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Management practices and soil quality patterns in evergreen oak woodlands (montado)
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Resumo(s)
The sustainability of evergreen oak woodlands (montado) in Portugal is currently
threatened in large areas, mainly due to limited tree recruitment constrains and soil
degradation. It is therefore urgent to develop sustainable management options which
enhance montado productivity, ensuring their long-term viability and all ecosystem
services. The present study aimed specifically to evaluate trends in soil quality
changes, associated with management practices currently followed in montado.
Different montado areas, corresponding to different soil types and land use histories,
with different management options, including sowed and natural pasture systems,
and different stocking rates and grazer species, were considered; also, the specific
influence of the tree cover on the soil characteristics was investigated. The soil
quality of study areas was assessed by evaluating physical, chemical and
biochemical soil properties. Carbon and the main nutrient fluxes were also
evaluated, assessing GHG emissions and nutrient leaching. Results enabled the
assessment of the benefits associated with the establishment of improved pastures,
namely in soil hydrological conditions, nutrient availability and soil organic matter
status, which was particularly enhanced in areas under the tree cover influence.
Nevertheless, factors associated with the soil type (texture) and livestock
management (stocking rate) might have strong influence on the extent and nature of
such benefits. Pasture management influence over soil carbon and nutrient fluxes
were found negligible, despite disturbance may occur. Scattered trees, in the
montado, promote the creation of islands of improved physical conditions and soil
fertility, where the organic carbon accumulation is strongly enhanced. Trees
undoubtedly improve soil quality, enhance the soil resistance to face degradation
threats, and contribute to carbon sequestration. This potential should be taken into account for policy and management decisions, at both local and regional scales
Descrição
Doutoramento em Engenharia Florestal e dos Recursos Naturais - Instituto Superior de Agronomia / UL
Palavras-chave
Quercus sp. nitrogen organic C pasture systems soil fertility
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Rodrigues, A.R.M.S.F. - Management practices and soil quality patterns in evergreen oak woodlands (montado). Lisboa: ISA, 2019, 208 p.