Processes of N transfer in the short and long-term in mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium

• Grant number: 11/20510-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: April 15, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Forestry
• Principal Investigator: José Leonardo de Moraes Gonçalves
• Grantee: Ranieri Ribeiro Paula
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/23293-3 - Occurrence of common ectomycorrhizal colonization among eucalyptus and Acacia species, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is a limiting factor of forest plantations growth in the tropics. However, applying N inorganic fertilization is not sustainable due to high fertilizer costs and environmental risks. Mixed-species plantations with N2-fixing species may be an option for a sustainable ecosystem management in the frame of ecological intensification of forest ecosystems. However, it is compulsory to understand the ecological interactions among species, as those regarding facilitation. Acacia mangium (N2-fixing) could facilitate Eucalyptus growth through possible direct and indirect N-transfer improving Eucalyptus nutrition and the quality of soil organic matter. Various studies have been carried out on legume litter decomposition and N cycling within stand rotation. However, short-term N transfer via exudates and fine roots turnover and mycorrhizal networks might be also significant. No in situ studies have been yet conducted to evaluate this transfer between forest species. 15N tracer directly injected in A. mangium stem will be used in an experiment on mixed-species E. grandis plantations and a step by step methodology will be developed. In addition, studies in greenhouse will aim at quantifying the specific contribution of ectomycorrhizal networks in the N transfer between Acacia and Eucalyptus plants. Few studies have been conducted on the effect of residues decomposition after harvesting of a previous Acacia stand on the productivity of Eucalyptus plantation (long-term transfer), and on mass balance among ecosystem components (N in litter, soil and trees). An in situ experiment will be installed, after harvesting of A. mangium and E. grandis stands. Slash of both species will be replaced by 15N labeled material (leaves, bark, branches) and the fate of 15N will be monitored. This project will provide innovative information on facilitation processes in mixtures of Eucalyptus and Acacia that could be used for a sustainable management (e.g. reduced fertilization) of forest plantations.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAULA, RANIERI RIBEIRO; BOUILLET, JEAN-PIERRE; OCHEUZE TRIVELIN, PAULO CESAR; ZELLER, BERND; DE MORAES GONCALVES, JOSE LEONARDO; NOUVELLON, YANN; BOUVET, JEAN-MARC; PLASSARD, CLAUDE; LACLAU, JEAN-PAUL. Evidence of short-term belowground transfer of nitrogen from Acacia mangium to Eucalyptus grandis trees in a tropical planted forest. SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, v. 91, p. 99-108, DEC 2015. (10/16623-9, 11/20510-8)

GERMON, AMANDINE; GUERRINI, IRAE AMARAL; BORDRON, BRUNO; BOUILLET, JEAN-PIERRE; NOUVELLON, YANN; DE MORAES GONCALVES, JOSE LEONARDO; JOURDAN, CHRISTOPHE; PAULA, RANIERI RIBEIRO; LACLAU, JEAN-PAUL. Consequences of mixing Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus grandis trees on soil exploration by fine-roots down to a depth of 17 m. PLANT AND SOIL, v. 424, n. 1-2, p. 18-pg., 2018-03-01. (11/20510-8, 15/24911-8)

GERMON, AMANDINE; GUERRINI, IRAE AMARAL; BORDRON, BRUNO; BOUILLET, JEAN-PIERRE; NOUVELLON, YANN; DE MORAES GONCALVES, JOSE LEONARDO; JOURDAN, CHRISTOPHE; PAULA, RANIERI RIBEIRO; LACLAU, JEAN-PAUL. Consequences of mixing Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus grandis trees on soil exploration by fine-roots down to a depth of 17 m. PLANT AND SOIL, v. 424, n. 1-2, SI, p. 203-220, MAR 2018. (15/24911-8, 11/20510-8)

PAULA, RANIERI R.; BOUILLET, JEAN-PIERRE; GONCALVES, JOSE L. DE M.; TRIVELIN, PAULO C. O.; BALIEIRO, FABIANO DE C.; NOUVELLON, YANN; OLIVEIRA, JULIANNE DE C.; DE DEUS JUNIOR, JOSE C.; BORDRON, BRUNO; LACLAU, JEAN-PAUL. Nitrogen fixation rate of Acacia mangium Wild at mid rotation in Brazil is higher in mixed plantations with Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden than in monocultures. ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE, v. 75, n. 1, MAR 2018. (10/16623-9, 11/20510-8)