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Temporal changes of topsoil nematode communities in rubber plantations in Ivory Coast in response to logging residue management and legumes introduction

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Abstract

Aims

Tree logging in tropical tree plantations results in significant soil disturbances that negatively impact soil biodiversity and soil functioning. Here, we aimed to assess the effects of adding organic matter (OM) to soil after rubber tree logging on soil functioning over time.

Methods

The experiment was conducted in two contrasting soil types in Ivory Coast. Four practices were replicated, including a control with no residues, the presence of legumes only, legumes and all tree parts excluding the trunk, and legumes and all the parts of the tree including the trunk. We monitored the response of soil nematode communities every six months for 24 months in each practice. Samples were collected from the topsoil layer (0–10 cm) in the interrow, and we also monitored soil carbon transformation by measuring in situ basal soil respiration, labile soil carbon and organic matter decay using the bait lamina method.

Results

The results showed a sharp decrease in nematode abundance after tree logging, but OM restoration increased nematode abundance, the relative abundance of bacterivores, and resource availability to the soil food web. The resilience of the nematode communities depended on soil conditions and the amount and quality of logging residues. Total nematode abundance was positively and significantly related to soil functioning, measured through basal soil respiration, labile soil carbon, and organic matter decay rate.

Conclusion

The results suggest that restoring logging residues can be an effective way to restore soil biodiversity and mitigate the negative impact of clear-cutting in tropical rubber plantations.

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Data availability

The raw data have been deposited on a figshare repository at the following https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23574756.

Abbreviations

RP:

Rubber plantation

C:

Carbon

P:

Phosphorus

NCR:

Nematode channel ratio

MI:

Maturity index

EI:

Enrichment index

SI:

Structure index

LMMs:

Linear mixed-effects models

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

References

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Acknowledgements

We thank the financial companies SIPH, SOCFIN, and MICHELIN for supporting this project through the “FERTIM” program. We thank SAPH and SOGB, who provided logistical and technical support, in addition to funding. This study was also supported by the “Institut Français du Caoutchouc” (IFC). Additional funding was provided by the IRD PhD Grant Program (ARTS, 2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Kouakou Aymard: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Visualization, Writing original draft, Writing, review & editing. Jean Trap: Methodology, Visualization, Writing, review & editing. Sidy Diakhaté: Formal analysis, Writing, review & editing. Thibaut Perron: Data curation, Investigation, Writing – review & editing. Kolo Yéo: Validation, Writing, review & editing, Supervision. Frédéric Gay: Methodology, Conceptualization, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Alain Brauman: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Writing, review & editing, Supervision, Project administration.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aymard Kouakou Kouakou.

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Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Kouakou, A.K., Trap, J., Diakhaté, S. et al. Temporal changes of topsoil nematode communities in rubber plantations in Ivory Coast in response to logging residue management and legumes introduction. Plant Soil (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06369-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06369-w

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