Tree species and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests

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Soil erosion is seriously threatening ecosystem functioning in many parts of the world. In this context, it is assumed that tree species richness and functional diversity of tree communities can play a critical role in improving ecosystem services such as erosion control. An experiment with 170 micro-scale run-off plots was conducted to investigate the influence of tree species and tree species richness as well as functional traits on interrill erosion in a young forest ecosystem. An interrill erosion rate of 47.5 Mg ha −1 a −1 was calculated. This study provided evidence that different tree species affect interrill erosion differently, while tree species richness did not affect interrill erosion in young forest stands. Thus, different tree morphologies have to be considered, when assessing soil erosion under forest. High crown cover and leaf area index reduced interrill erosion in initial forest ecosystems, whereas rising tree height increased it. Even if a leaf litter cover was not present, the remaining soil surface cover by stones and biological soil crusts was the most important driver for soil erosion control. Furthermore, soil organic matter had a decreasing influence on interrill erosion. Long-term monitoring of soil erosion under closing tree canopies is necessary, and a wide range of functional tree traits should be considered in future research.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSOIL
Volume2
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)49-61
Number of pages13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21.01.2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements. This study was financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG FOR 891/2) in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). We are grateful to the Sino-German Center for Science Promotion for organising summer schools and providing travel grants (GZ 1146). Thanks go to Chen Lin and Zhiqin Pei for organisation and translation in China, Milan Daus and Kathrin Käppeler for assistance during field work, Bertram Bläschke for the installation of the first ROPs, Shunhe Lian, Yangmeng Liu and Wuchai Liu for technical support in China and finally to our numerous, tireless Chinese field workers.

Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) 2016.

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