Change in soil macrofauna and vegetation when fast-growing trees are planted on savanna soils

Abstract

Many forest species can be found in understory vegetation of old plantation plots, despite the fact that the native vegetation was a poor savanna growing on highly nonfertile sandy soils. The aim of the present paper is to describe the changes that occur in the environmental conditions when savanna is planted with fast-growing trees, and is particularly concerned with vegetation and soil macrofauna. The study was carried out in industrial eucalyptus plantations, and in experimental Acacia and pine plantations. Most plots were located on sandy soil, but some measurements were also carried out on clay soil planted with the same species in order to assess the influence of soil type. A strong correlation was shown between the age of the eucalyptus trees and the percentage of forest species in undergrowth, emphasizing the progressive change from savanna vegetation towards forest vegetation. Biomass and density of macrofauna were very low in both sandy and clayey savanna soils, total biomass being 3.3 and 5.8 g/m 2 respectively. Soil macrofauna became more important as the age of plantations increased, and biomass reached 29 g/m 2 in the 20-year-old eucalyptus plot on sandy soil, and 74 g/m 2 in 26-year-old eucalyptus plantation on clay soil, compared to 33 g/m 2 in the natural forest plot on sandy soil; however, frequency of occurrence and number of taxa were lower in old eucalyptus plot as compared to forest. Large differences in the abundance of macrofauna were observed in relation to planted species. Acacia was most favourable to soil macrofauna, with a total biomass of 60 g/m 2 on sandy soil and many taxa present. Pine plantations had a poor macrofauna and several taxa were lacking, particularly in the sandy soil. Total macrofauna frequency was significantly correlated with the percentage of forest species in understory vegetation. Both were correlated with soil pH and soil organic-matter content. The results suggest that soil organic matter and litter quality are of main importance in changing the above- and below-ground habitat in plantations.