scholarly journals Effects of Moderate Nitrate and Low Sulphate Depositions on the Status of Soil Base Cation Pools and Recent Mineral Soil Acidification at Forest Conversion Sites with European Beech (“Green Eyes”) Embedded in Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Stands

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 573
Author(s):  
Florian Achilles ◽  
Alexander Tischer ◽  
Markus Bernhardt-Römermann ◽  
Ines Chmara ◽  
Mareike Achilles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Seepage Water ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Soil Base ◽  
Pine Stands

High N depositions of past decades brought changes to European forests including impacts on forest soil nutrition status. However, the ecosystem responses to declining atmospheric N inputs or moderate N depositions attracted only less attention so far. Our study investigated macronutrient (N, S, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) pools and fluxes at forest conversion sites over 80 years old in Central Germany with European beech (so-called “Green Eyes” (GE)). The GE are embedded in large spruce and pine stands (coniferous stands: CS) and all investigated forest stands were exposed to moderate N deposition rates (6.8 ± 0.9 kg ha−1 yr−1) and acidic soil conditions (pHH2O < 4.7). Since the understanding of forest soil chemical and macronutrient status is essential for the evaluation of forest conversion approaches, we linked patterns in water-bound nutrient fluxes (2001–2018) and in predicted macronutrient storage in the herbaceous and tree layer to patterns in litter fall (2016–2017) and in forest floor and mineral soil macronutrient stocks at GE and CS assessed in 2018. Our results exhibited 43% (Nt) and 21% (S) higher annual throughfall fluxes at CS than at GE. Seepage water at 100 cm mineral soil depth (2001–2018) of CS is characterized by up to fivefold higher NO3− (GE: 2 ± 0.7 µmolc L−1; CS: 9 ± 1.4 µmolc L−1) and sevenfold higher SO42− (GE: 492 ± 220 µmolc L−1; CS: 3672 ± 2613 µmolc L−1) concentrations. High base cation (∑ Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) concentrations in CS mineral soil seepage water (100 cm depth: 2224 ± 1297 µmolc L−1) show significant positive correlations with SO42−. Tree uptake of base cations at GE is associated especially with a Ca2+ depletion from deeper mineral soil. Foliar litter fall turns out to be the main pathway for litter base cation return to the topsoil at GE (>59%) and CS (>66%). The litter fall base cation return at GE (59 ± 6 kg ha−1 yr−1) is almost twice as large as the base cation deposition (30 ± 5 kg ha−1 yr−1) via throughfall and stemflow. At CS, base cation inputs to the topsoil via litter fall and depositions are at the same magnitude (24 ± 4 kg ha−1 yr−1). Macronutrient turnover is higher at GE and decomposition processes are hampered at CS maybe through higher N inputs. Due to its little biomass and only small coverage, the herbaceous layer at GE and CS do not exert a strong influence on macronutrient storage. Changes in soil base cation pools are tree species-, depth- and might be time-dependent, with recently growing forest floor stocks. An ongoing mineral soil acidification seems to be related to decreasing mineral soil base cation stocks (through NO3− and especially SO42− leaching as well as through tree uptake).

Effects of base cation fertilization on soil and foliage nutrient concentrations, and litter-fall and throughfall nutrient fluxes in a sugar maple forest

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 542-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Fyles ◽  
B. Côté ◽  
F. Courchesne ◽  
W.H. Hendershot ◽  
S. Savoie
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Fertilizer Response ◽  
Foliar Concentrations ◽  
Cycling System

Application of base cation fertilizers is widely used to ameliorate decline symptoms in hardwood forests in southern Quebec, but little is known about the effects of fertilization on nutrient cycling. Control and fertilized plots in a sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) dominated stand were monitored over a 4-year period to determine the effects of fertilization on exchangeable soil base cations in soil, foliar nutrient concentrations, and fluxes of N, K, Ca, and Mg in litter fall and throughfall. Fertilization had a large, immediate effect on exchangeable K, whereas effects on Ca and Mg were delayed and restricted to the organic forest floor, presumably because of the lower solubility of the limestone-based Ca and Mg components of the fertilizer. Fertilization raised pH in the organic forest floor the second and third years after application but had no effect in the B horizon. Foliar K, Ca, and Mg were elevated in the year of fertilization, but foliar concentrations of Ca and Mg did not differ from, or were lower than, controls in following years. Litter-fall K flux was increased by fertilization, but litter-fall Ca and Mg fluxes and all through-fall base cation fluxes were unaffected. In control plots, nutrient concentrations in soil remained relatively constant throughout the study, but foliar concentrations and, in particular, litter-fall fluxes varied widely from year to year. This natural variation caused control plots to shift from a state of deficiency in N, Ca, and Mg to a nutrient-sufficient state between the first and second years of study. Fertilization effects are superimposed on a naturally variable nutrient cycling system, and controls on this variability must be understood if fertilizer response is to be accurately predicted.

scholarly journals Natural abundance of 15N of a spruce forest ecosystem under acid rain and manipulated clean rain field conditions

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 377-387
Author(s):  
P. Sah S ◽  
R. Brumme ◽  
N. Lamersdorf
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Control Plot ◽  
Natural Abundance ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Bulk Precipitation ◽  
N Status

We analysed stable isotopes of N in a spruce forest under ambient rainfall (no further manipulation of the atmospheric input) and clean rain application (10 years of reduced inorganic N- and acid-constituent input). The objectives of the study were to assess whether or not the natural <sup>15</sup>N abundance would function as an indicator for the N-status of our forest ecosystems. For this purpose, natural <sup>15</sup>N abundance values were measured in needles, litter fall, roots, soil, bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil water of both plots. In the bulk precipitation and throughfall the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N values of NO<sub>3</sub>-N were in the range reported by other studies (–16 to + 23‰). In both plots, the throughfall was greatly depleted of <sup>15</sup>N compared to the bulk precipitation and this was attributed to nitrification in the canopy leaves, leading to &delta;<sup>15</sup>N-depleted nitrate production in the leaves that leaches down the soil surface. Nitrate in seepage water showed a general increase in &delta;<sup>15</sup>N values when it passes through the upper mineral soil (10 cm soil depth) and infiltrates into deeper mineral soil horizons (100 cm soil depth), similar to the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N enrichment of total nitrogen in the mineral soil. We observed <sup>15</sup>N depletion in both green needles and litter fall at the clean rain plot, compared to the N-saturated control plot. We assumed it to be due to increased mycorrhizal N-uptake under N limited, i.e. clean rain conditions which are indicated by relatively lower N concentrations of green needles. With respect to the vertical gradient of the <sup>15</sup>N abundance in the forest floor, both plots differ from each other, showing an untypical peak of &delta;<sup>15</sup>N depletion in the humus layer, which is more pronounced at the control plot. In contrast to the mineral soil where mineralisation is a dominant process for fractionation we attribute the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N pattern in the forest floor to additional processes like litter input and immobilisation. We conclude that the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N natural abundance analysis is helpful for interpreting the N-status of forest ecosystems but further research is needed especially with respect to the soil-root interface.

Admixing other tree species to European beech forests: Effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks. A review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Rehschuh ◽  
Michael Dannenmann
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Soc Stocks

&lt;p&gt;Drought-sensitive European beech forests are increasingly challenged by climate change. Admixing other, preferably more deep-rooting, tree species has been proposed to increase the resilience of beech forests to summer drought. This might not only alter soil water dynamics and availability, but also soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) storage in soils. Since information of these effects is scattered, our aim was to synthesize results from studies that compared SOC/TN stocks of beech monocultures with those of mixed beech stands as well as of other monocultures. We conducted a meta-analysis including 40 studies with 208, 231 and 166 observations for forest floor, mineral soil and the total soil profile, respectively. Pure conifer stands had higher SOC stocks compared to beech in general, especially in the forest floor with up to 200% (larch forests). Other broadleaved tree species (ash, oak, lime, maple, hornbeam) showed in comparison to beech lower SOC storage in the forest floor, with little impact on total stocks. &amp;#160;Similarly, for mixed beech-conifer stands we found significantly increased SOC stocks of &gt;10% and a small increase in TN stocks of approx. 4% compared to beech monocultures, which means a potential SOC storage increase of &gt;0.1 t ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;yr&lt;sup&gt;-1 &lt;/sup&gt;(transformation of mineral soil to 100 cm depth). In contrast, mixed beech-broadleaved stands did not show a significant change in total SOC stocks. Currently, the influence climatic and soil parameters on SOC changes due to admixture of other tree species is analyzed based on this dataset. This is expected to facilitate an assessment which mixtures with beech have the largest potential towards increasing SOC stocks.&lt;/p&gt;

Distribution of water-soluble organic carbon in an aspen forest soil

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1266-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.Z. Huang ◽  
J.J. Schoenau
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Water Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Prince Albert National Park ◽  
Aspen Forest

The purpose of this study was to characterize the quantity, distribution, and variance of water-soluble organic C (WSOC) in a soil under trembling aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) in the southern boreal forest of Canada. WSOC was determined monthly from May to October 1994 in the forest floor horizons (L, F, H) and mineral soil (Ae) of an aspen stand in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan. The concentration of WSOC varied considerably with profile depth, but varied little among the slope positions and aspects. The L horizon had the highest WSOC concentration (425–8690 mg•kg−1 ovendried soil), followed by the F, H, and Ae horizons. The concentration of WSOC in the Ae horizon was significantly related to the concentration in forest floor horizons above. Water-soluble organic C in the Ae horizon likely was derived from the overlying organic layer by leaching. In a laboratory incubation, the rate of WSOC release (the net result of release and uptake) during incubation decreased continuously over time, but in the field, the rate of WSOC release decreased slightly early in the growing season, but increased later in the season as new litter fall reached the forest floor. This indicates that litter fall is a major factor in the replenishment of WSOC in aspen forest stands.

Comparative fate of glyphosate and triclopyr herbicides in the forest floor and mineral soil of an Acadian forest regeneration site

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1808-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean G Thompson ◽  
Douglas G Pitt ◽  
Teresa M Buscarini ◽  
Bozena Staznik ◽  
David R Thomas
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Regeneration ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Herbicide Residues ◽  
Residue Levels ◽  
Acadian Forest ◽  
Glyphosate Formulations

Following applications of three different salt formulations of glyphosate (Vision®, Touchdown®, and Mon14420) and an ester formulation of triclopyr (Release®) to an Acadian forest regeneration site in New Brunswick, Canada, the fate and persistence of herbicide residues in the forest floor and underlying mineral soil were investigated. Within 14 days of treatment, maximal residue levels (average 8.3 µg·g dry mass–1) were observed in the forest floor matrix following application of the glyphosate formulations, with higher values (45.7 µg·g dry mass–1) observed for triclopyr. Residue maxima in the underlying mineral soil were, on average, 5.7-fold lower than those in the forest floor. In both matrices, glyphosate residues declined exponentially with time, irrespective of the formulation applied. Among the glyphosate treatments no significant differences (p = 0.16, p = 0.97, for forest floor and mineral soil respectively) were observed in the estimated times to 50% dissipation (DT50). Overall, average DT50 values for glyphosate were estimated as 12 ± 2 and 10 ± 3 days for the forest floor matrix and mineral soil, respectively. Triclopyr residues, particularly in the forest floor, were characterized by a series of transient increases, possibly reflecting temporally varying inputs from dew, rainwash, or litter fall from surrounding treated vegetation. Triclopyr residues also dissipated with time, with approximate DT50 values ranging from 39 to 69 days in the forest floor and mineral soil, respectively.

scholarly journals Input-Output Budgets of Nutrients in Adjacent Norway Spruce and European Beech Monocultures Recovering from Acidification

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Michal Růžek ◽  
Oldřich Myška ◽  
Jiří Kučera ◽  
Filip Oulehle
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Solution Chemistry ◽  
Bulk Precipitation ◽  
Element Cycling ◽  
Beech Stand ◽  
Organic Horizons ◽  
Soil Buffering

Soil acidification has constituted an important ecological threat to forests in Central Europe since the 1950s. In areas that are sensitive to acid pollution, where the soil buffering capacity is naturally low, tree species can significantly modulate the extent of soil acidification by affecting throughfall deposition and the composition of litter. A principal difference can be expected between coniferous and broadleaf tree species. The aim of our study was to compare long-term trends in element cycling in two stands representing the main types of forest ecosystem in the region (Picea abies vs. Fagus sylvatica). In the period of 2005–2017, we continually measured element concentrations and fluxes in bulk precipitation, throughfall precipitation, and soil leachates. A continuous decline of acid deposition was detected in both bulk precipitation and throughfall. Declining deposition of S and N in both forests has led to the recovery of soil solution chemistry in the mineral soil, manifested by rising pH from 4.25 to 4.47 under spruce and from 4.42 to 4.69 in the beech stand. However, soil water in the spruce stand was more acidic, with higher concentrations of SO42− and Al when compared to the beech stand. While the acidity of soil leachates from organic horizons was driven mainly by organic anions, in lower mineral horizons it was controlled by inorganic acid anions. NO3− concentrations in deeper horizons of the spruce stand have diminished since 2006; however, in the beech plot, episodically elevated NO3− concentrations in mineral horizons are a sign of seasonal processes and of nearby perturbations. Higher output of S when compared to the input of the same element indicates slow S resorption, delaying the recovery of soil chemistry. Our results indicate that, although forest ecosystems are recovering from acidification, soil S retention and the ability to immobilize N is affected by the dominant tree species.

Long-term tobacco plantation induces soil acidification and soil base cation loss

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 5442-5450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuting Zhang ◽  
Xinhua He ◽  
Hong Liang ◽  
Jian Zhao ◽  
Yueqiang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Soil Base

scholarly journals Carbon Pools in Old-Growth Scots Pine Stands in Hemiboreal Latvia

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ķēniņa ◽  
Ieva Jaunslaviete ◽  
Līga Liepa ◽  
Daiga Zute ◽  
Āris Jansons
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Carbon Pool ◽  
Carbon Pools ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Living Tree ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Scots Pine Stands

Old-growth forests are widely recognised for the benefits they provide for biodiversity; however, a more comprehensive understanding of their role in climate change mitigation must still be established to find the optimal balance between different forest ecosystem services at a national or regional scale. Very few studies have assessed carbon pools in old-growth Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)-dominated boreal forests, and none have been conducted in hemiboreal forests. Therefore, we assessed the carbon storage of the living tree biomass, deadwood, forest floor (soil organic horizon, including all litter and decomposed wood), and mineral soil in 25 hemiboreal old-growth (163–218 years) unmanaged Scots pine stands in Latvia. The studied stands were without known records of any major natural or human-made disturbance in the visible past. Our results show, that the total ecosystem carbon pool (excluding ground vegetation) was 291.2 ± 54.2 Mg C ha−1, which was primarily composed of living tree biomass (59%), followed by mineral soil (31%), deadwood (5%), and the forest floor (5%). Within the studied stand age group, the total carbon pool remained stable; however, interchanges among the carbon pools, i.e., living biomass and laying deadwood, did occur.

Effects of bigleaf maple on soils in Douglas-fir forests

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Fried ◽  
James R. Boyle ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Kermit Cromack Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
Forest Floors

Soil chemical and physical properties, forest floor weights, nutrient content and turnover rates, and litter fall weights and nutrient content under bigleaf maple (Acermacrophyllum Pursh) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) were compared on five sites on the eastern margin of the Oregon Coast Range. Litter fall weight and nutrient content were significantly greater under maple on every site for every macronutrient and for most micronutrients. Forest floor biomass and nutrient content were extremely variable, much more so than litter fall, and there were no consistent differences between the two species. However, turnover rates for forest floor biomass and nutrients were significantly faster under maple for every nutrient at every site. Bulk density of mineral soil was also highly variable with significant differences at only two sites. Soil under maple was consistently higher in nitrogen, and less consistently, in potassium. There were no consistent trends in amounts of calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus. Soil organic carbon content under maple was significantly greater than under Douglas-fir on four of five sites. These differences may result from the more rapid turnover of forest floors under maple trees.

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