Abstract
The mycorrhizal colonisation of plants grown in unmanaged soils from two restoration sites with a fire history in Northern Portugal was evaluated from the perspective of supporting restoration programmes. To promote restoration of original tree stands, Quercus ilex L. and Pinus pinaster Ait. were used as target species on two sites, denoted Site 1 and 2 respectively. The aim of the study was to assess whether mycorrhizal propagules that survived fire episodes could serve as in situ inoculum sources, and to analyse the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and mycorrhizal parameters. In a laboratory bioassay, P. pinaster and Q. ilex seedlings were grown on soils from the target sites and root colonisation by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was determined. The ECM root colonisation levels found indicated that soil from Site 2 contained sufficient ECM propagules to serve as a primary source of inoculum for P. pinaster. The low levels of ECM and AM colonisation obtained on the roots of plants grown in soil from Site 1 indicated that the existing mycorrhizal propagules might be insufficient for effective root colonisation of Q. ilex. Different ECM morphotypes were found in plants grown in soil from the two sites. At Site 2 mycorrhizal parameters were found to be spatially structured, with signif icant differences in ECM colonisation and soil P concentrations between regions of either side of an existing watercourse. The spatial distribution of mycorrhizal propagules was related to edaphic parameters (total C and extractable P), and correlations between soil nutrients and mycorrhizal parameters were found.
Highlights
The forest area in Portugal occupies 3.4 million ha, consisting of a mixture of tree species, which in decreasing order of abundance are P. pinaster Ait, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Quercus suber L., Q. ilex L. and, with a smaller representation, other coniferous and broadleaf species
In Portugal conditions are favourable for forest fires to occur (IFFN, 2005) and according to the European Forest Fires Information System (EFFIS), the burned area to mid-2004 was approximately 94,000 ha, with 35,000 ha being forestland including forest stands and shrub land
Site 1 (860 m asl) had 4 ha targeted for restoration using Q. ilex and had the last fire episode in 1975, while Site 2 (830 m asl) had 5 ha targeted for restoration using P. pinaster and had the last fire episode in 2000
Summary
The forest area in Portugal occupies 3.4 million ha, consisting of a mixture of tree species, which in decreasing order of abundance are P. pinaster Ait, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Quercus suber L., Q. ilex L. and, with a smaller representation, other coniferous and broadleaf species. In Portugal conditions are favourable for forest fires to occur (IFFN, 2005) and according to the European Forest Fires Information System (EFFIS), the burned area to mid-2004 was approximately 94,000 ha, with 35,000 ha being forestland including forest stands and shrub land. Due to the negative effects of fire in plant communities and soil structure, there is an urgent need to improve restoration practices. These practices should be implemented together with an environmentally-beneficial soil restoration and conservation strategy
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