A comparative characterization of postagrogenic soils under different lithological conditions in the Southern Taiga

The soils under two meadows overgrown by a small-leaved forest that are no longer used for agricultural purposes were studied. The changes in the plant cover resulted in an increase in the soil acidity, a decrease in the humus content, and a transformation of its composition; the content of fulvic acids increased. The most essential modifications to the soils were related to alterations in the density of the birch forest. The degree and rate of these changes depended on the local environmental conditions, such as the soil texture, the depth of the moraine layer, and the dynamics of vegetation. The dynamics of acidity were displayed to a greater degree in the sandy soils, while the dynamics of the humus content and its reserves were evidenced in the heavy-textured soils.     

Characteristics of dissolved organic matter and phenolic compounds in forest soils under silver birch (Betula pendula), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

The aim was to characterize dissolved organic matter in soils under different tree species. Molecular size distribution and chemical composition of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen were determined in water extracts from humus layers and mineral soils taken from silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth.), Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) stands. Concentrations of tannins and 15 phenolic acids in the humus layers were measured. Per unit of organic matter, the concentrations of dissolved organic C and N were larger in birch and spruce humus layers than in the pine humus layer. In the underlying mineral soil, the concentrations of dissolved organic C were similar at all sites, but the concentration of dissolved organic N was greater in spruce and pine soils than in birch soil. In all soils, the 10–100 kDa fraction was the most abundant molecular size group and hydrophobic acids the most abundant chemical group of dissolved organic C. In all humus layers, hydrophobic acids and hydrophilic bases were the major components of dissolved organic N. There were only minor differences in the concentrations of total tannins in the humus layers under different tree species. Small-molecule tannins (about < 0.5 kDa) were most abundant in the birch humus, and large-molecule tannins in the pine humus. Coniferous humus contained more ferulic and p -coumaric acids than did the birch humus. The concentrations of 3,4 and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were similar in all soils.     

Dynamics of some properties in postagrogenic soils of southern taiga in the course of plant succession

The dynamics of carbon in ecosystems of abandoned agricultural lands were studied in the southern taiga zone. The soil acidity increased in the course of natural reforestation (the transition from meadow ecosystems to forest ecosystems) of the plots. The humus content in the upper soil layer decreased; changes in the humus content were less pronounced in sandy soils. The emission of carbon dioxide from the soils depended on the stage of vegetation succession during the restoration of forest vegetation.     

The effect of different tree species on the chemical and microbial properties of reclaimed mine soils

The chemical and microbial properties of afforested mine soils are likely to depend on the species composition of the introduced vegetation. This study compared the chemical and microbial properties of organic horizons and the uppermost mineral layers in mine soils under pure pine (Pinus sylvestris), birch (Betula pendula), larch (Larix decidua), alder (Alnus glutinosa), and mixed pine–alder and birch–alder forest stands. The studied properties included soil pH, content of organic C (C_org) and total N (N_t), microbial biomass (C_mic), basal respiration, nitrogen mineralization rate (Min-N), and the activities of dehydrogenase, acid phosphomonoesterase, and urease. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was used to detect differences in the chemical composition of soil organic matter under the studied forest stands. There were significant differences in C_org and N_t contents between stands in both O and mineral soil horizons and also in the chemical composition of the accumulated organic matter, as indicated by NIR spectra differences. Alder was associated with the largest C_org and N_t accumulation but also with a significant decrease of pH in the mineral soil. Microbial biomass, respiration, the percentage of C_org present as C_mic, Min-N, and dehydrogenase activity were the highest under the birch stand, indicating a positive effect of birch on soil microflora. Admixture of alder to coniferous stand increased basal respiration, Min-N, and activities of dehydrogenase and acid phosphomonoesterase as compared with the pure pine stand. In the O horizon, soil pH and N_t content had the most important effects on all microbial properties. In this horizon, the activities of urease and acid phosphomonoesterase did not depend on microbial biomass. In the mineral layer, however, the amount of accumulated C and microbial biomass were of primary importance for the enzyme activities.     

长白山地区不同植被下土壤酸度状况

The acidity regimes of representative soils on the north slope of the Changbai Mountains were examined through determinations of pH and pCa of the soil paste as well as in-situ determinations,For soils under broad-leaf forest or broad-leaf-Korean pine forest,the pH decreased from the litte to lower layers gradually until it did not change or decreased further slightly .For soils under coniferous of Erans birch forest,ther was a minimum in pH at a depth of 3-6 cm where the content of humus was high,The pCa increased gradually from the soil surface downward to a constant value.The lime potential(pH-0.5pCa) showed a similar trend as the pH in its distribution.For a given soil,the measured pH value of the thick paste,ranging from 4.5 to 5.5,was lower by about 0.5 units than the value determined by the conventional method with a water to soil ratio of 5:1 ,The pH determined in situ was even lower.It was found that there was a firly close relationship between soil acidity and the type of vegetation.The pH showed a trend of decreasing from soils under broda-leaf forest through broad-leaf-conifer mixed rorest and coniferos forest to Ermans birch forest,and the pCa showed an opposite trend in variation.     

长白山北坡原始林采伐对土壤性质影响的研究

长白山北坡是我国中纬度地区保持得比较完好的著名原始林区。林木组成复杂,成林树种丰富,每公顷蓄积量可达300—600立方米。而适合采伐的成过熟林已占绝大部分。据白河林业局资料:其林分蓄积中成过熟林占90.1%,这些成过熟林的林木生长量已大为减退,平均生长率为3.96%,而自然枯损率却占1.87%。特别是针叶树种平均自然枯损率高达3.79%,几乎与平均生长率相等¹⁾,这表明该局的森林资源应及时开发利用。另一方面,这些可采伐的原始林,地处熔岩高原,是第二松花江的源头,现有森林覆被对于调节气候、涵养水源、保持水土的作用是难于估量的。若采伐方式不当,是否会引起森林立地条件恶化而不利于更新造林,导致生态失去平衡并带来极大的灾难。为此,1982年吉林省林学会联合我院等十多个单位,针对上述问题,从各方面进行考察。笔者等用设立标准地调查对比的方法,于落叶松纯林和阔叶红松林采伐迹地上进行研究,现将初步结果报道如下。     

Microbial community structure and characteristics of the organic matter in soils under Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pendula at two forest sites

 Microbial biomass C (C_mic), C mineralization rate, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) using Biolog were determined from the humus and mineral soil layers in adjacent stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) at two forest sites of different fertility. In addition, the Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra were run on the samples for characterization of the organic matter. C_mic and C mineralization rate tended to be lowest under spruce and highest under birch, at the fertile site in all soil layers and at the less fertile site in the humus layer. There were also differences in microbial community structure in soils under different tree species. In the humus layer the PLFAs separated all tree species and in the mineral soil spruce was distinct from pine and birch. CLPPs did not distinguish microbial communities from the different tree species. The FTIR spectra did not separate the tree species, but clearly separated the two sites. Received: 3 December 1999     

大兴安岭林区落叶松林地不同发育阶段土壤肥力演变与评价

 以大兴安岭林区不同发育阶段兴安落叶松人工林和天然次生林为研究对象,采用野外调查和定量分析相结合的方法,对林地土壤有机质、土壤腐殖质组成、土壤酸度指标及其主要养分含量的变化进行测定和分析。利用主成分分析的方法,以各主成分特征贡献率为权重,加权计算各林地土壤肥力综合指标值。结果表明:随着林龄的增长,不同发育阶段落叶松人工林土壤酸度总体呈现升高的趋势,土壤有酸化的迹象;全磷和速效钾呈现降低的趋势;有机质、水解氮、胡敏酸和胡敏素含量在近熟林略有升高,但总体呈现降低的趋势。土壤肥力评价结果为:天然林>幼龄林>近熟林>中龄林>成熟林,即随着林龄的增长,土壤肥力迅速下降,其主要原因是林地凋落物分解缓慢。因此,建议通过适度提高林地抚育强度,调整群落结构,增加林地光照,诱导天然阔叶树种进入,形成针阔混交林的调控措施,调节落叶松人工纯林凋落物分解与积累的矛盾,以维持地力平衡和提高林地生产力。     

Transformation of ecofunctional parameters of soil microbial cenoses in clearings for power transmission lines in Central Siberia

Changes in soil microbial processes and phytocenotic parameters were studied in clearings made for power transmission lines in the subtaiga and southern taiga of Central Siberia. In these clearings, secondary meadow communities play the main environmental role. The substitution of meadow vegetation for forest vegetation, the increase in the phytomass by 40–120%, and the transformation of the hydrothermic regime in the clearings led to the intensification of the humus-accumulative process, growth of the humus content, reduction in acidity and oligotrophy of the upper horizons in the gray soils of the meadow communities, and more active microbial mineralization of organic matter. In the humus horizon of the soils under meadows, the microbial biomass (C_micr) increased by 20–90%, and the intensity of basal respiration became higher by 60–90%. The values of the microbial metabolic quotient were also higher in these soils than in the soils under the native forests. In the 0- to 50-cm layer of the gray soils under the meadows, the total C_micr reserves were 35–45% greater and amounted to 230–320 g/m³; the total microbial production of CO₂ was 1.5–2 times higher than that in the soil of the adjacent forest and reached 770–840 mg CO₂-C/m³ h. The predominance of mineralization processes in the soils under meadows in the clearings reflected changes in edaphic and trophic conditions of the soils and testified to an active inclusion of the herb falloff into the biological cycle.     

The influence of tree species on the biomass of denitrifying bacteria in gray forest soils

The biomass of two groups of microorganisms was studied in gray forest soils under six tree species (spruce, Scotch pine, Arolla pine, larch, birch, and aspen) and in the soil of a layland (a clearing in the forest) using kinetic methods. The biomass was the highest in the soil of the layland. The lowest (19.4 μg C/g of soil) biomass of heterotrophic microorganisms was found in the soil under the birch trees, and the highest one (41.7 and 32.0 μg C/g), under the pine and spruce ones. The biomass of denitrifying microorganisms was lower by thirty times than that of the heterotrophic ones. In the soils under the pine and spruce trees (8.4 and 9.2 μg C/g, respectively), the biomass of the denitrifying microorganisms was the lowest; under the birch and larch trees, it was the highest (16.7 and 13.7 μg C/g).     

Dynamics of Soil Properties and Plant Composition during Postagrogenic Evolution in Different Bioclimatic Zones

The postagrogenic dynamics of acidity and some parameters of humus status have been studied in relation to the restoration of zonal vegetation in southern taiga (podzolic and soddy-podzolic soils (Retisols)), coniferous-broadleaved (subtaiga) forest (gray forest soil (Luvic Phaeozem)), and forest-steppe (gray forest soil (Haplic Phaeozem)) subzones. The most significant transformation of the studied properties of soils under changing vegetation has been revealed for poor sandy soils of southern taiga. The degree of changes in the content and stocks of organic carbon, the enrichment of humus in nitrogen, and acidity in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer during the postagrogenic evolution decreases from north to south. The adequate reflection of soil physicochemical properties in changes of plant cover is determined by the climatic zone and the land use pattern. A correlation between the changes in the soil acidity and the portion of acidophilic species in the plant cover is revealed for the southern taiga subzone. A positive relationship is found between the content of organic carbon and the share of species preferring humus-rich soils in the forest-steppe zone.     

Microbial biomass and activity in soil and litter underPinus sylvestris, Picea abies andBetula pendula at originally similar field afforestation sites

Microbial biomass C and N, and activities related to C and N cycles, were compared in needle and leaf litter, and in the uppermost 10 cm of soil under the litter layer in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula L.) stands, planted on originally similar field afforestation sites 23–24 years ago. The ground vegetation was differentiated under different tree species, consisting of grasses and herbs under birch and pine, and mosses or no vegetation with a thick layer of needles under spruce. The C:N ratio of the soils was 13–21 and the soil pH_{CaCl 2} 3.8–5.2. Both showed little variation under different tree species. Microbial biomass C and N, C mineralization, net ammonification, reduction) did not differ significantly in soil under different tree species either. Birch leaf litter had a higher pH_{CaCl 2} (5.9) than spruce and pine needle litter (pH 5.0 and 4.8, respectively). The C:N ratio of spruce needles was 30, and was considerably higher in pine needles (69) and birch leaves (54). Birch leaves tended to have the highest microbial biomass C and C mineralization. Spruce needles appeared to have the highest microbial biomass N and net formation of mineral N, whereas formation of mineral N in pine needles and birch leaves was negligible. Microbial biomass C and N were of the same order of magnitude in the soil and litter samples but C mineralization was tenfold higher in the litter samples.     

Stages of the development of alluvial soils in the Bikin River valley (the Amur River basin) in the Middle and Late Holocene

The evolution of alluvial soils in the Bikin River basin in the Middle and the Late Holocene is discussed. On the basis of biostratigraphic data, four pollen zones have been identified in the soils: Pinus koraiensis-Picea, Pinus koraiensis-Quercus-Sphagnum, Betula-Alnus-Alnaster, and Quercus. A set of soil characteristics (texture, acid-base properties, and the organic matter content and group composition) have also been determined. These data allow us to distinguish between four stages of alluvial soil formation in the Bikin River basin. They characterize humus-forming conditions in the Middle and the Late Holocene. Reconstruction of ancient vegetation conditions makes it possible to conclude that climatic fluctuations were synchronous with changes in the soil characteristics. During the Holocene climatic optimum, humus was formed in a slightly acid medium, and humic acids predominated. In cold periods with increased precipitation, fulvic acids predominated in the composition of humus, and the portion of insoluble residue was high because of the more acid medium. The stages of alluvial pedogenesis in the Bikin River valley follow the sedimentation model of soil evolution. Alluvial gray humus soils evolved from typical gray humus soils under meadow communities during warm periods to gleyic and gleyed soils under birch shrubs and alder groves in colder and wetter periods.     

Spatial-temporal dynamics of organic carbon in soddy-podzolic soils of postagrogenic biogeocenoses

The organic carbon content in developed soddy-podzolic soils increased during the overgrowing of abandoned plowland with meadow and forest vegetation. The highest carbon content was recorded at the stage of 40–50-year-old forest, which was related to the largest input of organic matter into the soil and the intense litter decomposition during this period. A decrease in the soil carbon content was observed during the development of forest vegetation on the long-term hayfields in place of the former croplands, because the humus content in the lower part of the old-arable horizon decreased significantly. The spatial variability in the distribution of organic carbon in the soils increased with the development of forest biogeocenoses.     

Microbial biomass and activity in soil and litter underPinus sylvestris, Picea abies andBetula pendula at originally similar field afforestation sites

Microbial biomass C and N, and activities related to C and N cycles, were compared in needle and leaf litter, and in the uppermost 10 cm of soil under the litter layer in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula L.) stands, planted on originally similar field afforestation sites 23–24 years ago. The ground vegetation was differentiated under different tree species, consisting of grasses and herbs under birch and pine, and mosses or no vegetation with a thick layer of needles under spruce. The C:N ratio of the soils was 13–21 and the soil pH_{CaCl 2} 3.8–5.2. Both showed little variation under different tree species. Microbial biomass C and N, C mineralization, net ammonification, reduction) did not differ significantly in soil under different tree species either. Birch leaf litter had a higher pH_{CaCl 2} (5.9) than spruce and pine needle litter (pH 5.0 and 4.8, respectively). The C:N ratio of spruce needles was 30, and was considerably higher in pine needles (69) and birch leaves (54). Birch leaves tended to have the highest microbial biomass C and C mineralization. Spruce needles appeared to have the highest microbial biomass N and net formation of mineral N, whereas formation of mineral N in pine needles and birch leaves was negligible. Microbial biomass C and N were of the same order of magnitude in the soil and litter samples but C mineralization was tenfold higher in the litter samples.     

Relationships between parameters of the humus status of forest and meadow soils and their altitudinal position on the main Crimean range

The influence of bioclimatic conditions related to the elevation above sea level on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of humus in mountain soils has been studied. It is shown that changes in the water and temperature conditions with the altitude do not exert significant effect on the humus content in mountain- forest soils, because the total amount of soil organic matter mainly depends on the composition and state of the vegetation cover. The humus content is the highest in meadow soils formed on mountain plateau with excessive moistening, which determines the formation of dense grass cover and the temperature regime favorable for humification. The percentage of Cha in the composition of Corg and the optical density of humic acids (HAs) are the qualitative parameters of the soil humus status changing with the altitude. The intensity of humus coloring of the soil depends on the content and optical density of HAs. A comparison of color intensity in the mountainous meadow chernozemlike soils and plain chernozems has shown its significant dependence on the hydrothermic conditions.     

Changes in the physical properties of soils in the Kamennaya Steppe under the impact of shelterbelts

The physical properties of ordinary chernozems and meadow-chernozemic soils under different land management practices (maple, larch, birch, and pine sections of the shelterbelts; continuous (since 1959) fallow; and arable field (since 1952)) were studied in the Kamennaya Steppe. The soils had favorable physicochemical properties, light clayey texture, and high microaggregation independently from the type of land management. The long-term impact of the shelterbelts improved the soil structure in the upper part of the humus horizon: the content of agronomically valuable aggregates increased, the content of coarse aggregates (>10 mm) decreased, the aggregation coefficient increased by 3.7–4.3 times, and the water stability of the aggregates became by 8–12% higher. The soils under the shelterbelts were characterized by minimum values of the bulk density and solid phase density and by maximum values of the total, active, and air porosities. At the same time, no considerable differences between water reserves in the studied range of soils were detected. The ratio of the optimum productive water range to the active (productive) water range (OPWR/AWR) within the upper soil meter varied from 0.42–0.44 to 0.45–0.54. This points to changes in the character of perched water: the content of intra-aggregate capillary-perched water decreases, and content of film perched water increases down the soil profile.     

Soil organisms and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralisation in Norway spruce and mixed Norway spruce – Birch stands

 We examined how soil organisms and C, N and P mineralisation are affected by admixing deciduous tree species, silver birch (Betula pendula) and woollen birch (B. pubescens), in managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands. Pure spruce and mixed spruce–birch stands were examined at four sites in southern and central Sweden. Soil macroarthropods and enchytraeids were sampled in litter and soil. In the uppermost 5 cm of soil humus we determined microbial biomass and microbial respiration; we estimated the rate of C, N and P mineralisation under laboratory conditions. The densities of Coleoptera, Diptera and Collembola were larger in mixed stands than in spruce stands. Soil fauna composition differed between mixed and spruce stands (as revealed by redundancy analysis). Staphyliniidae, Elateridae, Cecidiomyidae larvae and Onychiuridae were the families that increased most strongly in mixed stands. There were no differences in microbial biomass and microbial respiration, nor in the C, N and P mineralisation rates, between mixed and spruce stands. However, within mixed stands microbial biomass, microbial activity and C mineralisation were approximately 15% higher under birch trees than under spruce trees. We propose that the presence of birch leaf litter was likely to be the most important factor causing differences in soil fauna composition. Birch may also influence the quality and the decomposition rate of humus in mixed stands. However, when the proportion of birch trees is low, the short-term (decades) effect of this species on decomposition is likely to be small in mixed stands on acid forest soils. Received: 20 February 1998     

Specific features of organic matter in urban soils of Rostov-on-Don

Data on the fractional and group composition of humus in urban soils of Rostov-on-Don are discussed. We have compared the humus profiles of chernozems under tree plantations and those buried under anthropogenic deposits (including sealed chernozems under asphalt). It is shown that the type of humus in these soils remains stable despite a decrease in its total content after the long-term burial under asphalt. Under the impact of the trees, the organic matter of the chernozems acquired some features typical of gray forest soils, i.e., the humate-fulvate type of humus in the humus horizon and the sharp drop in the humus content down the soil profile.     

Soils of postpyrogenic larch stands in Central Siberia: Morphology,physicochemical properties,and specificity of soil organic matter

Morphological features, physicochemical properties, and specific characteristics of the organic matter of cryozems (Cryosols) under postpyrogenic larch forests affected by fires 2, 6, 22, 55, and 116 years ago are considered. The morphological changes in the soils affected by fires are manifested by the burning of the upper organic horizons with preservation of pyrogenic features in the soils for more than a century after the fire. In the first years (2 and 6 years) after the fire, the acidity of the organic horizons and their base saturation become lower. The postpyrogenic soils are characterized by the smaller contribution of the organic horizons to the total pools of soil organic carbon. In the studied cryozems, the organic carbon content is correlated with the contents of oxalate-extractable iron and aluminum. A decrease in the content of water-soluble organic compounds in the soils is observed after the fires; gradually, their content increases upon restoration of the ground cover.