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How Can Plants Help Restore Degraded Tropical Soils?

Author

Listed:
  • Renaud Massoukou Pamba

    (Agriculture and Agri-Food Research and Development Unit of Abitibi-Temiscamingue, University of Québec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Notre-Dame-du-Nord, QC JOZ 3B0, Canada
    Ministry of Water and Forests, Sea, Environment, in Charge of the Climate Plan and the Land Use Plan, Libreville P.O. Box 199, Gabon)

  • Vincent Poirier

    (Agriculture and Agri-Food Research and Development Unit of Abitibi-Temiscamingue, University of Québec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Notre-Dame-du-Nord, QC JOZ 3B0, Canada)

  • Pamphile Nguema Ndoutoumou

    (Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Department of General Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research, National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research, Libreville P.O. Box 2246, Gabon)

  • Terence Epule Epule

    (Agriculture and Agri-Food Research and Development Unit of Abitibi-Temiscamingue, University of Québec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Notre-Dame-du-Nord, QC JOZ 3B0, Canada)

Abstract

In the tropics, anthropogenic activities can lead to water and wind erosion, a loss of biodiversity, and a reduction in sequestered carbon, fertility, and organic matter content in the soils concerned, potentially resulting in their degradation. This study therefore aims to identify the mechanisms used by plant species to restore degraded tropical soils and plant species characteristics that are best suited to achieve this through a critical scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature. Soil restoration leads to the re-establishment of ecosystem services and an increase in soil production potential, the regeneration of biodiversity, the stopping of organic matter losses, and the creation of favorable conditions for carbon sequestration and nitrogen fixation. The choice of appropriate plant species depends on the restoration objectives to be achieved. Five key mechanisms by which plant species contribute to restore degraded tropical soils include: (1) nitrogen fixation, (2) carbon sequestration, (3) organic matter addition, (4) structure stabilization, and (5) erosion control. The main characteristics of plant species and vegetation involved in these mechanisms are (a) the capacity to form symbiotic associations with N-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae, (b) the production of abundant root biomass releasing litter and exudates, (c) roots having a high length density, branching intensity, and depth distribution, (d) the production of an abundant and easily decomposed above ground litter, (e) the production of a vast canopy, and (f) the presence of different vegetation strata. Targeting these characteristics will contribute to acting on several mechanisms simultaneously, which will increase the chance of success in tropical soil restoration.

Suggested Citation

  • Renaud Massoukou Pamba & Vincent Poirier & Pamphile Nguema Ndoutoumou & Terence Epule Epule, 2023. "How Can Plants Help Restore Degraded Tropical Soils?," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:12:p:2147-:d:1297115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:ulb:ulbeco:2013/115021 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. R. Lal, 2009. "Soil degradation as a reason for inadequate human nutrition," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 1(1), pages 45-57, February.
    3. Walmsley, Alena & Azadi, Hossein & Tomeckova, Katerina & Sklenicka, Petr, 2020. "Contrasting effects of land tenure on degradation of Cambisols and Luvisols: The case of Central Bohemia Region in the Czech Republic," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
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