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Changes in Soil Physicochemical and Water Properties in Response to Exotic Acacia Invasion in a Bornean Coastal Heath Forest

Abstract

This study investigates the impacts of Acacia invasion on Bornean heath forest (HF) soils. Soil profiles and water properties at one soil depth (< 1 m) and physicochemical properties with Soil Fertility Index(SFI) and Soil Evaluation Factor (SEF) from the topsoil or three soil depths of Acacia-invaded and non-invaded HF were assessed. Acacia invasion modified soil profiles by producing thicker horizons O and B but waning horizon E. Thick leaf litter layer in invaded HF was associated with a significant decrease in soil bulk density, moisture, organic matter (OM), total organic carbon, water volume, and NH4+ but a significant increase in soil temperature, and soil water pH, NO3 and PO43−. A significant increase in soil pHwater and available P were observed across all depths, except for topsoil exchangeable NH4+. Acacia invasion significantly reduced total acidity and base cations across soil depths, and total N and exchangeable H, NO3, Mg, and Al at certain depths, implying leaching and reduced acidification. Topsoil SFI and SEF of Acacia-invaded HF were significantly lower than non-invaded HF, possibly due to slower decomposition rates resulting in lower OM and base concentrations. Variations in topsoil physicochemical properties generated two distinct clusters with the Acacia-invaded plots strongly influenced by PC1 (exchangeable soil NH4+ and temperature), while the non-invaded plots were strongly influenced by PC2 (pHKCl, total acidity, exchangeable Ca, H, and Al). Acacia invasion negatively impacted soil properties, potentially affecting plant, soil, and microbial communities, thus indicating that invasion mitigation and ecological restoration efforts should be prioritized for the invaded HF.

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Fig. 1

Adapted from Ibrahim et al. (2022)

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding authors (MHI and FHM).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Forestry Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei Darussalam for granting the entry permit ([99]/JPH/UDN/17 PT.1), the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department for weather data, and research assistants and technical staff for assistance with field and lab work. We also want to thank Salwana Md. Jaafar for her assistance with PCA.

Funding

This project was funded by the Brunei Research Council (UBD/BRC/11) and the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) research grant (UBD/PNC2/2/RG/1(204)), while MHI’s PhD study was supported by the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship.

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Correspondence to Faizah Metali.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Faizah Metali and Mohamad Hilmi Ibrahim are co-first authors.

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Ibrahim, M.H., Sukri, R.S., Tennakoon, K.U. et al. Changes in Soil Physicochemical and Water Properties in Response to Exotic Acacia Invasion in a Bornean Coastal Heath Forest. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01257-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01257-9

Keywords

  • Invasive plants
  • Kerangas Forest
  • Soil Evaluation Factor
  • Soil Fertility Index
  • Soil properties