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Recovery of ultramafic soil functions and plant communities along an age-gradient of the actinorhizal tree Ceuthostoma terminale (Casuarinaceae) in Sabah (Malaysia)

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Abstract

Background and aims

Pioneer plants may improve the ecological restoration of degraded ultramafic areas by plant-soil interaction processes. In this study, we assess the effect of the pioneer actinorhizal tree C. terminale (Casuarinaceae) on the recovery of plant communities and soil functions on degraded tropical ultramafic sites.

Methods

Soil and plant samples were collected along a tree-age gradient in two degraded ultramafic sites in Sabah (Northern Borneo, Malaysia): a Technosol and a Leptosol. Chemical composition of plants and soils, and biological activity of soils were assessed at both sites. Plant colonisation was assessed by plot vegetation surveys.

Results

An improvement in soil fertility parameters (pH reduction from 8.5 to 6.8, an increase in the concentrations of several nutrients and enhanced soil enzyme activities) was observed along the C. terminale age gradient. However, plant cover and diversity was only improved around mature trees at the site that was not impacted by mining.

Conclusion

C. terminale promotes the recovery of several soil functions, mainly related to the storage and recycling of N, P, K, S. Besides plant-soil feedback, other environmental factors (i.e. exposition to sunlight, drought) may play an important role on revegetation of ultramafic soils.

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Acknowledgements

Sabah Biodiversity Centre provided C. Quintela-Sabarís with the Access and Export Licences to develop this research in Sabah (Malaysia). Local support provided by Mr. Geofarry Gunsalam and personnel in Monggis Substation (Kinabalu Park) is warmly acknowledged. C. Quintela-Sabarís Postdoctoral contract and this research have been funded by the French National Research Agency through the national program “Investissements d’avenir” with the reference ANR-10-LABX-21-01/LABEX RESSOURCES21, and by Region Lorraine (France). A. van der Ent is the recipient of a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE160100429) from the Australian Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, Université de Lorraine, INRA, 54000, Nancy, France

    Celestino Quintela-Sabarís, Etienne Auber, Françoise Watteau, Ramez F. Saad, Antony van der Ent, Guillaume Echevarria & Sophie Leguedois

  2. Sabah Parks, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

    Sukaibin Sumail & Rimi Repin

  3. CNRS, LIEC, Université de Lorraine, F-57000, Metz, France

    Jean-François Masfaraud

  4. AGHYLE, Agroécologie, Hydrogéochimie, Milieux et Ressources (UP.2018.C101, SFR Condorcet FR CNRS 3417), Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, Beauvais, France

    Michel-Pierre Faucon

  5. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia

    Antony van der Ent & Guillaume Echevarria

  6. Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

    John Sugau & Reuben Nilus

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  1. Celestino Quintela-Sabarís
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Correspondence to Celestino Quintela-Sabarís.

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Quintela-Sabarís, C., Auber, E., Sumail, S. et al. Recovery of ultramafic soil functions and plant communities along an age-gradient of the actinorhizal tree Ceuthostoma terminale (Casuarinaceae) in Sabah (Malaysia). Plant Soil 440, 201–218 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04085-y

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