Soil acidification controls invasive plant species in the restoration of degraded Cerrado grasslands

Author(s):Show less -

Lira-Martins, Demetrius ; Xavier, Rafael O. ; Mazzochini, Guilherme G. ; Verona, Larissa S. ; Andreuccetti, Thalia ; Martins, Eder S. ; de Barros, Fernanda V. ; Furtado, Mariana N. ; Stein, Bethina ; Abrahao, Anna ; Sampaio, Alexandre ; Schmidt, Isabel ; Rowland, Lucy ; Oliveira, Rafael S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RESTORATION ECOLOGY; v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2024-10-22.

Abstract

The Cerrado, South America's largest savanna, has acidic, nutrient-poor soils and its native plants thrive under these conditions. However, abandoned pastures historically undergo changes in chemical properties due to interventions like liming and fertilizer use. This favors invasive African grasses and hinders native plants, impacting restoration efforts. In a Cerrado grassland undergoing restoration study, we tested whether soil acidification could restore native soil conditions and control invasives using 56 plots across 14 blocks. We hypothesized that decreased soil pH and nutrient availability would reduce invasive biomass and enhance diversity. We show that acidification reduced invasive biomass by 71%, with acidification negatively affecting invasives while sparing natives. Maintaining nutrient-poor soil conditions can help to control invasive grasses in restoration projects, as fertilizer application can favor invasive species establishment. Soil acidification effectiveness depends on local nutrient levels. Areas with high soil cation content may require larger amendment quantities. Restoration strategies in nutrient-poor ecosystems should aim recovering historical soil conditions to control invasives growth and support slow-growing native plants. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/18145-1 - Restoring Neotropical dry ecosystems - is plant functional composition the key to success?
• Grantee: Guilherme Gerhardt Mazzochini
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/07773-1 - Restoring neo-tropical dry ecosystems - is plant functional composition the key to success?
• Grantee: Rafael Silva Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/23208-2 - Functional and evolutionary responses to resource availability among native and invasive grasses in the Cerrado
• Grantee: Rafael de Oliveira Xavier
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/18176-4 - The role of plant functional traits in the success rates of restoration efforts of tropical dry forests and savannas (TDFS)
• Grantee: Demetrius Lira Martins
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral