Is Soil Fertility the Cause or the Effect of Land Invasion by Prosopis? DOI Creative Commons
M. Becker, Kai Behn,

Gereon Heller

et al.

Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

ABSTRACT Background For 20 years, Prosopis juliflora is aggressively spreading throughout the “Njemps Flats” in Kenya, where it changes vegetation cover and affects pastoral livelihoods. Its invasion dynamics related to shallow groundwater tables ( being a phreatophyte), reportedly preferentially colonizes sites with favourable soil fertility attributes. Aim We contest this latter hypothesis, surmising that N 2 ‐fixing ability, nutrient pumping by deep root system, year‐round leaf litter fall will improve attributes under , irrespective of initial status. Methods assessed stand densities (number individuals their percentage cover) selected at 75 Njemps Flats. The were visualized ground‐truthed remote‐sensed data, subsequently further determined isotope signatures (δ 15 δ 13 C) prevailing (past) C4‐dominated pasture (current) C3‐ vegetation, as well three depths topsoil. Results findings confirm (low EC high N, C, P, K contents) associated dense stands. However, analysis topsoil indicates typical C4 non‐invaded pastureland C3‐plants top 5 cm (but not deeper layers) soils contributes about 16% derived from fixation, significantly increases Ca contents Conclusions conclude result rather than driver invasion.

Language: Английский

Is Soil Fertility the Cause or the Effect of Land Invasion by Prosopis? DOI Creative Commons
M. Becker, Kai Behn,

Gereon Heller

et al.

Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

ABSTRACT Background For 20 years, Prosopis juliflora is aggressively spreading throughout the “Njemps Flats” in Kenya, where it changes vegetation cover and affects pastoral livelihoods. Its invasion dynamics related to shallow groundwater tables ( being a phreatophyte), reportedly preferentially colonizes sites with favourable soil fertility attributes. Aim We contest this latter hypothesis, surmising that N 2 ‐fixing ability, nutrient pumping by deep root system, year‐round leaf litter fall will improve attributes under , irrespective of initial status. Methods assessed stand densities (number individuals their percentage cover) selected at 75 Njemps Flats. The were visualized ground‐truthed remote‐sensed data, subsequently further determined isotope signatures (δ 15 δ 13 C) prevailing (past) C4‐dominated pasture (current) C3‐ vegetation, as well three depths topsoil. Results findings confirm (low EC high N, C, P, K contents) associated dense stands. However, analysis topsoil indicates typical C4 non‐invaded pastureland C3‐plants top 5 cm (but not deeper layers) soils contributes about 16% derived from fixation, significantly increases Ca contents Conclusions conclude result rather than driver invasion.

Language: Английский

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