Post-agricultural Lands Research Articles

Abiotic and biotic factors controlling fine root biomass, carbon and nutrients in closed-canopy hybrid poplar stands on post-agricultural land

Fine roots (diameter <2 mm) have a pivotal role in resource acquisition, symbiosis development, and for elemental cycling in forests. Various abiotic and biotic factors affect their biomass and nutrient content. Understanding the effect of these factors on root traits could improve biogeochemical modelling, nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in planted forests. Data from 14-year old poplars planted along a fertility/climatic gradient in Southeastern Canada, show that live fine root biomass varied with genotype and environment, was negatively correlated to soil fertility, and uncorrelated to tree size. Dead fine root biomass varied with genotype and peaked during fall and in colder environments with slower element cycling. Root chemistry also varied with environment, genotype and season. The genotype producing recalcitrant leaf litter had the highest root biomass, suggesting a compensation strategy. Along the studied gradient, plasticity level observed for some root traits (biomass, element contents) was genotype-specific and high for some genotypes. Regionally, such plasticity patterns should be considered in elemental budgets, for nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in plantations (carbon storage, nutrient retention). The small inter-site aboveground productivity differences observed suggest that plasticity in fine root growth may contribute to overcome nutrient limitations on less fertile marginal lands.

Changes of vegetation effects in soil properties in the post-agriculture landscapes (south-eastern Poland)

Abstract Plant succession is quite a common phenomenon in Poland, especially in agricultural landscapes. At the turn of the 21st century there was a significant increase in the area of fallow lands. That increased the area occupied by ruderal and segetal vegetation. The development of vegetation on post-agricultural lands transforms soils. The aim of this paper is to determine changes in vegetation and soil properties that occur as a result of secondary succession on post-agricultural lands in loess landscapes

Landscape architecture and environmentalism in the expansion era for Australian universities: the work of Bruce Mackenzie and Associates

The 1960s and 1970s were an era of expansion of the tertiary education sector internationally with entirely new universities developed at an unprecedented pace. In the Australian context, the quintessential start-up suburban campus was usually set within a greenfield site - typically on postagricultural land at the fringe of rapidly expanding suburbia. An effective role for landscape architecture often materialised from symbiotic relationships between architects, engineers, planners, horticulturalists, and others. A significant driver in shaping and enacting a clear vision for a distinctive quality of campus landscape came internal to university administration. Communities consisting of academic staff, administrative staff, and other interested and talented practitioners have been found to be crucial in defining a niche for landscape architects in campus design, marking a significant moment in the recognition and due regard that would be paid to a small but influential profession on the Australian scene. This paper records the themes that define the distinctive nature of the Australian condition. Focusing on campus designs by Bruce Mackenzie and Associates (BMA), the paper provides a preliminary assessment of the roles and influence of people, organisations, and events in the creation of the modern campus in Australia. It concludes that the most effective results were achieved when the landscape architect was engaged at the formative stages of campus development and had broad support inclusive of collaboration with other consultants and with university administrators and on-ground staff. A significant ingredient for success in achieving innovative results was found to be the existence within the university of communities of interested and engaged people with joint aims and ambitions for the creation of high quality campus landscapes, often in line with a culture of environmentalism. Such communities often go unheralded yet without their involvement the establishment of campus landscapes that celebrated the conservation of Australian indigenous plants and forms may not have been as readily achieved.

Urban Agriculture as a Sustainability Transition Strategy for Shrinking Cities? Land Use Change Trajectory as an Obstacle in Kyoto City, Japan

Can shrinking cities harness population decline to improve their sustainability by repurposing land use, for example, for localizing food production? Whether such a transition is feasible depends on the pre-shrinkage state of urban agricultural land use, including ongoing trends in local land use change. This study examined agricultural land use from 2007–2017 in Kyoto City, Japan. Kyoto is on the brink of a large projected population decline (~190,000 or ~13% until 2040) and serves as a representative for a large number of regional Japanese cities in a similar situation. Analysis was based on a public 2007 land use data set, aerial and satellite imagery and ground truthing. Results showed a decline of 209 ha or 10% in agricultural land use over ten years, but also highlight the diversity of ongoing agricultural land use types not captured by standard categories. The main post-agricultural land uses were residential (40%) and vacant land (28%). These results have implications for planning and policy. Kyoto City is currently not set to benefit from the projected shrinking process through localizing food production, despite a tradition of vegetable production. Future research should analyze drivers of change for observed agricultural land use.

An ambivalent landscape: the return of nature to post-agricultural land in South-eastern Australia

Urban, peri-urban, post-industrial and post-agricultural landscapes are transforming throughout the world due to changes in human use. Spontaneous growth of vegetation (regrowth) that may be part of this transformation is sometimes viewed negatively because of perceived threats to human agency and well-being. In many cases, however, societies experiencing regrowth appear to ignore it. This is problematic as scientists are increasingly finding ecological values in regrowth landscapes. Fostering positive biodiversity outcomes in these areas requires knowledge of how the regrowth is perceived by stakeholders. This paper draws upon 53 semi-structured interviews and document reviews exploring perceptions, views and management of abundant and extensive regrowth by stakeholders in a post-agricultural landscape in central Victoria, Australia. Through discourse analysis, the research highlights the social ambivalence to regrowth and illuminates the underlying causes of that ambivalence. We indicate how this understanding can be used to foster social recognition and acceptance of regrowth and its role in landscape restoration.

Biomass conversion and expansion factors for a chronosequence of young naturally regenerated silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands growing on post-agricultural sites

Forest stand biomass or carbon storage in the biomass may be estimated by conversion of the trees volume since roughly 50% of tree biomass is carbon. There is a need to find biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) for young stands, because those established for older ones may not be relevant due to changes in biomass allocation patterns over stand age and development phases. We developed BCEFs for above- and belowground biomass components of young silver birch stands as separate functions of stand age or variables that reflect growth conditions and the biological status of trees, i.e. top height (H100), mean height (Hg), base diameter (D0), quadratic mean diameter at breast height (Dg) or stand volume (V). Data were collected on 120 pure birch stands that regenerated naturally on post-agricultural lands in Poland. We determined BCEFs based on the stem volume and dry biomass of above- and belowground components. We applied segmented linear regression (SLR) to develop equations for BCEF determination for each of the pre-determined age classes using (a) fixed break points (FBP) found with the Ward method and (b) estimated break points (EBP) derived based on the best fit of regression models during piecewise regression estimation. We found that the use of SLR and non-linear regression (NR) approaches produced similar results in terms of quality of fit. However, non-linear parameter estimates are more efficient than linear ones, as NR seems to be more frequently used and easier to process using existing statistical tools, but at the same time the SLR provides biological interpretation of results (i.e. the point where BCEF value stabilizes and beyond which stand features do not influence BCEF). The largest difference between EBP and FBP occurs for stems, and the smallest for roots. For total biomass and all biomass components except stem, BCEFs are very high for the youngest, shortest and thinnest trees and hence stands with low volume. Their values decrease along with age, height, diameter and volume towards the EBPs. For individuals older, taller, thicker and with higher volume than EBP, there is no influence of age, H100, Hg, D0, Dg and V on BCEF values. We confirmed that H100 might be a good biomass predictor for young birch stands, which is important because measuring tree height is not as time consuming as tree diameter measurements, particularly for young and very dense stands, and this parameter can be obtained from remote sensing technology.

The Impact of the Planting Material on the Growth Rate of Spruce and Pine Plantations on Post-Agricultural Lands of the North-West of Russia

The Impact of the Planting Material on the Growth Rate of Spruce and Pine Plantations on Post-Agricultural Lands of the North-West of Russia

Planting clonal shade-tolerant herbs in young urban woodlands—Effects of compost on plant growth, flowering and survival

Rich herbaceous layers supply important ecosystem functions and amenity values in urban woodlands. However, due to poor dispersal and recruitment, typical woodland herbs often remain absent in woodlands established on post-agricultural and post-industrial sites, especially in fragmented urban landscapes. Efficient methods for active restoration of the herbaceous layer are therefore needed. In a plantation experiment in an 11-year-old oak stand established on post-agricultural land just outside Malmö City, southern Sweden, this study investigated the effects of compost addition and weed control on post-planting survival, growth and flowering of three typical shade-tolerant woodland herb species: Galium odoratum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon and Stellaria holostea. Removal of competing weed vegetation did not affect plant performance, but compost addition dramatically increased growth and flowering of all three species during the first two growing seasons, and also increased survival in S. holostea. This positive treatment effect probably derived from a more suitable top soil structure and a higher soil moisture in the compost treatment. We conclude that combined use of planting and composting is an effective method for rapid achievement of profusely flowering carpets of summer-green woodland herbs, which can provide important amenity values in the many woodlands established in and around cities in north-west Europe in recent decades. The method may also be applicable in other woodland restoration projects, where it can promote colonisation by typical shade-tolerant woodland herb species.

Survey of some attributes of post-agricultural lands in Polish State Forests

Based on materials gained in March 2015 from the Forest Data Bank the survey of some attributes (forest address including Regional Directorate of State Forest (RDSF), area in hectares, soil unit, forest site type, dominant species in a forest stand and age of the dominant species in a stand) of post-agricultural lands occurring in Polish State Forests was conducted in the paper. Distribution of post-agricultural lands in Poland by RDSF as well as the structure of soil units, forest site types, dominant tree species and the age of the species was presented and analyzed in the article. Distribution of post-agricultural lands is not regular in regions of Poland as the highest share of such lands in the total area of State Forests was stated for a northern part of the country (RDSF in Szczecinek, Pila and Olsztyn) and the lowest for central-southern regions (RDSF in Katowice, Radom and Krakow). In spite Brunic Arenosols distinctly prevail in cover of post-agricultural lands occurring in State Forests (65.8%) the soil unit is not the dominant one in all regions of Poland. Namely, in RDSF located in mountainous and upland areas Cambisols and Luvisols predominate. In terms of forest site types structure, mesotrophic sites clearly prevail in post-agricultural lands as two forest site types (fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh mixed broadleaved forest) cover 62.4% of all such lands. In spite Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) is the main tree species overgrowing post-agricultural soils in Polish State Forests the share of the species in young plantations established in last two decades has clearly decreased. It has resulted from appearing since 1990s an increasing importance of ecologisation of forestry in Poland what has been reflected e.g. in a distinctly increase of a share of broadleaved species in young plantations introduced on post-agricultural lands in last decades. The trend has especially pertained oak species ( Quercus petraea and Q. robur ) and beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) of which much higher share was stated for the youngest analyzed age class (<20 years) of post-agricultural woodlands than for older forest stands.

Empirical equations for estimating aboveground biomass of &lt;i&gt;Betula pendula&lt;/i&gt; growing on former farmland in central Poland

We determined empirical models for estimating total aboveground as well as stem, branches, and foliage dry biomass of young (age up to 16 years) silver birch (Roth.) growing on the post-agricultural lands. Two sets of allometric models for trees with a height below or above 1.3 m (small and large trees respectively) were developed. Simplified models were elaborated based exclusively on appropriate tree diameter (diameter at ground level for small trees, diameter at breast height for large trees), while expanded models also included tree height. Total aboveground biomass was estimated as the sum of biomass of all tree components. To assure additivity of the developed equations, the seemingly unrelated regression approach for the final model fitting was used. Expanded models in both tree groups were characterized by a better fit to the data (Rfor total aboveground biomass for small and large trees equaled 0.8768 and 0.9752, respectively). Diameter at breast height appeared to be a better predictor than diameter at ground level – simplified models had better fit for large trees (R for total aboveground biomass equals 0.9611) than for small ones (R = 0.7516). The developed equations provide biomass predictions consistent with available Latvian, Estonian, Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian models for silver birch.Betula pendula 2 22

Does tallgrass prairie restoration enhance the invasion resistance of post-agricultural lands?

There is building interest in the use of ecological restoration to enhance the biotic invasion resistance of disturbed lands. However, few studies have rigorously examined the effect of community restoration on biotic invasion resistance under conditions of controlled invader propagule pressure. Results are presented from a field experiment conducted in a post-agricultural grassland in eastern Kansas to explore the interplay of tallgrass prairie restoration and invader propagule pressure in modulating plant invasion. Seed additions of multiple native and non-native species were used to provide a general test of biotic invasion resistance under varied propagule availability. Restoration increased plant diversity, increased above ground productivity, reduced the availability of light, soil moisture and bare soil microsites and strongly suppressed the invasion of all species sown into the experiment, including the highly invasive exotic legume, Lespedeza cuneata. In the absence of restoration, L. cuneata rapidly dominated plots where it had been sown, particularly at the highest propagule pressure. Results of multiple regression modelling suggested that restoration most likely increased community resistance to L. cuneata invasion through changes in functional guild composition rather than through changes in species diversity. Overall our study indicates that restoration of abandoned agricultural land to native tallgrass prairie can enhance invasion resistance in the face of substantial invader propagule pressures by altering community composition to dominance by native species that are efficient in utilizing resources.

The performance of Melolontha grubs on the roots of various plant species

Melolontha grubs are polyphagous and are adapted to feeding on plants of varying nutritional value. Our research sought to investigate whether host plant quality affects first-instar grub development, weight gain, or mortality. Ten plant taxa of the families Polygonaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Pinaceae were tested. The quality of each plant species was estimated based on the root content of phenols, condensed tannins, soluble sugars, starch, nitrogen, and carbon. Retarded development, high mortality, and low weight gain were observed in grubs feeding on roots of Fagopyrum esculentum, Brassica rapa subsp. rapifera, and B. napus, whereas Tanacetum vulgare, Trifolium repens, and Lupinus polyphyllus roots proved to be the most beneficial for larval performance. Weight gain was positively correlated with the concentration of soluble sugars and starch in the plant roots. Starch was also positively correlated with the percentage of molted grubs. The revealed positive correlations may be explained by the fact that nonstructural sugars constitute an energy source that is essential for grub movement in the soil. Plant species that negatively affect cockchafer grubs may be used in integrated plant protection against these pests in agriculture, horticulture, and, to some extent, in forestry, e.g., in nurseries and postagricultural lands.

Aboveground biomass allocation and accumulation in a chronosequence of young Pinus sylvestris stands growing on a lignite mine spoil heap

It is not clear to what extent trees growing on anthropogenic sites change their growth and biomass allocation to different organs. We assessed the aboveground biomass in a chronosequence of six Scots pine monocultures (between 6 and 20 years old) to examine how precisely the site-specific or con - trol allometric equations may reflect the value of biomass accumulation and allocation in stands growing in harsh site conditions on the overlayer spoil heap made as a result of opencast brown coal mining. The site is characterized by poor edaphic and water conditions and nutrient deficiency. The control equations were developed from Scots pine stands growing on post-agricultural lands in the close vicinity of the spoil heap. We found that equation type significantly influenced results of predicted biomass accumulation for all biomass components studied (although results were only marginally significant for total aboveground bio - mass, P=0.08). Total aboveground biomass in younger stands (6-9 years old) estimated using site-specific equations was >40% higher and for older stands (17-20 years old) from 7 to 27% lower than estimated using equations developed for the control sites. Our study revealed that under harsh environmental con- ditions in spoil heaps, biomass of young Scots pine stands significantly differ from values calculated based on control equations developed for more fertile soils with better water conditions in the same region. The control biomass equations may not be suitable to estimate biomass accumulation in stands growing on infertile habitats with poor water conditions, if the control equations are developed for nearby stands but growing under better site conditions.

Effect of pine sawdust on the structure of fungi communities in the soils of post agricultural land

This paper presents the results of mycological studies of soils left barren for 15,6 and 3 years before and after addition of pine sawdust. Considerable differences in thc species composition of fungi communities were found related both to the type of soil (period of lying barren) and treatment. Before the treatment the soil was dominated by such species as &lt;i&gt;Paecilomyces lilacinus, P. marquandi, Apiospora montagnei, Pseudogumnnnoscus roseus, Penicillium janczewskii, P. jensenii&lt;/i&gt;, while after a year following addition of sawdust by &lt;i&gt;Trichoderma harzinum, T. pubescens, T. virens&lt;/i&gt; and numerous species of &lt;i&gt;Penicillium&lt;/i&gt;. The presence of &lt;i&gt;Trichoderma&lt;/i&gt; species, comprising over 60% of the communities after the treatment indicated the possibility of creating conditions for efficient protective action against root infection of trees by &lt;i&gt;Heterobasidion unnosum&lt;/i&gt; (a cause of dangerous destruction in forests growing on post agricultural land in Poland).

Biomass dynamics in young silver birch stands on post-agricultural lands in central Poland

The paper analyses the production and allocation of biomass in young, spontaneous silver birch afforestation occurring on post-agricultural lands in the Mazowsze region (central Poland). We investigated 114 sample plots of age varying from 1 to 19 years. During the first 15 years after their establishment on abandoned farm land, the naturally regenerated silver birch stands produced on average approximately 75 tons of dry biomass per hectare. The major (50–70%) part of this biomass was stored in the tree stems and this share increased with age. The fractions of biomass in the foliage and roots decreased over time, while the share of biomass in the branches remained rather constant. The significant age-dependency of the allometric relationships suggested the need to use age-sensitive biomass expansion factors to estimate the biomass from the stem volume.

Overcoming ecological barriers to tropical lower montane forest succession on anthropogenic grasslands: Synthesis and future prospects

Understanding the ecological mechanisms that constrain forest succession in tropical degraded anthropogenic grasslands is a prerequisite for the design of techniques for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem processes. In this context, succession on post-agricultural lands may be arrested by a variety of site-specific biotic and abiotic factors. Here we synthesise our research on the effects of five biotic factors (seed dispersal, development of a soil seed bank, seedling emergence, herbivory, competition) and five abiotic factors (fire, microclimatic conditions, soil nutrients, water availability, disturbance) as constraints to forest succession on degraded anthropogenic grasslands in a tropical lower montane forest landscape in Sri Lanka. The aim of this research was to deduce ecologically and socially acceptable restoration techniques to accelerate forest recovery. Colonisation of grasslands by trees is constrained by limited seed dispersal from adjacent remnant forest patches and their incorporation into grassland soil seed banks. For the few tree seeds that are dispersed into grasslands, a combination of vertebrate herbivory and annual dry season fires reduces the likelihood that they emerge as seedlings. Removal of the grass canopy by clipping or tilling increases the emergence of woody plant seedlings close to the boundaries of forest patches, but has no effect beyond 20m into the established grassland. Our research shows that isolation of seedling root systems from those of competing grasses increases the growth and survival of tree seedlings transplanted directly into grassland swards, while above-ground competition and exclusion of vertebrate herbivores has no effects on seedling growth and survival. These experiments identified that the early-successional species Macaranga indica Wight and Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. Moore are potential candidates for use in reforestation programmes on abandoned grasslands. We propose a strategy for a model forest restoration programme based on the creation of vegetation islands using early-successional native tree species, the application of a tilling treatment around remnant forest patches, creation of fire breaks around vegetation islands, and the protection of isolated individual trees and tree patches within established grasslands. We highlight the importance of further research on the ecology and biology of seed dispersers and seed predators, and expansion of knowledge on the regeneration traits of native tree species, for future refinements of this restoration strategy.

Experimental Planting of Native Shrubs on Santa Cruz Island from Small Nursery Stock

The natural vegetation of Santa Cruz Island was severely disturbed by nonnative herbivores for well over a century. As the livestock and feral ungulates (primarily sheep, cattle, and pigs) were removed from the island over the last 30 years, many of the native plant communities began to recover naturally. Recovery has been extremely slow in other areas, especially where nonnative annual grasses and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) dominate several hundred hectares that were under intense agricultural use (pastures and farmed lands). We experimentally tested the feasibility of speeding up the recovery process in a postagricultural area of the island's Central Valley using active restoration techniques. We assessed how weed control via herbicide application and planting of small nursery stock without irrigation might contribute to restoring natural plant assemblages in 3 different areas of the Central Valley (valley bottom, upper south-facing slope, and midsouth-facing slope). In February 2009, we planted the same 21 species of native plants in experimental plots with and without weed control at each location. In December 2009, we planted 28 species in adjacent plots after 2 seasons of weed control. We assessed natural recruitment in weeded and unweeded plots that were not planted. At all 3 locations, a single early season herbicide treatment prior to planting had strong positive effects on the survival, cover, and reproduction of planted natives compared to no herbicide treatment; the effects persisted and grew stronger in the second and third years. Repeated herbicide treatments over 2 years before planting did not result in any additional significant positive effects on native survival or growth compared to only one herbicide treatment. We saw virtually no natural recruitment of native shrubs in unplanted plots. We found that typical coastal sage scrub species performed best at the upper slope site and poorly at the valley bottom site. Grasses and shrubs tolerant of poorly drained soil did better in the valley bottom. We found that planting native species from small nursery stock without irrigation is effective for a wide range of grassland and coastal sage scrub species. All of the restoration techniques we used are cost effective and can be scaled-up to restore large areas of postagricultural lands.

Heterobasidion root rot in forests on former agricultural lands in Poland: Scale of threat and prevention

This paper describes the specifics of forests on former farmlands in Poland and their protection as well as preventive measures taken. The review refers to polish literature on the threat by root rot caused by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. to pine and spruce plantations established on post-agricultural lands on an area of more than 1400 000 ha. In Europe, the latter presents an outstanding example of only one of its kind operation towards increasing the forest cover both at a country and continent level. Currently, economic problems due to the fungus concern an area of about 200 000 ha yearly. During the past 30 years, PgIBL® preparation with Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Julich was regularly applied in Poland’s Scots pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) to effectively prevent and control the spread of root rot disease, yet it has not been registered by the European Commission. In literature on root rot in Europe, there is scarce information with regard to this topic. Key words: Post agricultural land, afforestation, Heterobasidion, Phlebiopsis, biological control.

Estimating coarse roots biomass in young silver birch stands on post-agricultural lands in central Poland

Study analyses coarse (d&gt;2 mm of diameter) roots biomass dynamics in young succession stands of silver birch ( Roth) growing on abandoned farmlands in central Poland. Research material based on 181 sample trees, which were gathered in 20 pure silver birch stands in 5 locations. The age of the trees varied from 1 to 16 years. Coarse roots biomass of the investigated trees ranged from 0.7 to 4305.5 g/tree (422.6 g/tree on average) showing great variability (coefficient of variation equals 185%). A clear dependence of belowground biomass on the age and size of a tree was observed. Root-to-shoot ratio values vary from 0.1 to 1.0 with evidence of a tendency to decrease with increasing age, diameter at the breast height and height of analysed trees. An allometric equation was elaborated for the estimation of belowground biomass based on height or diameter at breast height of young silver birches. The suitability of this formula should be considered for the estimation of biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration by young successional silver birch stands growing on abandoned agricultural lands.Betula pendula

Prioritizing areas for conservation and vegetation restoration in post-agricultural landscapes: A Biosphere Reserve plan for Bioko, Equatorial Guinea

Although the conversion of natural vegetation to agriculture threatens biodiversity, post-agricultural lands may provide an opportunity to preserve biodiversity if they are allowed to regenerate. We develop a framework for incorporating abandoned agricultural fields into the design of a Biosphere Reserve using former cocoa plantations on Bioko, Equatorial Guinea, as a case study. First, we used BIOCLIM to model the potential distribution of 62 ferns, 327 monocotyledons, 749 dicotyledons, seven primates, and 104 birds on Bioko. Next, we quantitatively assessed the representation of these distributions in conservation areas proposed by the Equatoguinean administration (hereafter ‘‘EPAs”). In addition, we used an area prioritization algorithm implemented in the ResNet software package to select an initial set of sites to serve as the Biosphere Reserve’s core areas, that is, intact forest in Bioko’s montane regions. Then, to augment the beta-diversity of the Reserve, we used the area prioritization algorithm to prioritize buffer zones in lowland sites including rainforest remnants and abandoned plantations that have partially regenerated to forest. We also compared the representation of biodiversity in the EPAs to its representation in Biosphere Reserves designed with ResNet. The representation of vegetation types and species in Reserves selected by ResNet that occupy 25% of the land on Bioko is equivalent to the representation achieved by the EPAs, which would cover 42% of Bioko. To conclude, we propose a conservation plan for Bioko. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.