Forest restoration rehabilitates soil multifunctionality in riparian zones of sugarcane production landscapes

Wanderlei Bieluczyk; Luis Fernando Merloti; Maurício Roberto Cherubin; Lucas William Mendes; José Albertino Bendassolli; Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues; Plínio Barbosa de Camargo; Wim H van der Putten; Siu Mui Tsai

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164175

Forest restoration rehabilitates soil multifunctionality in riparian zones of sugarcane production landscapes

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Aug 25:888:164175. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164175. Epub 2023 May 16.

Authors

Wanderlei Bieluczyk¹, Luis Fernando Merloti², Maurício Roberto Cherubin³, Lucas William Mendes⁴, José Albertino Bendassolli⁵, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues⁶, Plínio Barbosa de Camargo⁷, Wim H van der Putten⁸, Siu Mui Tsai⁹

Affiliations

¹ University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil; University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Isotopic Ecology Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil. Electronic address: wanderleibieluczyk@gmail.com.
² Netherlands Institute of Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, 6708, PB, Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: merloti.fernando@gmail.com.
³ University of São Paulo, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, Soil Health & Management Research Laboratory, 11 Pádua Dias Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil. Electronic address: cherubin@usp.br.
⁴ University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil. Electronic address: lwmendes@cena.usp.br.
⁵ University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Stable Isotope Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil. Electronic address: jab@cena.usp.br.
⁶ University of São Paulo, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration, 11 Pádua Dias Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil. Electronic address: rrresalq@usp.br.
⁷ University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Isotopic Ecology Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil. Electronic address: pcamargo@cena.usp.br.
⁸ Netherlands Institute of Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, 6708, PB, Wageningen, Netherlands; Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8123, 6700, ES, Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: w.vanderputten@nioo.knaw.nl.
⁹ University of São Paulo, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, 303 Centenário Avenue, Piracicaba, SP 13416-000, Brazil. Electronic address: tsai@cena.usp.br.

PMID: 37201828
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164175

Abstract

Brazilian sugarcane plays a vital role in the production of both sugar and renewable energy. However, land use change and long-term conventional sugarcane cultivation have degraded entire watersheds, including a substantial loss of soil multifunctionality. In our study, riparian zones have been reforested to mitigate these impacts, protect aquatic ecosystems, and restore ecological corridors within the sugarcane production landscapes. We examined (i) how forest restoration enables rehabilitation of the soil's multifunctionality after long-term sugarcane cultivation and (ii) how long it takes to regain ecosystem functions comparable to those of a primary forest. We investigated a time series of riparian forests at 6, 15, and 30 years after starting restoration by planting trees (named 'active restoration') and determined soil C stocks, δ¹³C (indicative of C origin), as well as measures indicative of soil health. A primary forest and a long-term sugarcane field were used as references. Eleven soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators were used for a structured soil health assessment, calculating index scores based on soil functions. Forest-to-cane conversion reduced 30.6 Mg ha^-1 of soil C stocks, causing soil compaction and loss of cation exchange capacity, thus degrading soil's physical, chemical, and biological functions. Forest restoration for 6-30 years recovered 16-20 Mg C ha^-1 stored in soils. In all restored sites, soil functions such as supporting root growth, aerating the soil, nutrient storage capacity, and providing C energy for microbial activity were gradually recovered. Thirty years of active restoration was sufficient to reach the primary forest state in overall soil health index, multifunctional performance, and C sequestration. We conclude that active forest restoration in sugarcane-dominated landscapes is an effective way to restore soil multifunctionality approaching the level of the native forest in approximately three decades. Moreover, the C sequestration in the restored forest soils will help to mediate global warming.

Keywords: Active forest restoration; Global warming; Isotope ecology; Mediation; Soil carbon stocks; Soil functions; Soil health assessment.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Ecosystem*
Edible Grain
Forests
Saccharum*
Soil
Trees

Substances

Soil
Carbon