Despite the common use of Acacia species in Vietnam, few studies have examined changes to total soil nitrogen (TN) and total soil carbon (TC) following the planting of Acacia auriculiformis × A. mangium (Acacia hybrid) plantations (AH) on formerly eroded and degraded soils. We compared the impact of AH with adjacent fallow land within a shifting cultivation system (FSC) on various soil properties including TC, TN, pH, bulk densities and particle-size distribution in 10 cm increments down to 30 cm for 25 paired sites in northern Vietnam. The results show that TN and TC concentrations in AH were significantly higher at all 10 cm depth increments when compared to FSC. While both TC and TN decreased significantly with depth under both land uses, the C/N ratio only decreased in AH and not the FSC. However, there was a significant decrease in soil pH in AH at all depths (> 0.4 pH units) and this may potentially cause acid infertility issues. While the study has shown that planting Acacia hybrid is an excellent option for the improvement of TN and TC on degraded acidic Acrisols, mitigation of the associated acidification may be required.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	degraded acidic Acrisols, total soil nitrogen, soil organic carbon, soil depth, land use
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Forestry Sciences
Research Field:	Forestry Pests, Health and Diseases
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Forestry
Objective Field:	Hardwood Plantations
Author:	Thai Hung, T (Mr Hung Trieu Thai)
Author:	Doyle, R (Dr Richard Doyle)
Author:	Eyles, A (Dr Alieta Eyles)
Author:	Mohammed, C (Professor Caroline Mohammed)
ID Code:	109156
Year Published:	2017 (online first 2016)
Deposited By:	Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Deposited On:	2016-05-30
Last Modified:	2017-11-09
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