The Role of Revegetation for Rehabilitation of Sodic soils in Semiarid Subtropical Forest, India

background

This study relies on a  case study evaluate the rehabilitation of barren land within a larger forest ecosystem. The article indicates that restoration opportunities exist even with severely degraded land where natural succession does not occur without management practices.

Research Goals & Methods

The study examines the vegetation characteristics and species composition that have enhanced land rehabilitation on highly sodic soil, and quantifies these changes in the soils’ chemical and physical properties. The researchers set up a series of plots to measure growth parameters and classify species composition (overstory, understory, and ground layer) of ~40 year old stands in a former barren sodic area, and sampled soils to assess for nutrient levels and other properties.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Results suggest that rehabilitated forests have higher species diversity and higher basal area than unassisted, naturally regenerating areas, and have ameliorated soil conditions to various degrees.