Abstract
Abandonment of agricultural land leads to changes in soil characteristics that may result in better or worse soil conditions. These changes are slow therefore the use of indicators for dating the time of abandonment is particularly useful. This study was carried out in Madrid, Spain with the aim to establish for the first time the use of <em>Retama sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) as a dendrochronological tool for dating land abandonment. This offers the possibility to take into consideration a period of time long enough for changes in soil to be determined. Such changes can be indicated by fluctuations in soil organic carbon content (SOC), porosity or water availability.</p><p>Three different situations resulted from the dendrochronological analysis: soil currently tilled; soil recently abandoned (less than 5 years), and prolonged abandonment (in average 10 years). In addition the influence of <em>Retama sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) on soils was checked for these periods of abandonment.</p><p>The rate of SOC gain can be considered quick. Tilled soils accounted for 0.48% SOC, and reached 1% in less than 5 years, although with wide standard deviations. Due to prolonged abandonment SOC reached 1.41%, (P=0.09). Total soil porosity under tillage was 49%, and decreased to 38% after 4-5 years, but recovered to 41% under prolonged abandonment. Water availability (volumetric soil moisture between field capacity and permanent wilting point) remained the same, ranging from 7.7 to 8.5% along the whole period of time.</p><p>The presence of <em>R.sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) accelerates soil changes as SOC in prolonged abandonment increased to 2.65%, porosity was 41% and water availability 10.3%.</p><p><strong><em>Key words</em></strong>: agricultural abandonment, dendrochronology, soil organic carbon, water availability
Highlights
The agricultural sector in Spain has experienced a continuous decline over the past decades
In this study we introduce the use of Retama sphaerocarpa L. (Boiss) for dendrochronological purposes (R. sphaerocarpa onwards)
A few plots are still being tilled by owners, most plots are abandoned and extensive grazing has become the predominant use as sheep flocks graze daily in the area
Summary
The agricultural sector in Spain has experienced a continuous decline over the past decades. After decades or centuries of agricultural use, soils can be exhausted or vulnerable to erosion, drought or physical degradation. Several authors have published study cases resulting in soil degradation after abandonment (Dunjó et al 2003; Ries and Hirt 2008), but others have reported the recovery of soil properties (Atallah et al 2015; Post and Known 2000). Due to this uncertainty, it is relevant to study soil property changes and its velocity after abandonment at local level
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