Impact of invasive plant management on soil activity and litter decomposition in a tropical forest restoration

• DOI: 10.1111/rec.13906
• Publication Date: 2023-03-24T08:09:23Z
• Authors: Fernando M. Parré; Priscilla P. Loiola; Caio S. Ballarin; Patrícia A. Monquero
• Keywords: Litter; Plant litter; Soil respiration

Tropical forest restoration is needed to mitigate the negative consequences of anthropogenic disturbances and climate change. One main limitations for establishment tropical forests competition with invasive species decreasing survival growth native trees. Invasion management should affect soil microorganisms, which play essential roles in nutrient cycling, plant nutrition on ecosystem functioning. Although chemical nonchemical methods are applied worldwide herbaceous invasion management, their impacts microbial biomass, respiration litter decomposition have yet be measured over longer timeframes (>3 months) after application. Using a 3‐year‐old managed through (herbicide pulverization) or (mowing) treatments, secondary patch nearby used as reference, we (1) biomass (2) basal 6 months, (3) 1 year, one management. We mixed models test whether affected response variables found that resulted lower 5 months. Similarly, rate under was than control. Chemical effects activity considered when choosing suitable its frequency manage invasion, targeting success trees general