Factors controlling N2O and CH4 fluxes in mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine forest of Changbai Mountain, China

Using the closed chamber technique, thein situ measurements of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes was conducted in a broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain, China, from June 1994 to October 1995. The relationships between fluxes (N₂O and CH₄) and some major environmental factors (temperature, soil water content and soil available nitrogen) were studied. A significant positive correlation between N₂O emission and air/soil temperature was observed, but no significant correlation was found between N₂O emission and soil water content (SWC). This result showed that temperature was an important controlling factor of N₂O flux. There was a significant correlation between CH₄ uptake and SWC, but no significant correlation was found between CH₄ uptake and temperature. This suggested SWC was an important factor controlling CH₄ uptake. The very significant negative correlation between logarithmic N₂O flux and soil nitrate concentration, significant negative correlation between CH₄ flux and soil ammonium content were also found. This project is supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Afforested sites in a temperate grassland region: influence on soil properties and methane uptake

Methane (CH₄) flux at the soil-atmosphere interface (SAI) results from the balance between CH₄ production (methanogenesis) and CH₄ consumption (methanotrophy). The latter predominates in well-aerated mineral soils; is affected by a combination of abiotic and biotic factors, especially soil diffusivity, which depends on soil properties, and methanotroph activity. This work reports results of CH₄ fluxes from afforested sites located in a temperate region of formerly native grassland in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina, Southern Hemisphere), taking a naturalized pasture as a reference. Methane concentration [CH₄] and soil parameters along the soil profile were also measured to understand intersite differences in CH₄ fluxes at the SAI, that could be related to vegetation cover and its influence on soil properties and therefore, on CH₄ soil diffusivity. At all sites soils were CH₄ sinks in the range of ?3.55 to ?14.39 ng CH₄ m^?2 s^?1; the naturalized pasture presented the weakest one. Intersite differences in CH₄ fluxes may result from differences observed in [CH₄] profiles and CH₄ diffusion coefficients. [CH₄] variation could be explained mainly by differences in silt and clay content and bulk density that affect CH₄ soil diffusivity. These could be the result of afforestation that seems to improve the physical and biological soil attributes linked to CH₄ consumption as it meliorates its diffusivity.     

非生长季刺槐林土壤CH4通量的变化特征及其影响因子

[目的]探讨在非生长季不同天气条件下45年生刺槐林土壤CH₄通量的日变化和季节变化特征,并确定其主要影响因子.[方法]2014年10月-2015年4月(非生长季),在华北低山丘陵区黄河小浪底森林生态系统定位研究站,利用基于离轴积分腔输出光谱技术的土壤CH₄通量自动观测系统,对土壤CH₄通量进行连续观测,同步观测林内大气温度和相对湿度、5 cm深处土壤温度和土壤湿度、林内总辐射以及降雨量,分析各因子间的相互关系并确定影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子.[结果]表明:(1)在非生长季,刺槐人工林土壤为大气CH₄重要的汇,变化范围为-0.15~-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1 .晴天的林地土壤吸收CH₄能力 (-0.78 nmol·m^-2·s^-1) 明显高于阴天(-0.61 nmol·m^-2·s^-1)、降雨或降雪天气 (-0.58 nmol·m^-2·s^-1),而且呈"V"型日际变化特征;在2014年11月-2015年1月,土壤吸收CH₄能力逐渐下降,并维持相对较低的水平,直至2015年3月达到最大值 (-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1);(2)土壤CH₄通量与大气温度、5 cm深处土壤温度呈显著负相关,与相对湿度呈正相关;在2015年1月,土壤CH₄通量与总辐射呈正相关;(3)在生长末期土壤上冻阶段和冬季土壤冻结阶段,大气温度和相对湿度为影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子;而在生长季初期,主要的影响因子为大气温度和5 cm深处土壤温度.[结论]非生长季刺槐林土壤表现为大气CH₄的汇,在非生长季初期土壤吸收CH₄的能力最弱,主要受大气温度和相对湿度的影响,而在非生长季末期土壤吸收CH₄的能力逐渐增加,主要受大气温度和土壤温度的影响.     

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by using wood to protect against soil liquefaction

We compared the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a log pile (LP) to those from a sand compaction pile (SCP) and from cement deep mixing (CDM) as measures against soil liquefaction, assuming that forest and waste management scenarios influence the GHG (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) balance of wood. We found little difference between the LP and SCP methods with respect to GHG emissions from fossil fuel and limestone consumption. However, GHG emissions from the CDM method were seven times higher than emissions from the LP method. In the GHG balance of wood, when the percentage of CH₄ emissions from carbon in underground wood was lower than 3.3%, permanent storage in the log achieved greater reductions in GHG emissions than using the waste log as fuel in place of coal or heavy oil. In order to obtain reductions in GHG emissions by replacing SCPs or CDM with LPs, sustainable forest management with reforestation and prevention of CH₄ emissions from the underground log are essential. Using reforestation, permanent storage of the log, no CH₄ emission from the log, and using logging residues instead of coal, the LP can achieve reductions in GHG emissions of 121 tonnes of CO₂ per 100 m² of improvement area by replacing CDM.     

Converting conventional agriculture to poplar bioenergy crops: soil greenhouse gas flux

Conversion of agricultural fields to bioenergy crops can affect greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Soil GHG emissions were measured seasonally in poplar bioenergy and agricultural fields at three Northwestern US locations. A forest stand was also used at one location for comparison. A portable gas analyzer was used to measure CO₂ efflux and CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were first measured with chambers and later with gradients. Agricultural soil had 17% larger CO₂ efflux rates than poplar soil. Chamber fluxes showed no differences in CH₄ uptake but did show higher N₂O fluxes in poplar than agricultural soil. Gradient CH₄ uptake rates were highest in agricultural soil in the summer but showed no N₂O flux differences. Forest soils had smaller quarterly CO₂ efflux rates than agricultural soils and greater CH₄ uptake rates than poplar soils. The largest GHG contributor to soil GHG flux was CO₂, with those being ～1000 times larger than CH₄ flux rates and ～500 times larger than N₂O flux rates based on CO₂ equivalences. Converting conventional agricultural cropland to poplar bioenergy production does not have adverse effects on soil greenhouse gas flux and these results could be useful for modeling or life cycle analysis of land use conversion.     

Influence of coarse wood and pine saplings on nitrogen mineralization and microbial communities in young post-fire Pinus contorta

Nitrogen (N) limits productivity in many coniferous forests of the western US, but the influence of post-fire structure on N cycling rates in early successional stands is not well understood. We asked if the heterogeneity created by downed wood and regenerating pine saplings affected N mineralization and microbial community composition in 15-yr old lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) stands established after the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, USA). In three 0.25-ha plots, we measured annual in situ net N mineralization in mineral soil using resin cores (n = 100 per plot) under pine saplings, downed wood (legacy logs that survived the fire, and fire-killed trees that had fallen and were contacting or elevated above the ground), and in bare mineral soil. Annual in situ net N mineralization and net nitrification rates were both greater in bare mineral soil (8.4 ± 0.6 and 3.6 ± 0.3 mg N kg_soil⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively) than under pine saplings, contact logs, or elevated logs (ca. 3.9 ± 0.5 and 0.8 ± 0.1 mg N kg_soil⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). Net nitrification was positively related to net N mineralization under all treatments except for elevated logs. In laboratory incubations using ¹⁵N pool dilution, NH₄⁺ consumption exceeded gross production by a factor of two in all treatments, but consumption and gross production were similar among treatments. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, microbial community composition also did not vary among treatments. Thus, two- to three-fold differences in in situ net N mineralization rates occurred despite the similarity in microbial communities and laboratory measures of gross production and consumption of NH₄⁺ among treatments. These results suggest the importance of microclimate on in situ annual soil N transformations, and differences among sites suggest that broader scale landscape conditions may also be important.     

Effects of soil moisture and temperature on CH4 oxidation and N2O emission of forest soil

Soil samples were taken from depth of 0–12 cm in the virgin broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain in April, 2000. 20 μL·L⁻¹ and 200 μL·L⁻¹ CH₄ and N₂O concentration were supplied for analysis. Laboratory study on CH₄ oxidation and N₂O emission in forest soil showed that fresh soil sample could oxidize atmospheric methane and product N₂O. Air-dried soil sample could not oxidize atmospheric methane, but could product N₂O. However, it could oxidize the supplied methane quickly when its concentration was higher than 20 μL·L⁻¹. The oxidation rate of methane was increased with its initial concentration. An addition of water to dry soil caused large pulse of N₂O emissions within 2 hours. There were curvilinear correlations between N₂O emission and temperature (r²=0.706, p<0.05), and between N₂O emission and water content (r²=0.2968, p <0.05). These suggested temperature and water content were important factors controlling N₂O emission. The correlation between CH₄ oxidization and temperature was also found while CH₄ was supplied 200 μL·L⁻¹ (r²=0.3573, p<0.05). Temperature was an important factor controlling CH₄ oxidation. However, when 20 μL·L⁻¹ CH₄ was supplied, there was no correlation among CH₄ oxidization, N₂O emission, temperature and water content. Foundation item: This paper was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences. Biography: ZHANG Xiu-jun (1960-), female, Ph. Doctor, lecture in Laboratory of Ecological Process of Trace Substance in Terrestrial Ecosystem, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110015, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Temporal variation in nutrient status of a floodplain forest soil

Seasonal variation in nutrient status of a floodplain soil was studied in a silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) forest in central Illinois. Statistically significant temporal differences were measured in the concentration of NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and extractable P. Patterns of variation in NH₄-N and NO₃-N were related to organic C content and mineralization processes in the soil. Variation in extractable P was affected by flood-induced anaerobic conditions and soil pH. Temporal variation in soil nutrient status was one of the most dynamic features of nutrient cycling in the floodplain forest ecosystem. The potential for seasonal variation in the availability of nutrients should be considered when chemical data are used to characterize forest soil fertility and site productivity. Samples should be collected at several points in time if possible.     

Soil greenhouse gas emissions from agroforestry and other land uses under different moisture regimes in lower Missouri River Floodplain soils: a laboratory approach

Changes in land use management practices may have multiple effects on microclimate and soil properties that affect soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Soil surface GHG emissions need to be better quantified in order to assess the total environmental costs of current and possible alternative land uses in the Missouri River Floodplain (MRF). The objective of this study was to evaluate soil GHG emissions (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) in MRF soils under long-term agroforestry (AF), row-crop agriculture (AG) and riparian forest (FOR) systems in response to differences in soil water content, land use, and N fertilizer inputs. Intact soil cores were obtained from all three land use systems and incubated under constant temperature conditions for a period of 94 days using randomized complete block design with three replications. Cores were subjected to three different water regimes: flooded (FLD), optimal for CO₂ efflux (OPT), and fluctuating. Additional N fertilizer treatments for the AG and AF land uses were included during the incubation and designated as AG-N and AF-N, respectively. Soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were affected by the land use systems and soil moisture regimes. The AF land use resulted in significantly lower cumulative soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions than FOR soils under the OPT water regime. Nitrogen application to AG and AF did not increase cumulative soil CO₂ emissions. FLD resulted in the highest soil N₂O and CH₄ emissions, but did not cause any increases in soil cumulative CO₂ emissions compared to OPT water regime conditions. Cumulative soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were positively correlated with soil pH. Soil cumulative soil CH₄ emissions were only affected by water regimes and strongly correlated with soil redox potential.     

Evolution of soil microbial biomass in restoration process of Robinia pseudoacacia plantations in an eroded environment

Vegetation recovery is a key measure to improve ecosystems in the Loess Plateau in China. To understand the evolution of soil microorganisms in forest plantations in the hilly areas of the Loess Plateau, the soil microbial biomass, microbial respiration and physical and chemical properties of the soil of Robinia pseudoacacia plantations were studied. In this study, eight forest soils of different age classes were used to study the evolution of soil microbial biomass, while a farmland and a native forest community of Platycladus orientalis L. were chosen as controls. By measuring soil microbial biomass, metabolic quotient, and physical and chemical properties, it can be concluded that soil quality was improved steadily after planting. Soil microbial biomass of C, N and P (SMBC, SMBN and SMBP) increased significantly after 10 to 15 years of afforestation and vegetation recovery. A relatively stable state of soil microbial biomass was maintained in near-mature or mature plantations. There was an increase of soil microbial biomass appearing at the end of the mature stage. After 50 years of afforestation and vegetation recovery, compared with those in farmland, the soil microbial biomass of C, N and P increased by 213%, 201% and 83% respectively, but only accounting for 51%, 55% and 61% of the increase in P. orientalis forest. Microbial soil respiration was enhanced in the early stages, and then weakened in the later stage after restoration, which was different from the change of soil organic carbon. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was significantly higher in the soils of the P. orientalis forest than that in farmland at the early restoration stage and then decreased rapidly. After 25 years of afforestation and vegetation recovery, qCO₂ in soils of the R. pseudoacacia forest was lower than that in the farmland soil, and reached a minimum after 50 years, which was close to that of the P. orientalis forest. A significant relationship was found among soil microbial biomass, qCO₂ and physical and chemical properties and restoration duration. Therefore, we conclude that it is possible to artificially improve the ecological environment and soil quality in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau; a long time, even more than 100 years, is needed to reach the climax of the present natural forest. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2007, 27(3): 909–917 [译自: 生态学报]     

长白山两种森林类型土壤颗粒有机碳和黑碳分布特征

[目的]量化长白山原始阔叶红松林和杨桦次生林土壤颗粒有机碳和黑碳含量及分布特征,为研究东北森林土壤有机碳分布和积累提供依据。[方法]采用粒径分组方法测定原始阔叶红松林和杨桦次生林土壤表层(A_(11))和亚表层(A_(12))颗粒有机碳(POC)和黑碳(BC)含量,分析其与土壤基本性质(有机质、含水量、p H值、粘粒和团聚体等)的关系。[结果]表明:(1)两种森林类型土壤A_(11)和A_(12)POC含量分别为31.89 88.00、5.25 19.45 g·kg~(-1),BC含量分别为8.43 22.40、3.39 12.10 g·kg~(-1),二者随土壤深度增加而显著下降(p0.01)。(2)森林类型显著影响土壤POC和BC,表现为杨桦次生林原始阔叶红松林。(3)两种森林类型土壤POC与土壤有机质、含水量、水稳性团聚体均显著相关,与p H值、粘粒相关性不显著;BC与土壤p H值、粘粒和团聚体相关性均不显著,与含水量显著相关,与有机质仅在A_(11)显著相关。(4)土壤POC和BC显著相关(p0.01)。[结论]在长白山地区森林类型显著影响土壤POC和BC含量,杨桦次生林土壤POC和BC显著高于原始阔叶红松林,很大程度上与森林的采伐和火烧有关。两种森林类型土壤POC和BC分布格局是土壤物理化学性质综合作用的结果。     

Identification of key soil indicators influencing plantation productivity and sustainability across a national trial series in New Zealand

New Zealand is committed to developing sustainable forest management practices as evidenced through Government involvement in international forestry agreements such as the Montreal Process, and the forestry sector's adoption of forest certification mechanisms. Despite this, there is little quantitative evidence of how plantation forestry affects site quality and long-term site productivity. To address this issue, a nationwide study of site quality was established at 31 key sites covering the range of edaphic and environmental conditions for New Zealand plantation forests. At each location, eight short-term site quality plots were planted at a very high stand density (40,000 stems ha⁻¹) to rapidly identify key soil indicators of growth which may be useful for determining site sustainability. The plots at each site were arranged in a factorial design with the following three factors: species (Pinus radiata D. Don and Cupressus lusitanica Mill.), fertiliser (no fertiliser and nutrients supplied in excess of crop demands) and disturbance (low and high disturbance). These plots were harvested after 4 years and data was used to (i) examine treatment and site effects on volume mean annual increment (MAI) and (ii) identify key soil properties that influence volume MAI for the two species.Volume MAI significantly ranged 7-fold across sites. For the treatments, species accounted for most of the variance in volume MAI, with values for P. radiata significantly exceeding those of C. lusitanica by 95%. Volume MAI was significantly affected by fertilisation which induced gains of 33%. Disturbance did not significantly affect volume MAI. After correction had been made for climatic variables, soil properties that were most strongly related to volume MAI for both species included C:N ratio, total phosphorus (P), and organic P. When soil properties were included in combination, the best predictive models of volume MAI formulated for P. radiata included total P and C:N ratio while the best predictive model for C. lusitanica included C:N ratio and Olsen P. Variation in species sensitivity to total P and C:N ratio is likely to be attributable to their different mycorrhizal associations. For both species, the most important soil physical property influenced by management operations was total porosity. This research suggests that total P, C:N ratio, Olsen P and total porosity should be used as indicator properties for determining sustainability of plantation grown P. radiata and C. lusitanica.     

Characteristics of carbon and nitrogen of soil microbial biomass and their relationships with soil nutrients in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

The soil microbial biomass and nutrient status under the native broadleaved forest and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations at the Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem (in Hunan Province, midland of China) were examined in this study. The results showed that after the native broadleaved forest was replaced by mono-cultured C. lanceolata or C. lanceolata, soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool decreased significantly. In the 0–10 cm soil layer, the concentrations of soil microbial carbon and nitrogen in the broadleaved forest were 800.5 and 84.5 mg/kg, respectively. These were 1.90 and 1.03 times as much as those in the first rotation of the C. lanceolata plantation, and 2.16 and 1.27 times as much as those in the second rotation of the plantation, respectively. While in the 10–20 cm soil layer, the microbial carbon and nitrogen in the broadleaved forest were 475.4 and 63.3 mg/kg, respectively. These were 1.86 and 1.60 times as much as those in the first rotation, and 2.11 and 1.76 times as much as those in the second rotation, respectively. Soil nutrient pools, such as total nitrogen, total potassium, NH₄ ⁺-N, and available potassium, also declined after the C. lanceolata plantation replaced the native broadleaved forest, or Chinese fir was planted continuously. Less litter and slower decay rate in pure Chinese fir plantation were the crucial factors leading to the decrease of soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool in this area. Human disturbance, especially slash-burning and site preparation, was another factor leading to the decrease. There were significant positive correlations between soil microbial carbon and nitrogen and soil nutrients. To improve soil quality and maintain sustainable productivity, some measures, including planting mixed conifer with hardwood, preserving residues after harvest, and adopting scientific site preparation, should be taken. Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(12): 2,292–2,296 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

The effect of forest management on trace gas exchange at the pedosphere–atmosphere interface in beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.) forests stocking on calcareous soils

The effect of forest management (thinning) on in situ carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) trace gas exchange between soil and atmosphere was studied in three consecutive years at three beech forest sites, which differ in aspect [southwest (SW), northeast (NE), northwest (NW)]. At all sites adjacent thinning plots (“T”) and untreated control plots (“C”) were established. Measurements at the SW and NE sites covered the years 4–6 after thinning while at the NW site measurements covered the year before and the first 2 years after thinning. Mean N₂O fluxes were <3 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹ at all plots except for the newly thinned NWT plot. CH₄ uptake was rather low, too. Very low CH₄ oxidation rates during dry periods are explained by physiological drought stress for CH₄ oxidizers. Heterotrophic litter decomposition constitutes the largest part of total soil respiration. On the whole, no significant positive or negative effects of the silvicultural treatment on the magnitude of CO₂-, CH₄- and N₂O-trace gas exchange could be observed at the SW site 4–6 years after thinning. Also at the NE site, no effects of thinning on CO₂ and N₂O fluxes could be demonstrated. However, at this site a significant moisture-induced lower CH₄ uptake could be shown. At the NW site forest management led to a dramatic increase in N₂O emissions in the first two summers after thinning and to distinct effects on CO₂ emissions and CH₄ uptake in the first year after the felling. The unambiguous effects of thinning at the NW site are mainly related to higher C input by dead residues leading to enhanced mineralization activity, to a shift in the competition for nutrients favoring microorganisms as compared to trees and to changes in the soil water availability at the thinned plot. Considering the data obtained from the NE and SW site we expect that with the development of an understorey vegetation at the NW site the observed effects on the magnitude of trace gas exchange due to thinning will continue to decline in the following years. Our results implicate that it is indispensable to take account of the effects of forest management in order to accurately calculate trace gas emission inventories for the investigated forest ecosystem in case thinning took place immediately before.     

德国中部Soiling云杉-山毛榉混交林冠层组成对土壤CO2排放的影响

It was hypothesized that soil respiration can be affected by canopy composition. Hence, admixture of trees as a common forest management practice may cause significant change in the carbon cycling. This study was conducted in a mixed spruce-beech stand at Solling forest in central Germany to investigate the effect of canopy composition on soil respiration. The canopy cover was classified in four major canopy classes (pure beech, pure spruce, mixed and gap), and the area under each canopy class was identified as a sub-plot. Soil respiration in each sub-plot (n=4) was measured monthly from Jun 2005 to July 2006. Results show significant difference in annual soil respiration between the beech (359 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹ C) and gap (211 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹ C) sub-plots. The estimation of the total below-ground carbon allocation (TBCA) based on a model given by Raich and Nadelhoffer revealed considerably higher root CO₂ production in the beech sub-plot (231 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹ C) compare to the gap sub-plot (51 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹ C). The contribution of the root respiration to the total soil respiration was higher in the soil under the beech canopy (59%) compared with the soil in the gap (29%). The findings suggested that the condition under the beech canopy may cause more desirable micro-site for autotrophic respiration and consequently higher CO₂ release into the atmosphere.     

Forest soil and litter as filtering media for suspended sediment

A series of two filtration experiments were conducted to evaluate the filtration function of forest soil experimentally. The first experiment evaluated the differences between the filtration capabilities of the A₀ horizon and A horizon, and the effect of overstory species on the filtration function of the A₀ horizon. Undisturbed A₀, A and A₀+A horizons were collected for the filter mediums with cylindrical samplers. Leaves ofQuercus serrata, Quercus myrsinaeforia, Sasa senanensis Pinus densiflora, Chamaecyparis obtusa, andCryptomeria japonica were also packed in the samplers. Various suspended sediment concentration of water were sprayed at constant intensity on the surface of samples. Filtering coefficients were not affected by SS concentration in all samples, and the order of filtering coefficient was: A₀ horizons>A₀+A horizons>A horizons in undisturbed forest soil samples, andQuercus serrata>Sasa senanensis>Quercus myrsinaeforia>Pinus densiflora”Chamaecyparis obtusa>Cryptomeria, japonica in leaf samples. These results led to the conclusion that SS from managed forests can best be prevented by buffer zones where a thick A₀ horizon is maintained. The second experiment evaluated the effect of turbid water supply rate on the filtration capacity. Undisturbed A horizons and four leaf types,Quercus serrata, Pinus densiflora, Chamaecyparis obtusa, andCryptomeria japonica were used as filter mediums. Filtering coefficients were inversely proportional to supply rate of turbid water in all samples.     

Microclimate regimes following gap formation in a montane secondary forest of eastern Liaoning Province, China

In order to improve the understanding of the role of a canopy opening/gap on the physical environments in a secondary forest in Northeastern China, a case study was conducted in and around a small irregular gap in a montane secondary forest. The secondary forest, which was severely disturbed by human beings about 50 years ago, was dominated by Quercus mongolica and Fraxinus rhynchophyllaan. Temporal variation in photosynthetic photon flux density （PPFD）, air temperature （TA） at 10 cm above the ground, soil temperature （Ts） and soil water content （SWC） at top-layer （0-15 cm） and sub-layer （15-30 cm） were measured from May to September after the second year since the formation of the small gap （the ratios of gap diameter to stand height were less than 0.5） in 2006 respectively. Results indicated that the highest value of PPFD occurred at the northern edge of the gap, particularly at the beginning of the growing season in May. On sunny days, the highest value of PPFD appeared earlier than that on overcast days. Maximum and mean values of TAwere higher in the northern part of the gap, and the minimum values of TAwere at the southern edge of the gap. Soil temperature varied obviously in the gap with the range from 1 to 8 ℃. Maximum values of Ts occurred at the northern part of the gap, which was significantly correlated with the maximum values of TA （R = 0.735, P〈0.05）. SWC was higher in the top-layer （0-15 cm） than that in sub-layer （15-30 cm）, but the difference of them was not significant （p〉0.05）, which might be attributed to the small gap size and the effects of aboveground vegetations. From these results, the maximum of PPFD in the study area occurred at the northern part of the gap, which was consistent with the results observed in north hemisphere, but the occurrence time varied with the differences of the latitudes. The highest values of air and soil temperatures also occurred in the northern part of the gap because they were affected by the radiation. However     

Thinning decreased soil respiration differently in two dryland Mediterranean forests with contrasted soil temperature and humidity regimes

The effects of a thinning treatment on soil respiration (Rs) were analysed in two dryland forest types with a Mediterranean climate in east Spain: a dry subhumid holm oak forest (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) in La Hunde; a semiarid postfire regenerated Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) forest in Sierra Calderona. Two twin plots were established at each site: one was thinned and the other was the control. Rs, soil humidity and temperature were measured regularly in the field at nine points per plot distributed into three blocks along the slope for 3 years at HU and for 2 years at CA after forest treatment. Soil heterotrophic activity was measured in laboratory on soil samples obtained bimonthly from December 2012 to June 2013 at the HU site. Seasonal Rs distribution gave low values in winter, began to increase in spring before lowering as soil dried in summer. This scenario indicates that with a semiarid climate, soil respiration is controlled by both soil humidity and soil temperature. Throughout the study period, the mean Rs value in the HU C plot was 13% higher than at HU T, and was 26% higher at CA C than the corresponding CA T plot value, being the differences significantly higher in control plots during active growing periods. Soil microclimatic variables explain the biggest proportion of variability for Rs: soil temperature explained 24.1% of total variability for Rs in the dry subhumid forest; soil humidity accounted for 24.6% of total variability for Rs in the semiarid forest. As Mediterranean climates are characterised by wide interannual variability, Rs showed considerable variability over the years, which can mask the effect caused by thinning treatment.

     

New diagrams to evaluate soil pore radius distribution and saturated hydraulic conductivity of forest soil

Based on the widely used soil pore classification systems, soil pore ratios α, β and γ were derived. α, β, and γ represent ratios of the fine capillary porosity, coarse capillary porosity, and non-capillary porosity to the effective porosity, respectively. The parametersψ _m and σ of the soil water retention model developed by Kosugi were related to these pore ratios, and a simple method was suggested to estimateψ _m and σ from measured soil pore ratios. By analyzing the observed retention data sets of forest soils, it was shown that the soil pore ratios are effectively used to evaluate the soil pore radius distribution. A coordinate system with log(−ψ _m ) on the abscissa and σ on the ordinate, which represents the constant α, β, and γ lines, was developed as a new diagram to evaluate the soil pore radius distribution in connection with the soil water retention characteristic. Then, the saturated hydraulic conductivityK _s of forest soils was correlated with the parametersψ _m and σ, and with the ratios α, β, and γ using the coordinate system and the triangle diagram. Results showed thatK _s is higher for the soil with a greater median and with a greater width of the pore radius distribution.K _s increases as the non-capillary pore ratio γ becomes greater and the coarse capillary pore ratio β becomes smaller. Functional relationships betweenK _s and the water retention parameters, and betweenK _s and the soil pore ratios were derived based on Mualem's model. The title is tentative translation from the original Japanese title by the author of this paper.     

Soil and the foliage nutrient status following soil amendment applications in a Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) plantation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of soil amendment applications on soil and the foliage nutrient status of a Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) plantation established following clear-cutting in a pine-wilt-disease (PWD)-disturbed forest. We established four soil amendment treatments [(compound fertilizer (CF), compound fertilizer + biochar (CFB), compound fertilizer + sawdust (CFS) and a non-treated control treatment] in an 8-year-old Japanese cypress plantation. Soil organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the soil amendment treatments and the control treatments, whereas extractable phosphorus (P), NH₄⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺ concentrations were significantly affected by the addition of biochar in CF. The mean soil CO₂ efflux rates during the study period were the highest in CFB (0.79 g CO₂ m^?2 h^?1), followed by CFS (0.71 g CO₂ m^?2 h^?1), CF (0.62 g CO₂ m^?2 h^?1), and the control (0.46 g CO₂ m^?2 h^?1) treatments. Foliar N and P concentrations were significantly higher in the CFB than in the control treatments. The results suggest that the addition of biochar in CF can enhance extractable soil nutrients and foliar N and P conditions of Japanese cypress established in a PWD-disturbed forest.