Conversion of native forests to cattle pasture and coffee plantations in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica has resulted in reduced habitat and fragmentation of vital avian and mammalian migration corridors. Efforts to restore forest corridors have seen mixed success. Soils have largely been absent from the conversation of restoration in the region. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of soilscapes on forest re-establishment. Three land use types were examined: pasture/cropland with low seedling survivorship, high seedling survivorship, and intact forest. After preliminary soil exploration, representative soil pits were excavated and sampled for basic soil characterization parameters: horizons, texture, pH, NPK, % C, color, roots, resistivity, and structure. For each site, a set of sample points were probed, designed to encompass soilscape variability. At each sample point, depth to Bt or clay-restrictive horizon and thickness and color of the A horizon were recorded. Correlations between sample pits and probe data were constructed. Probe data were geospatially analyzed to determine expected conditions in intact forests and soilscape variables most associated with seedling success or failure. Depth to clay and organic carbon content best indicate seedling success. Geospatial analysis also revealed a relationship between slope and thickness of the A horizon, which impacts the organic carbon content present at each site. Improving local knowledge of terrain-soil relationships can help local communities and conservation groups prioritize areas for restoration efforts, improving success and effectiveness.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.