Brief description
We investigated recovery of soil chemical properties after restoration in semi-arid Western Australia, hypothesising that elevated nutrient concentrations would gradually decline post planting, but available phosphorus (P) concentrations would remain higher than reference conditions. We used a space-for-time substitution approach, comparing 10 planted old field plots with matched fallow cropland and reference woodlands. Sampling on planted old fields and reference woodland plots was stratified into open patches and under tree canopy to account for consistent differences between these areas. Soil samples to 10 cm depth were collected at 20 points across 30 plots. Ten samples were randomly collected and combined from locations beneath trees and a further 10 samples collected in gaps and combined, resulting in one soil sample for beneath tree canopy and another one for gap areas. Sampling occurred in autumn 2017 to capture potentially high concentrations of soil nitrate following the seasonal die-back of exotic annual plants typical of this Mediterranean-climate region. Samples were stored at 4 °C in plastic zip-lock bags until delivery to the CSBP Limited (Bibra Lake, WA) laboratories. Chemical parameters measured were plant available P (Colwell), plant available N (nitrate and ammonium), total N, plant available potassium (Colwell) and plant available sulphur (KCl 40). Lastly, electrical conductivity, pH (H2O, CaCl2), and soil texture were quantified as differences among plots could affect nutrient availability and soil chemistry. Soil available nutrients were also measured using Plant Root Simulator (PRS)TM resin probes (Western Ag Innovations, 2010, https://www.westernag.ca/inn). Probes contain anion or cation exchange membranes within a plastic stake. The membranes act as a sink for collecting nutrients and continuously absorb ions during deployment. Four anion and cation probes were placed vertically in the top 15 cm of soil at each stratification. Probes were left in the ground for three months during the growing season, from August to November 2017. This period was deemed suitable for semi-arid regions to achieve sufficient nutrient uptake but not too long to saturate probes. After removal, probes were cleaned with deionized water and sent to Western Ag Innovations (Canada) for analysis. All soil chemical analyses were conducted under laboratory conditions using standard test procedures. PRS probe nutrients are reported as micrograms/10cm2/time.Lineage
Progress Code: completedNotes
CreditWe at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Purpose
Understanding constraints to ecological restoration on former agricultural land has become increasingly important due to agricultural land degradation in the developed world, and growing evidence for enduring agricultural legacies that limit native species recovery. In particular, the removal of native plant biomass and subsequent disturbance of soil properties through farming activities can alter soil ecosystem processes. Planting of native plant species is a common approach to restoring native vegetation on agricultural land, and is assumed to benefit soil ecosystem processes, but the degree to which altered soil chemical processes recover is poorly documented.
Understanding constraints to ecological restoration on former agricultural land has become increasingly important due to agricultural land degradation in the developed world, and growing evidence for enduring agricultural legacies that limit native species recovery. In particular, the removal of native plant biomass and subsequent disturbance of soil properties through farming activities can alter soil ecosystem processes. Planting of native plant species is a common approach to restoring native vegetation on agricultural land, and is assumed to benefit soil ecosystem processes, but the degree to which altered soil chemical processes recover is poorly documented.
Created: 2021-09-30
Issued: 2021-10-11
Modified: 2024-05-07
Data time period: 2017-06-01 to 2017-11-30
text: Northern Wheatbelt, Western Australia, near the towns of Perenjori and Coorow
Subjects
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
AGRICULTURE |
Agriculture, Land and Farm Management |
Agricultural Land Management |
Biological Sciences |
BIOSPHERE |
EARTH SCIENCE |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
Ecology |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
In Situ/Laboratory Instruments |
Milligram per Kilogram |
NITROGEN |
NUTRIENT CYCLING |
PHOSPHORUS |
Percent |
Point Resolution |
RECLAMATION/REVEGETATION/RESTORATION |
Restoration ecology |
Terrestrial Ecology |
Unitless |
Weekly - < Monthly |
ammonium in soil (Milligram per Kilogram) |
decisiemens per metre |
environment |
farming |
old field |
soil aluminium (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil boron (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil cadmium (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil copper (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil electrical conductivity (decisiemens per metre) |
soil iron (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil lead (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil magnesium (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil manganese (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil nitrate (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil nitrogen content (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil pH (Unitless) |
soil phosphorus (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil potassium (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil sulfur (Milligram per Kilogram) |
soil texture (Percent) |
soil zinc (Milligram per Kilogram) |
User Contributed Tags
Login to tag this record with meaningful keywords to make it easier to discover
Point-of-truth metadata URL Identifiers
- URI : geonetwork.tern.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/89b67a8f-3530-4e43-b209-e02557718263
- global : 89b67a8f-3530-4e43-b209-e02557718263
