Land restoration by tree planting in the tropics and subtropics improves soil it infiltration, but some critical gaps still hinder conclusive results

Author(s)

Lozano-Baez, Sergio E. ^[1] ; Cooper, Miguel ^[2] ; Meli, Paula ^[3] ; Ferraz, Silvio F. B. ^[4] ; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro ^[5] ; Sauer, Thomas J. ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Ecol & Forest Restorat LERF, Dept Forest Sci, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Forest Sci, Lab Trop Forestry LASTROP, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Forest Hydrol Lab, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Biol Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[6] ARS, USDA, Natl Lab Agr & Environm, 1015 North Univ Blvd, Ames, IA 50011 - USA

• Document type: Review article
• Source: FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT; v. 444, p. 89-95, JUL 15 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Infiltration is one of the most important hydrological processes in ecosystems, having important influence on soil erosion control and runoff, soil moisture content and groundwater recharge. This is particularly important considering the recent growing number of restoration initiatives worldwide encouraging forest cover expansion, mainly by tree planting. Here, we conducted a systematic review of scientific literature reporting infiltration measurements in forests restored by tree planting in the tropics and subtropics. We found 11 studies representing 67 data comparisons in eight countries. Overall results indicate that infiltration increases but is not fully recovered to reference conditions in forests restored by tree planting. Recovery of infiltration varied depending on land-use, soil texture and restoration age. Recovery of infiltration was higher for cultivated than for pastures and bare soils. Clayey soils had higher infiltration recovery than sandy soils. Our findings identified some knowledge gaps that should be addressed to improve our understanding of when and why tree planting to restore forests may promote the recovery of infiltration in tropical and subtropical soils. First, information about recovery of infiltration capacities when using tree planting for forest restoration results are scarce. Second, infiltration in restored forests should be monitored over time, including long-term studies and measurements on water movement through the soil profile and evaluating potential interactions between infiltration and soil attributes. Details on the effects that different forest restoration techniques (e.g., soil preparation, tree species diversity and densities) could have on infiltration is virtually unknown. Information on the influence of disturbance level on infiltration prior to tree planting is also severely lacking. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50718-5 - Ecological restoration of riparian forests, native forest of economic production and of degraded forest fragments (in APP and RL) based on restoration ecology of reference ecosystems in order to scientifically test the precepts of the New Brazilian Forest Code
• Grantee: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/00052-9 - Understanding ecological, legal and social aspects of the forest-water relation with importance for ecosystem services
• Grantee: Paula Meli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 99/09635-0 - Diversity, dynamics and conservation in São Paulo State Forests: 40ha of permanent parcels
• Grantee: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants