CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109319
Joscha N. Becker , Michaela A. Dippold , Emanueli M. Ndossi , Yakov Kuzyakov , Bahar S. Razavi , Sandra Spielvogel
{"title":"Soil organic matter origin and composition along a 3200 m elevation gradient on Mount Kilimanjaro","authors":"Joscha N. Becker , Michaela A. Dippold , Emanueli M. Ndossi , Yakov Kuzyakov , Bahar S. Razavi , Sandra Spielvogel","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil organic matter (SOM) chemistry plays a vital role in carbon (C) cycling and is influenced by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. Along elevation gradients, SOM chemistry is shaped by litter inputs, temperature, water availability, and microbial communities. However, the specific controls over SOM composition and decomposition remain poorly understood across diverse ecosystems. To address this, we investigated the origin and decomposition state of SOM along the unique elevation gradient of Mt. Kilimanjaro (950–4200 m a.s.l.). Lignin and neutral sugars in topsoils (0–10 cm) were assessed across seven ecosystems with increasing elevation: savanna, grassland, lower-montane forest, Ocotea dominated and Podocarpus dominated cloud forests, sub-alpine <em>Erica</em> forest and alpine <em>Helichrysum.</em></div><div>Here we show that climatic factors, especially precipitation, have a stronger influence on total lignin and sugar contents than on their respective component ratios. Lignin and sugar contents peaked at mid-elevation (2000–3000 m), correlating with optimal climatic conditions and ecosystem productivity. The ratio of plant-derived to microbial sugars decreased at both the lowest and highest elevations, reflecting microbial growth limitations due to seasonal drought (savanna) or low temperatures (alpine <em>Helichrysum</em>). Notably, lignin degradation indices (acid-to-aldehyde ratio, Ac/Al) were less influenced by elevation and instead depended on local ecosystem factors such as microbial community composition and stoichiometry.</div><div>These findings highlight that while large-scale climatic gradients dictate the overall distribution of sugars and lignin in Afromontane soils, local ecosystem dynamics govern their degradation and input processes. A combined biomarker approach is essential for understanding biogeochemical functioning and SOM dynamics in these ecosystems and their responses to global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109319"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109316
Qi Liu , Xinli Chen , Fuzhao Huang , Jianxing Li , Ting Chen , Fang Lu , Xiankun Li , Dongxing Li , Wusheng Xiang , Bin Wang , Hongming Zhao , Ruixia Ma , Shengqiang Wang , Yili Guo
{"title":"Divergent drivers of litter decomposition in karst and non-karst tropical rainforests: a comparison","authors":"Qi Liu , Xinli Chen , Fuzhao Huang , Jianxing Li , Ting Chen , Fang Lu , Xiankun Li , Dongxing Li , Wusheng Xiang , Bin Wang , Hongming Zhao , Ruixia Ma , Shengqiang Wang , Yili Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Litter decomposition is a key process in nutrient cycling, shaped by both environmental factors and litter quality. However, in complex karst ecosystems, where shallow soils, high rock exposure, and fragmented terrain create strong abiotic and biotic heterogeneity, the dominant drivers of decomposition remain unclear. To explore these effects, we conducted two litter decomposition experiments, using litter deposited in situ and through reciprocal litter transplants, in the seasonal rainforests of karst (KF) and non-karst (NKF) regions. Although we observed no differences in litter mass loss rates or evidence of a home-field advantage (i.e., faster decomposition of litter in its native environment due to local adaptation of decomposer communities) between KF and NKF, the primary drivers of litter decomposition appeared to differ between the two areas. Notably, the litter nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio (N:P) was the most significant factor influencing litter decomposition in both KF and NKF. In KF, structural equation modelling showed that topographical factors were significantly correlated with leaf quality and soil elemental nutrient content, which in turn indirectly influenced litter decomposition. In NKF, tree diversity, soil elemental content, and other abiotic factors had quantitively similar effects on decomposition, with no single factor standing out as particularly dominant. Overall, our results suggest that nutrient acquisition strategies, particularly N:P and phosphorus acquisition, play a key role in shaping litter decomposition pathways. Additionally, in karst forests, topography significantly influences other factors, further affecting decomposition processes. These findings provide a basis for improving forest management approaches, optimizing nutrient cycling, and guiding species selection for afforestation and restoration in karst ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109316"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109286
Flip Kips , Age Snel , André Elink Schuurman , Kathleen Gersie , Salomon Kroonenberg
{"title":"Tracing the legacy of past semiarid morphodynamics in multiconvex tropical rainforest morphology in the Guiana Shield of Suriname","authors":"Flip Kips , Age Snel , André Elink Schuurman , Kathleen Gersie , Salomon Kroonenberg","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A comprehensive survey of landforms, soils, geology and heavy mineral analyses in traverses across the tropical rainforest-covered Upper Suriname drainage basin shows that the prevailing multiconvex morphology conceals evidence for duricrusted colluvial slopes. They testify of pedimentation processes in past semi-arid climate conditions in the presence of mafic rocks with duricrust caps in the headwaters of the tributary creeks. In areas underlain by different types of granites and high-grade metamorphic rocks etchplain characteristics prevail. Previous studies underestimated the important role of lithology in morphological processes. The multiconvex landforms also conceal dissected remnants of higher-level river terraces deposited during semi-arid climate intervals under a continuous uplift regime, as evidenced by their heavy mineral assemblages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109286"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109310
Yi Zhang , Zhihui Wang , Xiaogang Shi , Pengcheng Sun , Peiqing Xiao , Jiren Xu , Dongliang Shen
{"title":"Impacts of climate change and vegetation greening driven by natural and anthropogenic factors on carbon sink in Chinese Loess Plateau after ecological restoration","authors":"Yi Zhang , Zhihui Wang , Xiaogang Shi , Pengcheng Sun , Peiqing Xiao , Jiren Xu , Dongliang Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Loess Plateau (LP) has been recognized as a significant hotspot for vegetation greening in China since 2000. However, the influence of vegetation greening driven by various factors on carbon sinks in changing environments remains unclear due to the lack of high-precision datasets on carbon stock changes and effective attribution analysis methods. In this study, a time-series dataset of vegetation total carbon density (VTCD), soil organic carbon density (SOCD), and ecosystem total carbon density (ETCD) in the LP was estimated using a combination of multi-source data and machine learning algorithms. The impact of vegetation greening on carbon sinks was further decomposed by considering the effects of climate change and human activities on vegetation dynamics. Our findings indicate that the Extra Trees Regressor performs best in estimating VTCD (RMSE = 0.42 kgC m<sup>–2</sup>) and SOCD (RMSE = 2 kgC m<sup>–2</sup>). Across the entire landscape, the average carbon sequestration rate (CSR) is 37 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>, comprising 26 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup> from soil and 11 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup> from vegetation. The highest CSR is found in naturally restored forests (55.26 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>), followed by grassland converted to forest (G-F) at 50 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>, and cropland converted to forest and grassland (C-Fg) at 38.23 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>. Compared to natural recovery areas, human-induced restoration demonstrates a significant carbon sink benefit (70 %–303 %), exhibiting distinct spatial heterogeneity. The direct impact of climatic factors on carbon sinks is 3.44 gC·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>, contributing 9.3 % to the overall carbon sink. Vegetation greening accounts for 83.4 % of the carbon sink, with contributions of 44.5 % from climate-driven natural recovery, 24.7 % from cultivation management, and 14.2 % from human-induced vegetation type change. Additionally, the positive impacts of other human activities (e.g., terracing, check dams) on carbon sinks should not be overlooked. This study provides new insights into the effects of climate change and human activities on carbon sinks in the Loess Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109310"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109307
Jian Ni , Shixiong Yang , Yumei Li , Yun Zhang
{"title":"Surface pollen assemblages as indicators of land-use and human-induced vegetation changes in Southwest China: implications for palaeoecological reconstructions","authors":"Jian Ni , Shixiong Yang , Yumei Li , Yun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of human activities on vegetation has been extensively documented in sedimentary pollen records, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between modern human activities and land use when reconstructing historical vegetation changes using pollen data. How can modern surface pollen from human disturbed vegetation indicate potential vegetation or land use type, however, still need to pay more attention. This research analyzes pollen assemblages derived from 117 surface soil samples collected in Southwest China. It elucidates the characteristics of these pollen assemblages and their source ranges across various land use types, as well as the indicative significance of predominant pollen types in relation to vegetation composition. The findings reveal that regional pollen assemblages are predominantly comprised of <em>Pinus</em>, <em>Tsuga</em>, deciduous <em>Quercus</em>, evergreen <em>Quercus</em>, and <em>Betula</em>, which collectively dominate the assemblages. Notably, there are marked differences in the characteristics of pollen assemblages associated with distinct land use types. Specifically, cultivated lands and plantation forests are mainly dominated by artificially selected plants, while secondary forests are mainly dominated by naturally distributed vegetation. Within a radius of 0–200 m from the sampling locations, significant variability in vegetation composition is observed among different sites, reflecting local vegetation characteristics. Conversely, at distances ranging from 0.2 to 20 km, as the spatial separation between sampling points increases, the disparities in vegetation composition and the proportional representation of various land use types diminish, leading to a more homogeneous landscape. At this spatial scale, the correlation between pollen assemblages and vegetation is significantly strengthened, with vegetation accounting for over 90 % of the pollen composition. Thus, the pollen dominantly reflects the regional vegetation characteristics. These results underscore the importance of thoroughly considering the relationship between the contribution rate of pollen assemblages and the composition of regional vegetation when reconstructing regional vegetation patterns through pollen analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109307"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109299
Che Lulu, Liu Dongdong
{"title":"Combined effects of moss colonization and rock fragment cover on evaporation and water storage of shallow carbonate-derived laterite in karst mountainous lands","authors":"Che Lulu, Liu Dongdong","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Moss cover and rock fragment cover are important factors influencing soil water dynamics in karst landscapes, but their mechanisms in regulating soil water in mountainous regions remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted experimental trials in karst rocky desertification areas of southwest China. Using 27 soil flumes (50 × 30 × 10 cm), we simulated moss colonization (<em>Racomitrium japonicum</em>; seeding rate: 0.13 kg·m<sup>–2</sup>) under varying rock fragment cover (0 %, 30 %, 60 %) to evaluate their combined effects on soil hydrology. Results demonstrated that moss establishment reduced evaporation by 48–72 % and increased water storage by 11–22 %, with synergistic gains driven by moss-rock interactions. Structural equation modeling revealed that rock fragments stabilized the microenvironment by increasing soil water content (standardized coefficient = + 0.59) and temperature (standardized coefficient = + 0.11), promoting moss growth. Moss colonization further suppressed evaporation (standardized coefficient = − 0.22) through surface sealing. These findings underscore the role of moss in decreasing evaporation losses and improving water retention in shallow karst soils, providing valuable insights for ecological restoration in karst rocky desertification areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109299"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144686079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109305
Wenxin Zhang , Mengchen Ju , Shufang Wu , Chongfeng Bu , Jin Fan , Xinhao Li , Yingxin Wei , Jingwen Pang , Kadambot H.M. Siddique
{"title":"Interactive effects of carbon and nitrogen fixation in two biocrust types in the Mu Us Sandland","authors":"Wenxin Zhang , Mengchen Ju , Shufang Wu , Chongfeng Bu , Jin Fan , Xinhao Li , Yingxin Wei , Jingwen Pang , Kadambot H.M. Siddique","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biocrusts, as pioneer organisms in dryland ecosystems, play a vital role in regulating carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Understanding how precipitation gradients influence regional-scale variations in C and N components—and their coupling—is essential for effectively conserving and managing biocrusts. This study examined differences and interactions in C and N dynamics within moss- and cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts and their underlying soils across three representative sites along a west–east precipitation gradient (262–476 mm) in the Mu Us Sandland. We also assessed the relationships between microbial diversity, functional genes involved in C and N cycling, and soil C–N content. Significant spatial heterogeneity was observed: biocrusts in the eastern region had the highest levels of dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic carbon (361.52 and 8.41 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively), while nitrate-N and organic N concentrations peaked in the western region (6.68 and 1.02 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively; P < 0.05). Bacterial diversity and C–N cycling-related genes strongly correlated with C and N accumulation and transformation, exhibiting distinct regional patterns. Partial least squares path modeling indicated that precipitation gradients drove divergence in C–N coupling (goodness-of-fit = 0.80 for moss crusts, 0.74 for cyanobacteria crusts). In moss crusts, N fixation functional genes enhanced C and N components. In contrast, in cyanobacteria crusts, N consumption functional genes negatively affected N content (<em>β</em> = −0.69, P < 0.05), contributing to N losses in wetter regions through leaching. Functional gene expression by <em>Cyanobacteria</em> and <em>Proteobacteria</em> was identified as a key regulator of C–N interactions. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the microbial basis of regional-scale C–N coupling, highlight the importance of moss crusts for nutrient retention under increased precipitation, and offer a scientific foundation for dryland ecosystem management and climate adaptation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109305"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109321
Yulong Duan , Jianhua Zhao , Junbiao Zhang , Lilong Wang , Yun Chen , Xuyang Wang , Fasi Wu , Yuqiang Li
{"title":"Contrasting patterns and drivers of soil microbial communities in high-elevation montane grasslands and deserts of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in China","authors":"Yulong Duan , Jianhua Zhao , Junbiao Zhang , Lilong Wang , Yun Chen , Xuyang Wang , Fasi Wu , Yuqiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil microorganisms are essential for ecosystem functioning, especially in an alpine/cold climate, yet their response along elevation gradients in different types of ecosystems within alpine cold regions is largely unknown. Here, we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to investigate the geographic distribution, co-occurrence patterns, and assembly processes of topsoil (0–20 cm) microbial communities in alpine grasslands (3165–4903 m) and alpine deserts (3150–5200 m) of the east Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Our results revealed contrary altitudinal distribution patterns for bacterial and eukaryotic α-diversity in the alpine topsoil of grasslands and deserts. Whether bacteria or eukaryotes, with rising elevation their α-diversity <em>decreased</em> linearly and significantly in alpine grasslands but instead <em>increased</em> linearly and significantly in alpine deserts. Soil bacterial community composition was strongly correlated with the soil <em>pH</em> of alpine grasslands, and with four ecological factors—<em>EC</em> (electrical conductivity) and <em>pH</em> in soil, <em>MAP</em> (mean annual precipitation), and <em>MAT</em> (mean annual temperature)—in the alpine deserts. Furthermore, although the soil eukaryotic community composition did not show a clear relationship to any ecological factors in alpine grasslands, it had a strong correlation with <em>MAP</em> in alpine deserts. Meanwhile, we detected a stronger more complex network structure of bacteria–eukaryota community interactions in alpine grasslands than in alpine deserts. Moreover, soil bacteria–eukaryota network complexity in alpine grasslands followed a unimodal pattern along the elevation gradient; however, for alpine deserts no elevation dependence was evident. Finally, our results confirmed that, whether in alpine grassland or desert, soil bacteria are governed by both stochastic and deterministic assembly processes. Unlike bacteria, however, stochastic processes (dispersal limitation and drift) mainly underpinned eukaryotic assembly in soil of both ecosystem types. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of the geographic patterns and mechanisms driving the assembly of soil bacterial and eukaryotic communities in alpine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109321"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109320
Krzysztof Sztabkowski , Jerzy Jonczak
{"title":"Parent material origin as a factor influencing the development and properties of Brunic Arenosols in a young glacial landscape","authors":"Krzysztof Sztabkowski , Jerzy Jonczak","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we aimed to quantify the effects of parent material origin on chosen indicators of pedogenesis and properties of Brunic Arenosols in a young glacial landscape (Poznań and Pomeranian Phases of the Vistulian Glaciation). A total of 74 soil profiles that developed from six types of parent material (aeolian cover, kames, eskers, sandurs, supra-flood terraces, moraines) were described, sampled, and analyzed. The origin of the parent material seems to have been important in influencing the variability of the studied soils, although they showed great heterogeneity, so this was not always statistically confirmed. The importance of the parent material was well reflected in the morphological characteristics of the soils, such as the depth of the solum, thickness of the Bw horizon, and its color saturation. There were also clear differences in some nutrients (P, K, Ca), sorption characteristics, and iron forms. These characteristics are strongly influenced by soil mineral phase. The greatest differences were found between soils developed from sediments resulting from contrasting depositional mechanisms. The most distinctive were those developed from aeolian and glacial substrates. In general, all the soils studied represented sandy texture classes and therefore differences in physical characteristics were rather low. In addition, the soils usually did not differ in pH. The results of our studies highlighted the large variability of Brunic Arenosols and their continuum. Our findings should be considered more as a contribution to better understanding the problem addressed and to the planning of further studies, rather than a final report</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109320"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CatenaPub Date : 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109312
Paulo A. Fachin , Edivaldo L. Thomaz
{"title":"Fire effects on soils erodibility in rainforest conversion in southern Brazil","authors":"Paulo A. Fachin , Edivaldo L. Thomaz","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The conversion of rainforests through fire alters the erosive processes impacting the physical properties and soil erodibility. To date, no studies have directly investigated the impact of this transformation on soil erodibility. This study evaluates a recent subtropical rainforest conversion system with the use of fire – from three months to four years post-fire – in two types of soil (Ferralsol and Cambisol). We are seeking to answer the following questions: (a) How does the conversion of subtropical rainforests with the use of fire affect the physical dynamic of different soil types? (b) How do the erosion mechanisms and the erodibility of these soils respond to these forest conversions? (c) How does subtropical rainforests conversion alter the root dynamic of the soils and how does this correlate with the physical properties and the erodibility? Thus, undeformed soil samples were collected using erosion plots (0.135 m<sup>2</sup> of area x 10 cm depth) in the following areas of each soil type: (1) native forest; (2) ninety days post-fire; and (3) four years post-fire, for experimental evaluation under simulated rain. The results showed changes of 50 % in the physical properties of the Ferralsol and 33 % in the Cambisol. The Ferralsol microaggregates increased by 27.7 % post-fire and the Cambisol microaggregates increased by 34 % post-fire. Rainsplash accounted for more than 83 % of the total soil loss in both soils. Interrill detachment varied from 2.38 × 10<sup>−3</sup> to 7.43 × 10<sup>−3</sup> kg m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, increasing in the Ferralsol four years post-fire and decreasing in the Cambisol ninety days post-fire. Interrill erodibility varied between 2.86 × 10<sup>6</sup> and 7.68 × 10<sup>6</sup> kg s m<sup>−4</sup> with a post-fire decrease only in the Cambisol. Correlation analysis indicated that the organic matter, aggregate stability, bulk density, and shear strength influenced the rainsplash and sheetwash) while root dynamic influenced the erodibility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109312"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}