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Effect of lime and sewage sludge fertilisation on tree and understory interaction in a silvopastoral system
•Sewage sludge use as fertilizer promotes facilitation in silvopastoral systems.•Soil–plant interaction changes productivity of components in agroforestry systems.•Lime promotes tree growth due to the changes of understory composition.•Improving soil fertility causes dominance of herbaceous understo...
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Published in: | Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2014-04, Vol.188, p.72-79 |
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Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | •Sewage sludge use as fertilizer promotes facilitation in silvopastoral systems.•Soil–plant interaction changes productivity of components in agroforestry systems.•Lime promotes tree growth due to the changes of understory composition.•Improving soil fertility causes dominance of herbaceous understory reducing fire risk.
The productivity of the components of a silvopastoral system could be limited by the low soil fertility and the presence of shrubs in the land before planting. However, the understory vegetation can be modified by improving soil chemical properties when lime and organic fertilizers such as sewage sludge are applied. This study evaluated the effect of liming and the application of two doses of sewage sludge (50kgtotalNha−1 or 100kgtotalNha−1) on changes in soil chemical properties, tree growth and understory production as compared to the no fertilisation treatment in a silvopastoral system established in a reforested area with Pinus radiata D. Don. The results of this experiment show that the improved soil fertility caused by liming and fertilisation with sewage sludge modifies the proportion of the herbaceous/shrubs component in the understory, and promotes facilitation mechanisms which have a positive impact on the understory forage quality, tree growth as well as reducing fire risk. |
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ISSN: | 0167-8809 1873-2305 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.agee.2014.02.007 |