Native versus non-native Prosopis woody species: Which fertilize the soil better?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2025-0008Keywords:
arid lands, biological invasions, degraded lands, microbial communities, non-native species impactsAbstract
This study assessed differences in the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of soils under trees of the native species Prosopis cineraria and the invasive species Prosopis juliflora trees, focusing on implications for ecosystem management and restoration. At the start of the growing season, 30 trees of each species with a trunk diameter of 15–30 cm were randomly selected. Soil samples were taken from the top 20 cm of soil profiles east of each tree, under the tree crowns and from control plots in open areas. Three soil samples per site were pooled for chemical and microbial analysis. Soil moisture was highest under P. cineraria (14.64 ± 0.3) and lowest in control plots (9.04 ± 0.65). Soil pH was highest in control soils (7.91 ± 0.09), slightly lower under P. cineraria (7.77 ± 0.06), and lowest under P. juliflora (7.49 ± 0.0). Electrical conductivity, soil salinity was highest under P. juliflora (2.25 ± 0.12). Microbial activity indicators (basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon) were greater under P. cineraria than under P. juliflora trees. Native P. cineraria trees enhance soil conditions, benefiting ecosystem management. In contrast, invasive P. juliflora trees raise soil salinity, threatening soil quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in the Sahara-Sahel region. Managing the spread of P. juliflora is crucial to maintaining ecosystem functions.
References
Aguilera, A.G., Alpert, P., Dukes, J.S., Harrington, R., 2010. Impacts of the invasive plant Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) on plant communities and ecosystem processes. Biological Invasions, 12: 1243–1252. 10.1007/s10530-009-9543-z https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-009-9543-z
Alizadeh, T., Habashi, H., Matinizadeh, M., Sadeghi, S., 2022. Investigating the enzyme activities and physicochemical properties of soil in the habitat of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce and P. juliflora (SW.) DC. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 30 (1): 57–69. https://doi.org/10.22092/IJFPR.2022.357166.2034
Baek, G., Kim, C., 2024. Litterfall, litter decomposition, and carbon storage of Pinus densiflora and Quercus variabilis stands in South Korea. Folia Oecologica, 51 (1): 39–46. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0004
Beck, K.G., Zimmerman, K., Schardt, J.D., Stone, J., Lukens, R.R., Reichard, S., Randall, J., Cangelosi, A.A., Cooper, D., Thompson, J.P., 2008. Invasive species defined in a policy context: recommendations from the Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 1: 414–421. https://doi.org/10.1614/IPSM-08-089.1
Bibi, S., Bibi, A., Al-Ghouti, M.A., Abu-Dieyeh, M.H., 2023. Allelopathic effects of the invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. on native plants: perspectives toward agrosystems. Agronomy, 13: 590. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020590
Bijani, A., Moslehi, M., Parvaresh, H., 2020. Effects of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce and Prosopis juliflora (SW.) DC on some chemical characteristics of soil. Iranian Journal of Forest, 12: 101–111. [cit. 2024-06-07]. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_107500.html?lang=en
Black, C., 1965. Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy, part 2. Madison: American Society of Agronomy, p. 771–1572.[cit. 2024-05-31]. https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/454626992
Bouyoucos, G.J., 1962. Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils. Agronomy Journal, 54: 464–465. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1962.00021962005400050028x
Cable, D.R., 1976. Twenty years of changes in grass production following mesquite control and reseeding. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 29: 286–289. https://doi.org/10.2307/3897083
Castillo-Figueroa, D.,2024. Litter mixture effects on decomposition change with forest succession and are influenced by time and soil fauna in tropical mountain Andes. Folia Oecologica, 51 (1): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0001
Catovsky, S., Bazzaz, F., 2002. Feedbacks between canopy composition and seedling regeneration in mixed conifer broad‐leaved forests. Oikos, 98: 403–420. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.980305.x
Chodak, M., Niklinska, M., 2010. The effect of different tree species on the chemical and microbial properties of reclaimed mine soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 46: 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0462-z
Drake, S.J., Weltzin, J.F., Parr, P.D., 2003. Assessment of non-native invasive plant species on the United States Department of Energy Oak Ridge National 4 Environmental Research PARK. Castanea, 68: 15–30. [cit. 2024-05-05]. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4034154
El-Keblawy, A., Abdelfatah, M.A., 2014. Impacts of native and invasive exotic Prosopis congeners on soil properties and associated flora in the arid United Arab Emirates. Journal of Arid Environments, 100: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.10.001
El-Keblawy, A., Al-Rawai, A., 2007. Impacts of the invasive exotic Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC on the native flora and soils of the UAE. Plant Ecology, 190: 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-006-9188-2
Essl, F., Bacher, S., Blackburn, T.M., Booy, O., Brundu, G., Brunel, S., Cardoso, A., Eschen, R., Gallardo, B., Galil, B., Garcia-Berthou, E., Genovesi, P., Groom, Q., Harrower, C., Hulme, P.E., Katsanevakis, S., Kenis, M., Kuhn, I., Kumschick, S., Martinou, A.F., Nentwig, W., O’flynn, C., Pagad, S., Pergl, J., Pysek, P., Rabitsch, W., Richardson, D.M., Roques, A., Roy, H.E., Scalera, R., Schindler, S., Seebens, H., Vanderhoeven, S., Vila, M., Wilson, J R U., Zenetos, A., Eschke, J.M., 2015. Crossing frontiers in tackling pathways of biological invasions. BioScience, 65 (8): 769–782. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv082
Facelli, J.M., Carson, W.P., 1991. Heterogeneity of plant litter accumulation in successional communities. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 118: 62–66. https://doi.org/10.2307/2996977
Farahi, M., Mofidi Chalan, M., Moghimi Nejad, F., Khatibi, R., Jahantab, E., 2014. Investigation on the effects of Haloxylon and Tamarix on soil properties in Niatak region of Sistan. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 21: 307–316. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2015.11377
Ferguson, J.J., Rathinasabapathi, B., Chase, C.A., 2013. Allelopathy: how plants suppress other plants.HS944/hs186. EDIS, 2013 (3): 5 p.
Follastad Shah, J., Harner, M., Tibbets, T., 2010. Elaeagnus angustifolia elevates soil inorganic nitrogen pools in riparian ecosystems. Ecosystems, 13: 46–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-009-9299-4
Hejda, M., Pysek, P., Jarosik, V., 2009. Impact of invasive plants on the species richness, diversity and composition of invaded communities. Journal of Ecology, 97: 393–403. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01480.x
Imani, F., Moradi, M., Basiri, R., 2016. The effect of Prosopis juliflora afforestation on soil physicochemical properties in sand dunes (Case study: Magran Shush). JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science (Isfahan University of Technology), 20: 173–184. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.jstnar.20.77.173
Inderjit, Cahill, J.F., 2015. Linkages of plant–soil feedbacks and underlying invasion mechanisms. AoB Plants, 7: plv022. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv022
Jia, G.-m., Cao, J., Wang, C., Wang, G., 2005. Microbial biomass and nutrients in soil at the different stages of secondary forest succession in Ziwulin, northwest China. Forest Ecology and Management, 217: 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.05.055
Kaur, R., Gonzales, W.L., Llambi, L.D., Soriano, P.J., Callaway, R.M., Rout, M.E., Gallaher, T.J., Inderjit, 2012. Community impacts of Prosopis juliflora invasion: biogeographic and congeneric comparisons. PLoS ONE, 7 (9): e44966. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044966
Kourtev, P.S., Ehrenfeld, J.G., Haggblom, M., 2002. Exotic plant species alter the microbial community structure and function in the soil. Ecology, 83 (11): 3152–3166. https://doi.org/10.2307/3071850
Linders, T.E.W., Schaffner, U., Eschen, R., Abebe, A., Choge, S. K., Nigatu, L., Mbaabu, P.R., Shiferaw, H., Allan, E., 2019. Direct and indirect effects of invasive species: biodiversity loss is a major mechanism by which an invasive tree affects ecosystem functioning. Journal of Ecology, 107 (6): 2660–2672. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13268
Mahdhi, M., Tounekti, T., Khemira, H., 2019. Effects of Prosopis juliflora on germination, plant growth of Sorghum bicolor, mycorrhiza and soil microbial properties. Allelopathy Journal, 46: 265–276. https://doi.org/10.26651/allelo.j/2019-46-2-1214
Moslehi, M., Habashi, H., Khormali, F., Ahmadi, A., Brunner, I., Zimmermann, S., 2019. Base cation dynamics in rainfall, throughfall, litterflow and soil solution under Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) trees in northern Iran. Annals of Forest Science, 76: 55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0837-8
Moslehi Jouybari, M., Bijani, A., Parvaresh, H., Shack-leton, R., Ahmadi, A., 2022. Effects of native and invasive Prosopis species on topsoil physiochemical properties in an arid riparian forest of Hormozgan Province, Iran. Journal of Arid Land, 14 (10): 1099–1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-022-0104-y
Nelson, R.,1982. Carbonate and gypsum. In Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy Monograph, 9. Madison, Wis.: American Society of Agronomy; Soil Science Society of America, p. 181–197. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c11
Pasiecznik, N.M., Felker, P., Harris, P.J., Harsh, L., Cruz, G., Tewari, J., Cadoret, K., Maldonado, L.J., 2001. The Prosopis juliflora-Prosopis pallida complex: a monograph. Coventry, UK: HDRA. 162 p. [cit. 2024-05-16]. https://gardenorganic-assets.s3.eu-west2.amazonaws.com/documents/ProsopisMonographMainText.pdf
Plaster, E.J., 1985. Soil science and management. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers Inc. 454 p. [cit. 2024-05-21]. https://www.amazon.com/Soil-Science-Management-Edward-Plaster/dp/0840024320
Prasad, S., Baishya, R., 2019. Interactive effects of soil moisture and temperature on soil respiration under native and non-native tree species in semi-arid forest of Delhi, India. Tropical Ecology, 60: 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-019-00028-x
Pysek, P., Hulme, P.E., Simberloff, D., Bacher, S., Blackburn, T.M., Carlton, J.T., Dawson, W., Essl, F., Foxcroft, L.C., Genovesi, P., 2020. Scientists’ warning on invasive alien species. Biological Reviews, 95: 1511–1534. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12627
Raich, J.W., Tufekciogul, A., 2000. Vegetation and soil respiration: correlations and controls. Biogeochemistry, 48: 71–90. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006112000616
Richarson, D.M., Pysek, P., Rejmanek, M., Barbour, M.G., Panetta, F.D., West, C.J., 2000. Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concep, ts and definitions. Diversity and Distributions, 6: 93–107. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1472-4642.2000.00083.x
Shackleton, R.T., Le Maitre, D.C., Pasiecznik, N.M., Richarson, D.M., 2014. Prosopis: a global assessment of the biogeography, benefits, impacts and management of one of the world’s worst woody invasive plant taxa. AoB Plants, 6: plu027. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plu027
Sharifian, A., Niknahad–Gharmakher, H., Foladizada, M., Tabe, A., Shackleton, R.T., 2023. Socio‐ecological evidence highlights that native Prosopis species are better for arid land restoration than non‐ native ones. Restoration Ecology, 31: e13756. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13756
Shen, C., Wang, J., He, J.-Z., Yu, F.-H., Ge, Y., 2021. Plant diversity enhances soil fungal diversity and microbial resistance to plant invasion. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87: e00251-00221.
Stonlnikova, E., Ananyeva, N., Chernova, O., 2011. The microbial biomass and its activity and structure in the soils of old forests in the European Russia. Eurasian Soil Science, 44: 437–452. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229311040107
Sundarapandian, S., Muthumperumal, C., Subashree, K., 2015. Biological invasion of vines, their impacts and management. In Parthasarathy, N. (ed.). Bio-diversity of lianas Vol. 5. Cham: Springer, p. 211–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14592-1_12
Sundarapandian, S., Subashree, K., 2017. Status of invasive plants in Tamil Nadu, India: their impact and significance. In Plant biodiversity: monitoring, assessment and conservation, Wallingford: CABI, p. 371–387. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780646947.0371
Thomas, G.W.,1982. Exchangeable cations. In Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy Monograph, 9. Madison, Wis.: American Society of Agronomy; Soil Science Society of America, p. 159–165.
Turbelin, A.J., Cuthbert, R.N., Essl, F., Haubrock, J.P., Ricciardi, A., Courchamp, F., 2023. Biological invasions are as costly as natural hazards. Perspectives in Ecology and Coservation, 21: 143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2023.03.002
Watts, D.B., Torbert, H.A., Feng, Y., Prior, S.A., 2010. Soil microbial community dynamics as influenced by composted dairy manure, soil properties, and landscape position. Soil Science, 175: 474–486. https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0b013e3181f7964f
Zhang, Z., Liu, Y., Brunel, C., Van Kleunen, M., 2020. Soil-microorganism-mediated invasional meltdown in plants. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4: 1612–1621. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01311-0
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This journal provides immediate open access to its content under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Authors who publish with this journal retain all copyrights except for commercial rights (transfer of commercial rights) and agree to the terms of the above-mentioned CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
