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Spatial distribution of argan tree influence on soil properties in southern Morocco

  • The endemic argan tree (Argania spinosa) populations in southern Morocco are highly degraded due to overbrowsing, illegal firewood extraction and the expansion of intensive agriculture. Bare areas between the isolated trees increase due to limited regrowth; however, it is unknown if the trees influence the soil of the intertree areas. Hypothetically, spatial differences in soil parameters of the intertree area should result from the translocation of litter or soil particles (by runoff and erosion or wind drift) from canopy-covered areas to the intertree areas. In total, 385 soil samples were taken around the tree from the trunk along the tree drip line (within and outside the tree area) and the intertree area between two trees in four directions (upslope, downslope and in both directions parallel to the slope) up to 50 m distance from the tree. They were analysed for gravimetric soil water content, pH, electrical conductivity, percolation stability, total nitrogen content (TN), content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and C/N ratio. A total of 74 tension disc infiltrometer experiments were performed near the tree drip line, within and outside the tree area, to measure the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. We found that the tree influence on its surrounding intertree area is limited, with, e.g., SOC and TN content decreasing significantly from tree trunk (4.4 % SOC and 0.3 % TN) to tree drip line (2.0 % SOC and 0.2 % TN). However, intertree areas near the tree drip line (1.3 % SOC and 0.2 % TN) differed significantly from intertree areas between two trees (1.0 % SOC and 0.1 % TN) yet only with a small effect. Trends for spatial patterns could be found in eastern and downslope directions due to wind drift and slope wash. Soil water content was highest in the north due to shade from the midday sun; the influence extended to the intertree areas. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity also showed significant differences between areas within and outside the tree area near the tree drip line. This was the case on sites under different land usages (silvopastoral and agricultural), slope gradients or tree densities. Although only limited influence of the tree on its intertree area was found, the spatial pattern around the tree suggests that reforestation measures should be aimed around tree shelters in northern or eastern directions with higher soil water content or TN or SOC content to ensure seedling survival, along with measures to prevent overgrazing.

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Verfasserangaben:Mario KirchhoffORCiD, Tobias Romes, Irene MarzolffORCiD, Manuel Seeger, Ali Ait Hssain, Johannes B. Ries
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:385-1-18275
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-511-2021
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch):Soil
Verlag:Copernicus Publications
Verlagsort:Göttingen
Dokumentart:Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Sprache:Englisch
Datum der Fertigstellung:11.08.2021
Datum der Veröffentlichung:11.08.2021
Veröffentlichende Institution:Universität Trier
Beteiligte Körperschaft:The publication was funded by the Open Access Fund of Universität Trier and the German Research Foundation (DFG)
Datum der Freischaltung:15.03.2022
GND-Schlagwort:Argania spinosa; Bodenfruchtbarkeit; Bodenschutz; Bodenwasser; Marokko
Jahrgang:2021
Ausgabe / Heft:Heft 7
Seitenzahl:14
Erste Seite:511
Letzte Seite:524
Institute:Fachbereich 6
DDC-Klassifikation:9 Geschichte und Geografie / 91 Geografie, Reisen / 910 Geografie, Reisen
Lizenz (Deutsch):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz 4.0 International

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