2018. Hence, combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 10–15  t ha−1 cattle manure are recommendable for garlic growing farmers in northwest Ethiopian highlands.

scholarly journals Geographical spatial distribution and productivity dynamic change of eucalyptus plantations in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
YuXing Zhang ◽  
XueJun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Carbon Fixation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Pinus Massoniana ◽  
Carbon Accumulation ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Timber Supply ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantations

AbstractThe Eucalyptus spp. is fast-growing and is usually harvested at a young age, which enables efficient and sufficient timber supply. However, its negative impact on soil fertility incurs wide debates. Therefore it is necessary to study on the growing traits of eucalytpus to provide scientific guidance on its plantation management and associated policy-making. In this study, we collected the sample plot data from 9 National Forest Inventories (NFIs) during 1973–2018, China Forest-Land Database Map in 2003 and 2016, as well as climate and elevation data and analyzed how the spatial distribution of eucalyptus plantations in China changes with time. We quantitatively characterized and evaluated the productivity, carbon accumulation capacity, and abandonment rate of eucalyptus plantations. Statistical models on how eucalyptus productivity and abandonment rate change with time are established to evaluate the soil fertility and feasibility for growing eucalyptus plantations and predict the temporal productivity variation. The results show that regions with annual mean temperature of 19–21 °C, annual precipitation of 1400–1600 mm, and elevation of 0–300 m above sea level is most suitable for the growth of eucalyptus. The annual mean productivity of eucalyptus plantations ranges from 4.14–8.57 m3 hm−2 a−1. Higher productivity (9.32–10.88 m3 hm−2 a−1) could be reached in newly cultivated lands. Based on data from the 9th inventory (2014–2018), the mean carbon fixation of eucalyptus is 5.29 t hm−2 a−1, which is 2.95 and 2.18 times greater than Pinus massoniana Lamb. and Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. Its plantations area accounts for 6.85% of total plantations in China, but it contributes to more than 17.96% of total annual cut from plantations. In Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, areas of eucalyptus plantations are 30.32% and 34.91% of the total plantation area in each province respectively, but eucalyptus plantations contribute to 66.29% and 49.97% of harvested timber stock volume Eucalyptus pla consumes soil fertility significantly. The cumulative abandonment rate (based on area) is about 25%, 50%, and 75% after 5, 10, and 20 years of growing eucalyptus, respectively. The soil fertility decreases significantly after 50 years of growing eucalyptus continuously. In such case, it is difficult to restore the soil fertility. It is suggested that with improved management measures such as proper crop rotation rotating crops properly, it is possible for the abandoned plantations to be reused for growing eucalyptus. Currently the rates of replanting eucalyptus are still below 20% and 30% after 20 and 50 years of without growing eucalyptus, respectively. Although the proportion of eucalyptus area replanted to its abandoned area is now less than 20% in 20 years and less than 30% in 50 years, there is potential to keep increasing the replanting rate. We argue that developing eucalyptus plantations could contribute to global timber supply, help to protect natural forests, increase global carbon storage and fixation, and help to slow down global warming. In conclusion, we should not stop growing eucalyptus despite its high consumption of soil fertility.

scholarly journals Syntaxonomic adaptability of lower layer plants of the forest communities in the North-Eastern Ukraine

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
I. Kovalenko ◽  
A. Klimenko ◽  
R. Yaroshchuk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Lower Layer ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
North Eastern Part

<p>In the North-Eastern part of Ukraine the forest communities occupy considerable area and have great ecological and economic value. In natural forests herbs and subshrubs maintain the canopy cover through the recovery mechanism when the undergrowth of woody plants by height constitutes a part of the herbaceous and subshrub layer. Cenoflora within the lower layers of mixed coniferous-broad leaved forests of the southern part of the Eurasian forest zone is a fairly complete structural unit, especially in the central parts of the moisture and soil fertility gradients. Syntaxonomic adaptability of the lower layer plants of the forest communities in the North-East of Ukraine is established, and their ecological and biological diversity is determined as a result of the researches conducted. A group of species of forest herbs and subshrubs by the ecological status takes an intermediate position because of their habitat versatility. The species of this group are characterized by the vegetative propagation along with the effective seed reproduction. The habitat versatility and combination of the two types of reproduction are the main reasons for a wide representation of the species of this group in different syntaxons. A high floristic biodiversity of the forest communities of the North-Eastern part of Ukraine and their flora heterogeneity are determined based on the comparative floristic analysis. The floristic difference between the two major classes of vegetation in this region is shown, and it is found that Querco-Fagetea class is characterized by a high nutrient status and good warming-up under slightly reduced soil moisture, whereas the main feature of Vaccinio-Piceetea class is low soil fertility.</p>

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