Abstract
Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations in South-Central Chile, can substantially alter soil carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. We assessed the biogeochemical shifts resulting from this forest conversion by monitoring carbon and nutrient dynamics at 10 paired adult native forest and plantation sites across contrasting soil types (5 sites), including litterfall, LAI, fine root biomass, and soil CO₂ efflux, over a period of three years. In addition, we quantified aboveground tree biomass and total C, N, and P stocks in trees and soils. C inputs were significantly higher in native systems than in plantations (5.17 ± 1.19 vs. 3.19 ± 0.99 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively). Native forests also exhibited higher total C losses through soil CO₂ efflux (-3.19 ± 1.68 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than pine plantations (-2.54 ± 1.52 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), yet maintained a more favorable balance between inputs and losses, largely due to differences in the dominant C input pathways. Native forests showed greater fine-root production and deeper, denser rooting systems, whereas plantations were characterized by higher litterfall and faster decomposition rates, potentially accelerating carbon mineralization. Across soil types, native forests exhibited significantly higher aboveground biomass than adjacent plantations. Although aboveground carbon stocks tended to be higher in native forests, these differences were not statistically significant when all soil types were considered together. Nevertheless, native forests consistently allocated a greater proportion of carbon belowground, whereas plantations concentrated carbon inputs in aboveground compartments. Native forests also maintained larger soil and aboveground biomass N and P stocks than plantations. Responses varied systematically among soil types, with residual crystalline soils and older volcanic deposits showing higher carbon losses relative to inputs than younger volcanic ash-derived soils. Overall, our results demonstrate that soil parent material modulates post-conversion carbon fluxes and the distribution of ecosystem C, N, and P stocks, highlighting the importance of soil–vegetation interactions when evaluating carbon benefits and long-term sustainability of forest management strategies. • Plantations showed faster litter decomposition and carbon turnover than natural forests. • Fine-root production was consistently higher in native forests. • Soil parent material constrained the balance between carbon inputs and losses. • Soil type modulated post-conversion carbon fluxes and nutrient stocks.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Carbon inputs were higher in native forests than in plantations (5.17 vs. 3.19 Mg C ha-1 year-1).
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.
Nothofaguse2 - Outcome
- C inputse1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 5.17 ± 1.19 vs. 3.19 ± 0.99 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹e1
- Comparator
- plantationse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“C inputs were significantly higher in native systems than in plantations (5.17 ± 1.19 vs. 3.19 ± 0.99 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively)”
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
Claim · model-written summary
Native forests had higher total C losses through soil CO2 efflux than pine plantations.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- total C lossese3
- Direction
- highere3
- Value
- -3.19 ± 1.68 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹e3
- Comparator
- pine plantationse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“Native forests also exhibited higher total C losses through soil CO₂ efflux (-3.19 ± 1.68 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than pine plantations (-2.54 ± 1.52 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹)”
Claim · model-written summary
Native forests maintained a more favorable balance between carbon inputs and losses, largely due to differences in the dominant C input pathways.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- balance between inputs and lossese4
- Direction
- more favorablee4
- Qualifier
- largely due to differences in the dominant C input pathwayse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e4“yet maintained a more favorable balance between inputs and losses, largely due to differences in the dominant C input pathways”
Claim · model-written summary
Native forests showed greater fine-root production.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- fine-root productione5
- Direction
- greatere5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e5“Native forests showed greater fine-root production and deeper, denser rooting systems”
Claim · model-written summary
Plantations had higher litterfall than native forests.
PinusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e6“plantations were characterized by higher litterfall”
Claim · model-written summary
Plantations had faster decomposition rates, potentially accelerating carbon mineralization.
- Outcome
- decomposition ratese7
- Direction
- fastere7
- Qualifier
- potentially accelerating carbon mineralizatione7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e7“faster decomposition rates, potentially accelerating carbon mineralization”
Claim · model-written summary
Across soil types, native forests had significantly higher aboveground biomass than adjacent plantations.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- aboveground biomasse3
- Direction
- highere3
- Comparator
- adjacent plantationse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“Across soil types, native forests exhibited significantly higher aboveground biomass than adjacent plantations”
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground carbon stocks tended to be higher in native forests, but the difference was not statistically significant across all soil types.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- aboveground carbon stockse3
- Direction
- tended to be highere3
- Qualifier
- when all soil types were considered togethere3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“Although aboveground carbon stocks tended to be higher in native forests, these differences were not statistically significant when all soil types were considered together”
Claim · model-written summary
Native forests allocated a greater proportion of carbon belowground, whereas plantations concentrated carbon inputs aboveground.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- proportion of carbon belowgrounde3
- Direction
- greatere3
- Qualifier
- whereas plantations concentrated carbon inputs in aboveground compartmentse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“native forests consistently allocated a greater proportion of carbon belowground, whereas plantations concentrated carbon inputs in aboveground compartments”
Claim · model-written summary
Native forests maintained larger soil and aboveground biomass N and P stocks than plantations.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- soil and aboveground biomass N and P stockse3
- Direction
- largere3
- Comparator
- plantationse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“Native forests also maintained larger soil and aboveground biomass N and P stocks than plantations”
Claim · model-written summary
Residual crystalline soils and older volcanic deposits had higher carbon losses relative to inputs than younger volcanic ash-derived soils.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- carbon losses relative to inputse3
- Direction
- highere3
- Qualifier
- residual crystalline soils and older volcanic depositse3
- Comparator
- younger volcanic ash-derived soilse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“residual crystalline soils and older volcanic deposits showing higher carbon losses relative to inputs than younger volcanic ash-derived soils”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil parent material modulates post-conversion carbon fluxes.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus spp.Nothofaguse2
- Outcome
- post-conversion carbon fluxese3
- Qualifier
- soil parent material modulatese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Conversion from native temperate deciduous Nothofagus spp. forests to exotic Pinus spp. plantations”
e3“soil parent material modulates post-conversion carbon fluxes”