Topsoil physical properties under a riparian forest in Central Brazil: infiltration and penetration resistance

ABSTRACT Plant composition, diversity and structure of riparian forests of Central Brazil are well known. However, little is known about soil physical properties under these forests. This knowledge is important as a baseline for biodiversity restoration and ecosystem services that occur in riparian zones. In order to bridge this gap, here we assessed the infiltration capacity and soil penetration resistance in a plinthic soil under gallery forest in Planaltina, Distrito Federal, Brazil. We measured infiltration capacity (Mini-Disk infiltrometer) and soil penetration resistance (Stolf penetrometer) following linear transects. The plinthic soil had high infiltration capacity and low penetration resistance. Our infiltration estimate is in the middle range when compared to other permeability studies in tropical forests. Like their counterparts, high biological activity along with the lack of disturbance are the likely explanations for such high topsoil permeability to water.

摘要：巴西中部河岸森林（riparian forests）的植物组成、多样性与结构已得到充分研究，但针对此类林下土壤的物理性质，目前仍鲜有深入探讨。此类研究数据可作为河岸带生物多样性修复与生态系统服务评估的基础基准，具备重要的科学参考价值。为填补这一研究空白，本研究以巴西联邦区普拉纳尔蒂纳（Planaltina）一处长廊林（gallery forest）下的网纹土（plinthic soil）为研究对象，测定了其土壤入渗能力与穿透阻力。研究采用线性样带法，借助微型盘式入渗仪（Mini-Disk infiltrometer）测定土壤入渗能力，使用斯托尔夫贯入仪（Stolf penetrometer）完成土壤穿透阻力的检测。结果表明，该网纹土具有较高的入渗能力与较低的穿透阻力。与热带森林其他渗透性相关研究相比，本研究的入渗测定结果处于中等区间。与同类研究结论一致，高生物活性与无人为干扰状态或是该表层土壤具备较高水分入渗能力的主要成因。