Barnes, Phoebe; Wilson, Brian; Reid, Nick; Koen, Terry B; Lockwood, Peter; Lamb, David

Author(s)

Barnes, Phoebe

Wilson, Brian

Reid, Nick

Koen, Terry B

Lockwood, Peter

Lamb, David

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

Scattered paddock trees are a keystone feature of temperate grazing landscapes of Australia. However, our understanding of their influence on their immediate environment, and specifically the spatial distribution and characteristics of litter, is still limited. Here, we quantified the spatial pattern of litter around 4 Eucalyptus species ('Eucalyptus melliodora' A. Cunn. Ex Schauer, 'E. viminalis' Labill., 'E. blakelyi' Maiden and 'E. michaeliana' Blakely) in grazing landscapes on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, Australia. We examined the effect of species and soil parent material (basalt, granite and meta-sediments) on litter chemistry and chemical pools. Between 54-145 kg of litter was found around individual trees and litter density consistently declined with distance from the tree (330 g.m⁻² in the inner canopy to 4 g.m⁻² in the open paddock). However, an equivalent quantity of litter was found beneath and beyond the canopy indicating that a large quantity of the litter and nutrients fell beyond the edge of the canopy. Overall, leaf litter accounted for 23 to 34% of litterfall and had larger nutrient concentrations and pools than bark or stick litter. Most litter nutrients concentrations were independent of tree species or parent material but our results suggest that P, K and S were removed in foliage prior to abscission whilst Ca and Fe concentrations increased. The spatial patterns of litter distribution around scattered trees coincide with spatial patterns in soil properties that are frequently observed in these environments, and provide strong evidence of a significant link between these factors. Our results suggest that the removal of scattered trees from pastoral landscapes in this region of Australia will result in the loss of a significant litter input to the soil surface and will diminish this potentially important source of soil nutrients.

Citation

Plant and Soil, 345(1-2), p. 339-352

ISSN

1573-5036

0032-079X

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8587

Publisher

Springer Netherlands

Title

Litterfall and associated nutrient pools extend beyond the canopy of scattered eucalypt trees in temperate pastures

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Barnes, Phoebe Wilson, Brian Reid, Nick Koen, Terry B Lockwood, Peter Lamb, David
Publication Date	2011
Abstract	Scattered paddock trees are a keystone feature of temperate grazing landscapes of Australia. However, our understanding of their influence on their immediate environment, and specifically the spatial distribution and characteristics of litter, is still limited. Here, we quantified the spatial pattern of litter around 4 Eucalyptus species ('Eucalyptus melliodora' A. Cunn. Ex Schauer, 'E. viminalis' Labill., 'E. blakelyi' Maiden and 'E. michaeliana' Blakely) in grazing landscapes on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, Australia. We examined the effect of species and soil parent material (basalt, granite and meta-sediments) on litter chemistry and chemical pools. Between 54-145 kg of litter was found around individual trees and litter density consistently declined with distance from the tree (330 g.m⁻² in the inner canopy to 4 g.m⁻² in the open paddock). However, an equivalent quantity of litter was found beneath and beyond the canopy indicating that a large quantity of the litter and nutrients fell beyond the edge of the canopy. Overall, leaf litter accounted for 23 to 34% of litterfall and had larger nutrient concentrations and pools than bark or stick litter. Most litter nutrients concentrations were independent of tree species or parent material but our results suggest that P, K and S were removed in foliage prior to abscission whilst Ca and Fe concentrations increased. The spatial patterns of litter distribution around scattered trees coincide with spatial patterns in soil properties that are frequently observed in these environments, and provide strong evidence of a significant link between these factors. Our results suggest that the removal of scattered trees from pastoral landscapes in this region of Australia will result in the loss of a significant litter input to the soil surface and will diminish this potentially important source of soil nutrients.
Citation	Plant and Soil, 345(1-2), p. 339-352
ISSN	1573-5036 0032-079X
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8587
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Title	Litterfall and associated nutrient pools extend beyond the canopy of scattered eucalypt trees in temperate pastures
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Litterfall and associated nutrient pools extend beyond the canopy of scattered eucalypt trees in temperate pastures

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