Abstract
AbstractMicrotopographic conditions affect patterns of soil physico‐chemical properties in oldfields targeted for passive ecological restoration. This study sampled soil at a microtopographic level in three oldfield sites targeted for ecological restoration to better understand changes in soil physico‐chemical properties of pH, P, N, C, K, Na, Ca, Mg, moisture, penetration resistance and water repellency. The study was conducted in oldfields located at Nanaga farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Topsoil samples were collected over 3 months in two oldfield locations, namely furrows and ridges, and were compared to soils from adjacent reference sites. Results indicate that soil P, C and N were significantly higher in oldfield ridges and reference sites than in oldfield furrows. Throughout the three sampling months, soils from oldfield ridges were less compact and repellent as compared to soils from the oldfield furrows which were compact and wettable. The study concludes that the observed soil physico‐chemical differences between oldfield furrows and ridges were influenced by vegetation availability and microtopographic conditions between oldfield ridges and furrows. The study recommends that soil restoration initiatives (e.g. soil nutrient manipulation) in these oldfields should concentrate on improving the nutrient‐poor and compact furrows than ridges.
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