IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v12y2023i12p2147-d1297115.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:12:p:2147-:d:1297115
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2147/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2147/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhihai Yang & Amin W. Mugera & Ning Yin & Yumeng Wang, 2018. "Soil conservation practices and production efficiency of smallholder farms in Central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1517-1533, August.
    2. Massamba Diop & Ngonidzashe Chirinda & Adnane Beniaich & Mohamed El Gharous & Khalil El Mejahed, 2022. "Soil and Water Conservation in Africa: State of Play and Potential Role in Tackling Soil Degradation and Building Soil Health in Agricultural Lands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-29, October.
    3. Kumar, Ranjit & Kumar, Sanjiv & Yashavanth, B.S. & Meena, P.C., 2019. "Natural Farming Practices in India: Its Adoption and Impact on Crop Yield and Farmers’ Income," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 74(03), July.
    4. Daniel H. Pope & Johan O. Karlsson & Phillip Baker & David McCoy, 2021. "Examining the Environmental Impacts of the Dairy and Baby Food Industries: Are First-Food Systems a Crucial Missing Part of the Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems Agenda Now Underway?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Štěpán Kavan & Šárka Kročová, 2024. "Sustainability and specifics of fire water sources in new climatic conditions using the example of the Czech Republic," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 25811-25826, October.
    6. Somasundaram Jayaraman & Yash P. Dang & Anandkumar Naorem & Kathryn L. Page & Ram C. Dalal, 2021. "Conservation Agriculture as a System to Enhance Ecosystem Services," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Halberg, Niels & Panneerselvam, P. & Treyer, Sebastien, 2015. "Eco-functional Intensification and Food Security: Synergy or Compromise?," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3 Special).
    8. Rattan Lal, 2014. "Climate Strategic Soil Management," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-32, February.
    9. Ángeles Gallegos & Dante López-Carmona & Francisco Bautista, 2019. "Quantitative Assessment of Environmental Soil Functions in Volcanic Zones from Mexico Using S&E Software," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Muhammad Naveed & Muhammad Kamran Aslam & Zulfiqar Ahmad & Tasawar Abbas & Asma A. Al-Huqail & Manzer H. Siddiqui & Hayssam M. Ali & Irfan Ashraf & Adnan Mustafa, 2021. "Growth Responses, Physiological Alterations and Alleviation of Salinity Stress in Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) Amended with Gypsum and Composted Cow Dung," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    11. Anna Mazur-Pączka & Kevin R. Butt & Mariola Garczyńska & Marcin Jaromin & Edmund Hajduk & Joanna Kostecka & Grzegorz Pączka, 2024. "Comparative Effects of No-dig and Conventional Cultivation with Vermicompost Fertilization on Earthworm Community Parameters and Soil Physicochemical Condition," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, May.
    12. Ananda Y Bandara & Dilooshi K Weerasooriya & Carl A Bradley & Tom W Allen & Paul D Esker, 2020. "Dissecting the economic impact of soybean diseases in the United States over two decades," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-28, April.
    13. Alondra María Díaz-Rodríguez & Claire Kelly & Alfredo del Valle & Claudio Bravo-Linares & William Blake & Hugo Velasco & Roberto Meigikos dos Anjos & Laura Fernanda Barrera-Hernández & Sergio de los S, 2021. "Exploring Relationship between Perception Indicators and Mitigation Behaviors of Soil Erosion in Undergraduate Students in Sonora, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    14. Jaleta, Moti & Kassie, Menale & Erenstein, Olaf, 2015. "Determinants of maize stover utilization as feed, fuel and soil amendment in mixed crop-livestock systems, Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 17-23.
    15. Liebenow, Danielle King & Cohen, Matthew J. & Gumbricht, Thomas & Shepherd, Keith D. & Shepherd, Gemma, 2012. "Do ecosystem services influence household wealth in rural Mali?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 33-44.
    16. Nurakhmet Nugymanov & Baglan Muratbek & Xianhui Geng, 2024. "Influence of Biophysical Factors on the Adoption of Soil Conserving Practices among Wheat Farmers in Kazakhstan," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(8), pages 1983-1995, August.
    17. Bino Paul & Unmesh Patnaik & Subash Sasidharan & Kamal Kumar Murari & Chandra Sekhar Bahinipati, 2022. "Fertilizer Use, Value, and Knowledge Capital: A Case of Indian Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    18. Donatella Valente & Erica Maria Lovello & Cosimo Gaspare Giannuzzi & Angela Maria Scardia Scardia & Maria Victoria Marinelli & Irene Petrosillo, 2023. "Towards Land Consumption Neutrality and Natural Capital Enhancement at Urban Landscape Scale," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, March.
    19. Ivan Dugan & Paulo Pereira & Jasmina Defterdarovic & Lana Filipovic & Vilim Filipovic & Igor Bogunovic, 2023. "Straw Mulch Application Enhanced Soil Properties and Reduced Diffuse Pollution at a Steep Vineyard in Istria (Croatia)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, August.
    20. Idowu Ezekiel Olorunfemi & Ayorinde Akinlabi Olufayo & Johnson Toyin Fasinmirin & Akinola Adesuji Komolafe, 2022. "Dynamics of land use land cover and its impact on carbon stocks in Sub-Saharan Africa: an overview," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 40-76, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:12:p:2147-:d:1297115. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.