interlinkages between soil and tree health in the urban

Nerea Ferrando 1,2 | Vicky Struthers 1 | Macarena Cárdenas 2 | Daphne Parramon-Dhawan 2 | Joanna Clark 1 1 University of Reading, Reading, UK; 2 Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Oxford, UK Acknowledgements This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the University of Reading and to the enthusiastic HSBC employees participating in Earthwatch’s Sustainability Training Programme. Contact information Department of Environmental Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights, RG6 6AH Email: [email protected] Introduction Urban forests benefits for people and the environment are now well established, with urban greening high on the agenda in most EU countries for mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and urbanization through carbon sequestration and storage, temperature and stormwater regulation and air purification. However, many urban trees are not managed in a way that can facilitate the ecosystem services they provide, resulting in failed or diminished results. This is mainly due to inadequate soil preparation techniques and specifications required for healthy tree growth. This integrated study aims to address the knowledge gap in urban tree management practices by looking at interlinkages between tree health and productivity, soil hydrology and soil carbon and nutrient conditions. Here, we present part of this study looking at the link between litter management, soil properties and infiltration. Method The two-year research project is conducted using Citizen Science at study sites located in London (Kew Gardens), Birmingham (Cannon Hill). Each site will be visited twice during Spring and Autumn. Soil measurements and samples will be collected below and outside the canopy of Lime trees (Tilia x europaea) in areas with and without litter removal. Measurements include: Citizen scientist also collect samples for further analysis in the laboratory, including: LOI, total C, soil colour and texture, water extractable carbon (UV-Vis, DOC) and water holding capacity. SUCTION RATE 1cm mini disk infiltrometer or soil compaction with pocket penetrometer. Preliminary Results The preliminary results in the UK indicate that the increased litter in unmanaged sites significantly improved measures of soil health, specifically total carbon content, reduced compaction and bulk density. Improvements in soil health were related to increased infiltration. Therefore, both climate and water regulation were improved by not removing leaf litter. Next Steps Further work is needed to better understand the mechanisms underpinning this, specifically the functional role of soil organisms to identify the best land management practices for the benefit of urban trees and soils and the ecosystem services they deliver. Scientific data collection and analysis will continue for the remaining 2019 field season. Interlinkages between soil and tree health in the urban environment: a Citizen Science EU research project Litter Managed Unmanaged Soil organic matter Soil Structure Soil Hydrology Infiltration rate (Mini Disk Infiltrometer) Soil Colour Soil Texture Soil Compaction (Pocket Penetrometer) Nerea Ferrando 1,2 | Vicky Struthers 1 | Macarena Cárdenas 2 | Daphne Parramon-Dhawan 2 | Ana Mijic 3 | Wouter Buytaert 3 | Joanna Clark 1 1 University of Reading, Reading, UK; 2 Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Oxford, UK; 3 Imperial College London, London, UK

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Page 1: Interlinkages between soil and tree health in the urban

Nerea Ferrando1,2 | Vicky Struthers1 | Macarena Cárdenas2 | Daphne Parramon-Dhawan2 | Joanna Clark1

1 University of Reading, Reading, UK; 2 Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Oxford, UK

Acknowledgements

This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the University of Reading and to

the enthusiastic HSBC employees participating in Earthwatch’s Sustainability Training Programme.

Contact information

Department of Environmental Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights, RG6 6AH

Email: [email protected]

IntroductionUrban forests benefits for people and the environment are now well established, with urban greening high on the agenda in most EU

countries for mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and urbanization through carbon sequestration and storage,

temperature and stormwater regulation and air purification. However, many urban trees are not managed in a way that can facilitate

the ecosystem services they provide, resulting in failed or diminished results. This is mainly due to inadequate soil preparation

techniques and specifications required for healthy tree growth. This integrated study aims to address the knowledge gap in urban

tree management practices by looking at interlinkages between tree health and productivity, soil hydrology and soil carbon and

nutrient conditions. Here, we present part of this study looking at the link between litter management, soil properties and infiltration.

Method The two-year research project is conducted using Citizen Science at study sites located in London (Kew Gardens), Birmingham (Cannon Hill).

Each site will be visited twice during Spring and Autumn. Soil measurements and samples will be collected below and outside the canopy of

Lime trees (Tilia x europaea) in areas with and without litter removal. Measurements include:

Citizen scientist also collect samples for further analysis in the laboratory, including: LOI, total C, soil colour and texture, water extractable

carbon (UV-Vis, DOC) and water holding capacity. SUCTION RATE 1cm mini disk infiltrometer or soil compaction with pocket penetrometer.

Preliminary ResultsThe preliminary results in the UK indicate that the increased litter in unmanaged sites significantly improved measures of soil health,

specifically total carbon content, reduced compaction and bulk density. Improvements in soil health were related to increased infiltration.

Therefore, both climate and water regulation were improved by not removing leaf litter.

Next StepsFurther work is needed to better understand the mechanisms underpinning this, specifically the functional role of soil organisms to identifythe best land management practices for the benefit of urban trees and soils and the ecosystem services they deliver. Scientific data collectionand analysis will continue for the remaining 2019 field season.

Interlinkages between soil and tree health in the

urban environment: a Citizen Science EU

research project

LitterManaged Unmanaged

Soil organic matter Soil Structure Soil Hydrology

Infiltration rate (Mini Disk Infiltrometer) Soil Colour Soil Texture Soil Compaction (Pocket Penetrometer)

Wouter Buytaert 3 | Joanna Clark1

1 University of Reading, Reading, UK; 2 Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Oxford, UK; 3 Imperial College London, London, UK

Measuring Soil and Tree Temperatures During Prescribed Fires

Session 5.3 tree soil interactions and provision of soil mediated ecosystem services

Sand (tree soil) 1 TYPICAL CROP TYPES - Sensoterra · 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Typical graph for Sand (tree soil) 1 S i l t C l ay Sand TYPICAL CROP TYPES Sand (Tree soil) 1 is mostly

Managing Resident Soil Biology for Tree Health