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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2023, 13(4): 173-185
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Article

Shrub invasion alters the soil CO2 efflux in tropical dry deciduous forests of Madhya Pradesh, Central India

Parvaiz Ahmad Lone2, Subashree Kothandaraman2, Javid Ahmad Dar1,2, Najeeb Ahmad Bhat1, Mohammed Latif Khan2
1Terrestrial Ecology and Modelling Lab (TEaM Lab), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, SRM University, Andhra Pradesh, India - 522502
2Forest Ecology and Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Botany, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India - 470003

Received 24 May 2023;Accepted 30 June 2023;Published online 5 July 2023;Published 1 December 2023
IAEES

Abstract
Soil CO2 efflux was measured in uninvaded (UI; Lantana cover absent) and Lantana-invaded (LI; Lantana cover > 50%) sites in tropical forests of Central India. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean monthly CO2 efflux was recorded in LI (396.6 ¡À 42.8 mg CO2 m-2 h-1) than UI (342.1 ¡À 37.6 mg CO2 m-2 h-1) sites and ranged from 157.6 - 736.7 mg CO2 m-2 h-1 in LI and 125.8 - 614.5 mg CO2 m-2 h-1 in UI sites in January and August respectively. The efflux peaked during the rainy season (mean 553.5 CO2 m-2 h-1) followed by summer (377.1 mg CO2 m-2 h-1) and the lowest in winter (259.2 mg CO2 m-2 h-1) season in LI sites. Significantly (P < 0.05) lower soil temperature (TS) and higher soil moisture (MS) content were observed in LI sites, whereas the higher TS and lower MS were found in UI sites. The cumulative annual soil CO2 efflux was 4105.3 and 4759.2 mg CO2 m-2 h-1 for UI and LI sites respectively. Soil CO2 efflux was significantly positively correlated with Lantana density (r = 0.76), Lantana basal area (r = 0.79), standing crop litter (r = 0.92), TS (r = 0.49), MS (r = 0.59), SOC stock (r = 0.66), pH (r = 0.56) and with mean annual precipitation (MAP) (r = 0.94). The present study concludes that plant invasions could alter the CO2 efflux in tropical forests, which would lead to changes in both atmospheric and soil C. Therefore, a proper management strategy and long-term monitoring are necessary to contain Lantana's expansion and its impacts.

Keywords soil respiration;Lantana camara;soil temperature;tropical dry deciduous;Central India.


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