Reducing Biotic and Abiotic Land-Use Legacies to Restore Invaded, Abandoned Citrus Groves

    Authors

    A. Weiler; B. Von Holle;D. M. Nickerson

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Restor. Ecol.

    Keywords

    agriculture; non-native species; restoration; soil fertility; soil; pH; EX-ARABLE LAND; PRAIRIE RESTORATION; HEATHLAND VEGETATION; SOIL; ACIDIFICATION; TALLGRASS PRAIRIE; TOPSOIL REMOVAL; CONSERVATION; BIODIVERSITY; RECREATION; GRASSLANDS; Ecology

    Abstract

    Land-use legacies associated with agriculture, such as increased soil fertility and elevated soil pH, promote invasions by non-native plant species on former agricultural lands. Restoring natural soil conditions (i.e. low fertility and low pH) may be an effective, long-term method to control and reduce the abundance of non-native and ruderal species that invade abandoned agricultural lands. In this study, we examined how soil manipulation treatments of lowering soil fertility with carbon additions and lowering soil pH by applying sulfur affect non-native and ruderal native plant species abundance in two former citrus groves in central Florida. Non-native plant biomass was removed by one of two methods (tilling or topsoil removal), and was combined with a soil amendment of sulfur, carbon, sulfur+carbon, or none. The biomass removal treatments significantly decreased non-native abundance, with topsoil removal as the most effective. Carbon additions did not affect soil fertility or vegetation. Sulfur and sulfur+carbon additions significantly decreased soil pH in both groves for at least 1year post-treatment; however, we did not see a significant vegetation response. Overall, our results suggest that removing vegetation by tilling and topsoil removal is an effective method for reducing non-target species cover. Although we did not see a response of vegetation to our treatments, we were able to restore the initial soil characteristics, which can be a first step toward complete restoration.

    Journal Title

    Restoration Ecology

    Volume

    21

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    755

    Last Page

    762

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000330125700012

    ISSN

    1061-2971

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