Response of artificial acid irrigation, liming, and N-fertilisation on elemental concentrations in needles, litter fluxes, volume increment, and crown transparency of a N saturated Norway spruce stand

The response of N-fertilisation, irrigation, acid irrigation, and liming on concentrations of elements in needles, fluxes of elements in litter, volume increment, and crown density on a full stocked, healthy, and vigorously growing mature spruce stand was investigated. The plots of the Höglwald site in Southern Bavaria exhibited a high volume increment with regularly more than 20 m³ ha⁻¹ per year, despite the high age of the stand (77 years at the beginning of the experiment in 1984). Neither a distinct growth reduction of the stand due to acid irrigation, or N oversaturation, nor an enhancement of growth due to N-fertilisation, irrigation, or liming of the stand could be detected. For the years 1984 and 1985 a marked decrease in crown density was detected for all plots. This was followed by a stagnation for 2 years. Afterwards the crown density improved until the end of the investigation for all plots. Neither acid irrigation, nor liming altered the amount of litter fall. Ca fluxes in litter, and concentrations in needles were enhanced on most of the limed plots five to six years after liming. Acid irrigation reduced Ca content in litter, but other elements were not or only slightly influenced. The nutritional status of all plots as shown by the concentrations of elements in needles indicates that for most of the years a sufficient to high supply of N, P, Ca, and Mg for all investigated plots, whereas K concentration in needles exhibited wide year to year variations. Most of the elemental concentrations in needles and fluxes in litter were not influenced by any of the treatments. Also, N-fertilisation did not enhance the N concentrations in needles significantly.     

The long-term effects of catchment liming and reduced sulphur deposition on forest soils and runoff chemistry in southwest Sweden

Whole catchment liming or forest liming has been proposed and implemented as a countermeasure to the effects of elevated sulphur deposition. Since the end of the 1980s the Swedish Forest Agency has undertaken experimental forest liming experiments in selected catchments in southern Sweden. These studies were with low doses (3 tonnes ha⁻¹) of lime (CaCO₃) and dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂). Data from both soil samples and stream water samples have been collected for the 16 years following treatment. The stream data has been complemented with data from untreated catchments, from the Swedish monitoring stream network. Significant differences due to treatment were seen for Ca, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) in the humus layer, none of these variables showed a statistically significant change in the mineral soil due to treatment alone. Soil samples from both the treated and untreated sites showed temporal changes in both the humus layer and the mineral soils with increases in pH, Ca and CEC and decreases in BS and Al which were independent of treatment. A combination of treatment and time, gave significant changes in BS and TA down to 10 cm in the mineral soil. In the stream water samples no statistically significant differences were observed between treated and untreated sites. Regardless of treatment, the streams exhibited a general pattern of declining concentrations of SO₄, Ca, sum of base cations (BC) and increasing acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). In summary, the application of a low dose of lime (3 tonnes ha⁻¹) did not result in significant changes in surface water chemistry in the study catchments and changes in soil chemistry were mainly restricted to the humus layer during the 16 years following treatment. The natural recovery, as a result of reductions in sulphur deposition, dominated the effects and was clearly seen in both the treated and untreated study sites. MAGIC simulations indicate that this recovery will continue in the coming decades.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket peatland streams I. phosphorus

Forest drains and streams on blanket peatland in western Ireland were sampled weekly, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling, and analysed for molybdate-reactive phosphorus (MRP) by the acid–antimony-molybdate method. The study area was largely clearfelled and partly reforested with wind-rowing, drainage, planting, and aerially applied rock phosphate equivalent to 70 kg P/ha. Further felled areas were not wind-rowed, drained or fertilised for reforestation. Catchment areas were of the following orders: 1 ha (two forest drains); 10–20 ha (two semi-permanent drains, one permanent stream); 1–3 km² (three permanent streams). Streamwater from three undisturbed closed-canopy-forest catchments had pre-felling median concentrations of MRP (all values are μg MRP l⁻¹) of 9 (catchment approximately 1 km²), 13 (1 ha) and 93 (1 ha). Clearfelling was associated with large increases (maxima 305, 4164 and 3530 μg MRP l⁻¹) in MRP concentrations in each case. Following protracted mechanical operations in four other catchments of ca. 1 km², 20, 10 and 10 ha, with apparently existing elevated MRP concentrations (medians 41, 328, 102, 214 μg MRP l⁻¹) fertilising gave major rises (maxima 218, 2723, 806, 2323 μg MRP l⁻¹). The three smaller catchments showed subsequent exponential-type declines, while the 1 km² catchment had sustained high values (median 74 μg MRP l⁻¹) over the remaining study period. The higher values in this one larger stream were seasonally cyclical, with a late summer maximum. Annual median MRP values above 70 μg l⁻¹ represent a seriously polluted state for these streams, which qualify as waterways under relevant statutes, but it is not clear what implications these results have for downstream river-water quality in larger channels.     

Effect of clear-cutting and site preparation on the level and quality of groundwater in some headwater catchments in eastern Finland

The impact of forest management (clear-cutting and site preparation) on stream hydrology has been studied in five small catchments in eastern Finland from 1991 and on groundwater levels and quality from 1994. The period 1992–1996 was a calibration period and in the autumn of 1996, 10% and 30% of the area of two of these catchments were clear-cut according to the forest management plan. Regeneration was carried out by disc-plowing in the autumn of 1998 and planting with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings in the spring of 1999. The depth and quality of groundwater was monitored with four to nine groundwater wells installed in each catchment. There were 32 wells in all, 16 on upland mineral soils and 16 on peatlands (the perforated part of the pipe was totally put into the underlying mineral soil at eight sites). Sampling was made monthly during spring (March–May) and autumn (November–December) and bimonthly during summer (June–October). The samples were chemically analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of total P and Fe (before filtration), and total N, NO₃⁻-N, NH₄⁺-N, total P, PO₄³⁻-P, SO₄²⁻-S, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mn, Zn, Fe, Al³⁺, Cl⁻ (after filtration through 0.45 μm membrane filter). Data collected until the end of 2001 are reported. Groundwater was found in the down-slope wells in lower-lying areas, but not in those installed on the slopes with a thin (1–2 m) soil layer. Clear-cutting did not significantly affect groundwater levels in the wells. Nitrate N concentrations increased from 0.03 mg L⁻¹ level after clear-cutting and again after site preparation in the wells on upland soils and peatlands receiving water from the managed parts of the catchment. In one well at the lower edge of the managed area NO₃⁻-N concentrations reached 1–1.4 mg L⁻¹ in 2001 (fifth year after clear-cutting, third after disc-plowing), but mean concentrations remained <0.3 mg L⁻¹. Chloride concentrations also increased (50–100%) after treatments but the concentrations of other solutes showed no significant effect of treatment. It was concluded that changes in groundwater quality and quantity related to the clear-cutting were small and did not represent a danger to water quality or quantity.     

Clear-cutting reduces nitrate leaching in a pine plantation of high natural N status

Following the tree harvest, the biogeochemistry of a catchment is modified by changes in soil temperature and moisture, and nutrient cycling. We monitored soil-solution and stream-water chemistry, and soil properties in a Pinus radiata D. Don plantation in New Zealand before and after clear-cutting and replanting in 1997. The annual rainfall during the study was 1440–1860 mm. The soil was a 1800-year-old pumice soil of high natural N status; the catchment had received large inputs of volcanic N in rain, probably over the 1800 years since the pumice had been deposited. The leaching loss of nitrate-N was 28 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 1996, and then decreased sharply after clear-cutting to 3 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 1998 and <1 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 1999. Weed growth and soil microbial biomass increased during this time, and would have removed much of the N from soil solution in the upper soil layers. Although the catchment was small (8.7 ha), there was a 2-year lag until N decreased in stream-water; the losses of dissolved organic N to stream-water were low. There was no change in soil pH over the 4 years, but spring-water pH appeared to increase, which was consistent with the increase in bicarbonate that accompanied grass/weed growth. The export of cations (mmol_c l⁻¹) in the spring-water was Na>Ca>Mg=K as expected for rhyolitic pumice, and the total concentration was probably controlled by the accompanying anions. The export of anions was NO₃=Cl>SO₄=HCO₃ before harvest and HCO₃=Cl>SO₄=NO₃ after harvest.     

Phosphorus release from forest harvesting on an upland blanket peat catchment

The aim of this study was to investigate the release of phosphorus (P) to receiving waters resulting from harvesting 34-year-old lodgepole pine trees in an upland peat catchment. The study site was within a 25.3-hectare (ha) area, and was drained by a stream that received flows from ploughed furrows, mainly, via collector drains, and discharged directly to the salmonid Shrahrevagh River, Burrishoole, Co. Mayo, Ireland. The study site was divided into two parts: the upstream part was left intact and the downstream part was harvested in early Autumn 2005 following implementation of forest guidelines. Good management practices such as proper use of brash mats and harvesting only in dry weather were implemented. Two instrumented stations were established – one just upstream (US) and the other just downstream (DS) of the clearfelled area. The measurement of P concentrations at the two stations commenced in May 2005, two months before the harvesting started. The daily mean P concentration at the DS station increased from about 6 μg L⁻¹ of total reactive phosphorus (TRP) during pre-clearfelling to 429 μg L⁻¹ in August 2006. By October 2009, four years after clearfelling, the P concentrations at the DS station had returned to pre-clearfelling levels. In the first three years after harvesting, up to 5.15 kg ha⁻¹ of TRP was released from the harvested catchment to the receiving water; in the second year alone, 2.3 kg ha⁻¹ of TRP was released. Linear regression can be used to describe the relationship between TRP load and water discharge. About 80% of the total phosphorus (TP) in the study stream was soluble and more than 70% of the P release occurred in storm events, indicating that traditional buffer strips with widths of 15–20 m might not be efficient for P immobilization. The P concentrations were affected by antecedent weather conditions and highest concentrations occurred during storm events following prolonged drought periods. The water extractable phosphorus (WEP) contents in the soil were significantly higher below windrow/brash material than in brash-free areas, and whole-tree harvesting should be studied as one of the means to decrease P export from blanket peats.     

Carbon and nitrogen in forest soils: Potential indicators for sustainable management of eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia

Soil organic matter (SOM) has been adopted as an indicator of soil fertility based on the rationale that SOM contributes significantly to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that affect vital ecosystem processes of forests in Australia. A study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of SOM as an indicator of SFM at two long-term experimental sites in native eucalypt forests, including Silvertop Ash (E. sieberi L. Johnson) and Mountain Ash (E. regnans F. Muell.) in Victoria. This study examines the relative contributions made by various sources of carbon in soil profiles (0–30 cm) of forest soils, viz. mineral soil (<2 mm), plant residues, charcoal (>2 mm), and rock fragments (>2 mm). The long-term changes in these fractions in response to management-induced soil physical disturbance and fire (unburnt, moderate and high intensity) were evaluated. After 10 years, carbon levels in the fine soil fraction (soil <2 mm including fine charcoal) were similar across the range of fire disturbance classes in Mountain Ash forest (20–25 kg/m²) and Silvertop Ash forest (7–8 kg/m²). Likewise differences in carbon associated with other fractions, viz. microbial biomass, labile carbon, plant residues and rock fragments were comparatively small and could not be attributed to fire disturbance. Burning increased the charcoal carbon fraction from 5 to 23 kg/m² in Mountain Ash forest and from 1 to 3 kg/m² in Silvertop Ash forest. Taking into account, the percentage area affected by fire, increases in total soil carbon in these forests were estimated at 25 and 7 t/ha, respectively.

The effects of physical disturbance of soils were examined at one site in Mountain Ash forest where soil cultivation was used as site preparation rather than the standard practice of burning of logging residues. Total carbon in soil profiles decreased from 29 to 21 kg/m² where soil disturbance was severe, i.e. topsoil removed and subsoil disturbed. This was mainly due to a decrease in charcoal carbon from 6.8 to 1.7 kg/m² but severe soil disturbance also increased the amount of carbon associated with rock fragments from 1.6 to 3.5 kg/m².

Management-induced fire increased the coarse charcoal content of soil profiles substantially, thus increasing total carbon content as well as the proportion of recalcitrant carbon in SOM. In contrast, there was little change in the carbon content of the fine soil fraction including the labile and biologically active fractions indicating that these SOM fractions most relevant to ecosystem processes showed little long-term impact from soil disturbance and fire. Conventional sampling of the fine soil fraction (<2 mm) only represented between 50% and 70% of total carbon in the soil profiles. In contrast, total nitrogen in this fraction represented between 75% and 90% of the nitrogen in soil profiles and was less affected by changes in the contributions of N made by coarse fractions. Monitoring of soil N rather than C as an indicator of soil fertility and SFM may be more appropriate for forest soils with significant charcoal content.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Estimation of litter fall and seed production of Acacia mangium in a forest plantation in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Annual litter fall of Acacia mangium in the period of September 1995 to August 1996 was estimated at 5939 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and from September 1995 to August 1996 at 6048 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with the highest seasonal production in the dry season. The litter fall was dominated mainly by leaves, 4446 kg (75%) and 4137 kg (68%), respectively. Seed production in the litter fall was estimated at 42.4 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (4.1 million seeds ha⁻¹) and 39 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (3.8 million seeds ha⁻¹), with the highest in the dry season from June to October. The accumulated litter fall in the forest floor together with shrubs and grass provide a high fuel load, increasing fire risk.     

One-day rate measurements for estimating net nitrification potential in humid forest soils

Measurements of net nitrification rates in forest soils have usually been performed by extended sample incubation (2–8 weeks), either in the field or in the lab. Because of disturbance effects, these measurements are only estimates of nitrification potential and shorter incubations may suffice. In three separate studies of northeastern USA forest soil surface horizons, we found that laboratory nitrification rates measured over 1 day related well to those measured over 4 weeks. Soil samples of Oa or A horizons were mixed by hand and the initial extraction of subsamples, using 2 mol L⁻¹ KCl, occurred in the field as soon as feasible after sampling. Soils were kept near field temperature and subsampled again the following day in the laboratory. Rates measured by this method were about three times higher than the 4-week rates. Variability in measured rates was similar over either incubation period. Because NO₃⁻ concentrations were usually quite low in the field, average rates from 10 research watersheds could be estimated with only a single, 1-day extraction. Methodological studies showed that the concentration of NH₄⁺ increased slowly during contact time with the KCl extractant and, thus, this contact time should be kept similar during the procedure. This method allows a large number of samples to be rapidly assessed.     

Effects of strip wise tillage in combination with liming on chemical and physical properties of acidic spruce forest soils after clear cutting

We investigated the initial effects of strip wise soil loosening (0–35 cm depth) on soil chemical and physical parameters by using a deeply working rotary cultivator in combination with liming and mixing of the dolomite with the soil material of acidic forests. The investigations took place 8 months after the treatment. pH values and contents of exchangeable Ca and Mg increased significantly at the tilled depth whereas the content of exchangeable Al and easily soluble P decreased. The rate of mineralisation increased at this depth which was shown by a loss of Corg, Ntot and short-term loss of NO₃-N. The treatment led to a mobilisation of Mn at the tilled depth. However, the content of exchangeable Pb decreased due to an increased pH value. Below the tillage depth of 35 cm only partly significant changes of exchangeable Mn and NO₃-N were found. The total porosity and bulk density at 10–15 and 40–45 cm depths were not significantly different from those in the control plot, but the rate of infiltration increased significantly.     

Forest structure and C stocks in natural Fagus sylvatica forest in southern Europe: The effects of past management

Managed forests often differ substantially from undisturbed forests in terms of tree structure and diversity. By altering the forest structure, management may affect the C stored in biomass and soil. A survey of 58 natural stands located in the south-westernmost limit of European beech forests was carried out to assess how the C pools are affected by the changes in tree structural diversity resulting from past management. The mean tree density, basal area and the number of large trees found in unmanaged forests were similar to those corresponding to virgin beech forests in Central Europe, whereas large live trees were totally absent from partially cut stands. Analysis of the Evenness index and the Gini coefficient indicated high structural diversity in the three stand types. The results of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test used to compare the diameter distributions of each group revealed significant differences between stand types in terms of distributions of total tree species and of Fagus sylvatica.

The mean C stocks in the whole ecosystem – trees, litter layer and mineral soil – ranged from 220 to 770 Mg ha⁻¹ (average 380 Mg ha⁻¹). Tree biomass (above and belowground), which averaged 293 Mg C ha⁻¹, constituted the main C pool of the system (50–97%). The statistical test (Kolmogorov–Smirnov) revealed differences in the distribution of C pools in tree biomass between unmanaged and partially cut stands. As a consequence of the presence of large trees, in some unmanaged stands the C stock in tree biomass was as high as 500–600 Mg C ha⁻¹. In the partially cut stands, most of the C was mainly accumulated in trees smaller than 20 cm dbh, whereas in unmanaged stands the 30% of tree C pool was found in trees larger than 50 cm dbh. Furthermore, many unmanaged stands showed a larger C pool in the litter layer. The C content of mineral soils ranged from 40 to 260 Mg C ha⁻¹ and it was especially high in umbrisols. In conclusion, the implementation of protective measures in these fragile ecosystems may help to maintain the highly heterogeneous tree structure and enhance the role of both soils and trees as long-term C sinks.     

Predicting depth translocation of base cations after forest liming: results from long-term experiments

Forest liming is a common measure to counteract soil acidification. In forest practice, lime is applied to the forest floor where it changes the chemical properties. However, little is known about the depth impact of liming and the depth translocation of lime components. To investigate the long-term impact of forest liming, several study plots have been established in the 1980s in Germany in stands with different site conditions. We analysed soil chemical data obtained during the last 28?years from 45 of the study plots. We examined the depth impact of liming and predicted the main factors responsible for the increase in Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) stocks after liming in the mineral soil using multiple linear regression analyses (MLR). Stocks of Ca and Mg as well as base saturation (BS) showed a strong depth gradient with significant differences between limed and control plots down to 40?cm of the mineral soil. About 65–70?% of applied Ca and Mg were recovered in the forest floor and the upper 40?cm of the mineral soil. BS in 0–40?cm increased by a mean of 11?%. MLR models could explain 48–74?% of the variation in mean changes of Ca and Mg in 0–10, 10–20 and 20–40?cm soil depth when soil and climate variables, amount of applied lime and years after liming are included in the model. After testing the model robustness with a cross-validating procedure, we concluded that these models might be applied to many regions in Central Europe with comparable soil and climate conditions and thus, have widespread application.     

Comparison of water quality in two catchments with different forest types in the headwater region of the Hun River,Northeast China

In the headwater catchments of the Hun River,Northeast China, secondary forests(SF) have been replaced by plantations since the 1960 s. Concern has been growing over this loss and the decline in water quality caused by the plantations. To test the effects of plantations on water quality, we selected two separate catchments covered by SF and Pinus koraiensis plantations(KP) to monitor physical and chemical properties of various hydrological variables including throughfall, stemflow,through-litterfall and runoff(flowing out of outlets of the catchments). The physical properties of water declined after water flowed through the two catchments as compared with rainwater. The pH of runoff in both catchments also dramatically decreased. The concentrations of Cl^-, NO_3^- and NH_4^+ in the runoff from the two catchments were similar(concentrations of Cl-and NH_4^+ in both catchments were similar to those in rainwater). Total P concentration in runoff of the SF catchment was higher than that of the KP catchment(P concentrations in both catchments were also higher than in rainwater) because P concentrations in litter and soil of the SF catchment were higher than those in the KP catchment. In summary, the rainwater became acidic in both catchments, but the responses of most water quality variables were similar in the two catchments, suggesting that appropriate ratios of KP in SF are feasible for secondary forest recovery and for preserving water quality(KP did not cause a decline in quality) in the headstream regions in Northeast of China.     

Seedling emergence, growth, and allocation of Oriental bittersweet: effects of seed input, seed bank, and forest floor litter

The establishment of invasive plant populations is controlled by seed input, survival in the soil seed bank, and effects of soil surface disturbance on emergence, growth, and survival. We studied the invasive vine Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (Oriental bittersweet) to determine if seedlings in forest understory germinate from the seed bank or from seed rain. We also conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate the role of leaf litter mass and physical texture on seedling survival, growth, and allocation. In the understory of an invaded mixed hardwood forest, we measured seed input, seedling emergence with seed rain, and seedling emergence without seed rain. Mean seed rain was 168 seeds m⁻²: mean seedling emergence was 107 m⁻², and there was a strong correlation between seed rain and seedling emergence. The ratio of seedlings to seed input (0.61) was close to the seed viability (0.66) leaving very few seeds to enter the seed bank. Seed bank germination under field conditions was low (1 seedling m⁻²). Soil cores were incubated in a greenhouse to determine seed bank viability, and germination from these soil cores did not occur. To determine how litter affects seedling establishment and growth, we measured seedling emergence and biomass allocation in a greenhouse experiment. Seeds were placed below intact and fragmented deciduous leaf litter in amounts ranging from zero to the equivalent of 16 Mg ha⁻¹. Seedling emergence was not affected by fragmented litter, but decreased to <20% as intact litter increased to 16 Mg ha⁻¹. Increasing litter resulted in greater allocation to hypocotyl and less to cotyledon and radicle, and this effect was greater in intact litter. C. orbiculatus seedlings achieve emergence through forest floor litter through plasticity in allocation to hypocotyl growth. The low survival of C. orbiculatus in the seed bank suggests that eradication of seedling advance regeneration and adult plants prior to seed rain may be an effective control strategy. However, the intact forest floor litter of an undisturbed forest will not prevent seedling establishment.     

Thinning, burning, and thin-burn fuel treatment effects on soil properties in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

More than a century of fire exclusion and past timber management practices in many Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forests have led to increased stand densities and fuel accumulation, with a corresponding risk of large, high severity wildfires. To reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and restore the health and natural processes of forest ecosystems, fuel management programs often employ thinning and prescribed fire treatments, both alone and in combination. We evaluated forest floor and mineral soil chemical and physical characteristics following these treatments in a managed Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest using a fully replicated study design with four separate treatments: THIN, BURN, THIN + BURN, and an untreated CONTROL. Compared to the CONTROL, the BURN and THIN + BURN treatments consumed a large amount of the forest floor, reducing the mass and depth by more than 80%. These treatments reduced the forest floor C and N pools by more than 85%, resulting in reductions of 25 Mg C ha⁻¹ and more than 700 kg N ha⁻¹ from the forest floor. Despite these large losses from the organic horizons, no significant differences in mineral soil total C and N pools were detected among treatments. Compared with the CONTROL and THIN treatments, the BURN and THIN + BURN significantly increased the mineral soil NO₃-N concentration, pool of inorganic N, pH, and exposed bare soil. The THIN + BURN treatment significantly increased the concentrations of NH₄-N and exchangeable Ca relative to the CONTROL. No significant differences in the net rates of nitrification, N mineralization, or bulk density were detected among the four treatments. The BURN treatment reduced mineral soil C concentration and CEC, while the THIN + BURN treatment had the greatest increase in inorganic N. Fire effects on soil pH and inorganic N were moderated in skid trails due to reduced fuel continuity and consumption. In light of the current management emphasis on hazardous fuels reduction, we recommend that researchers investigating fire effects in harvested stands include skid trail influences in their study design.     

Changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities in upper catchment streams across a gradient of catchment forest operation history

The effects of forest harvesting on wet eucalypt forest stream macroinvertebrates were examined in Tasmania, Australia. Sites were selected in second to fourth order streams across a gradient of catchment forest harvesting history and in paired reference catchments. Historical data for every forest parcel (coupe) were obtained for each catchment, detailing forest operational type, area and year of operation, length of roads and number of stream road crossings.     

Long-term influence of stream water chemistry in Japanese cedar plantation after clear-cutting using the forest rotation in central Japan

Because both natural and anthropogenic disturbances affect biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems, monitoring is needed to separate their influences. Chronosequence is very useful for such studies. In our study area, plantation through forest rotation on a watershed basis resulted in more than 40 adjacent watersheds of between 0 and 87 years of stand age, kind of chronosequence. Here, we examined the biological similarity of the watersheds and the long-term effects of clear-cutting on stream water chemistry. The stream water NO₃⁻–stand age relationship was similar between the two observation years; stream water NO₃⁻ concentrations increased dramatically in the watersheds after clear-cutting and decreased in 7–10-year-old replanted watersheds. The slope of stream water NO₃⁻ concentrations between the different watersheds covered by same age stand was significant, at 1:1. Additionally, stream water NO₃⁻ concentrations were more strongly correlated between the different watersheds covered by same aged stand than between the observations at 4 years intervals within a watershed. These findings indicate that stream water NO₃⁻ concentration is mainly regulated by stand age, i.e., by vegetation regrowth, rather than watershed-specific characteristics. Hence, adjacent watersheds are biologically similar apart from stand age and can be regarded as a chronosequence. While there was a clear relationship between stream water NO₃⁻ concentration and stand age, there was significant correlation with stream water SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻ or Na⁺ between two observations in the same watershed. This indicates that watershed-specific characteristics, rather than vegetation regrowth, control stream SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, and Na⁺ concentrations. After 25 years of clear-cutting Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ concentrations significantly increased. It is likely the contribution of forest floor accumulation with stand development. Based on these results, clear-cutting influences stream chemistry, not only NO₃⁻, but also the major cation and the influence of clear-cutting continues for several decades at this study site.     

To what extent do forest herbs recover after clearcutting in beech forest?

We studied the occurrence of 22 plant functional groups and the distribution patterns of 12 forest herbs in four clear-felled areas of different ages, and across ecotones between the forest and clearcuts in a 4383 ha beech forest in central Belgium. The main goal was to improve our knowledge on the clearcut harvesting system and its possible influence on herb vegetation. Within each study site, the herbaceous vegetation was sampled along a north–south and an east–west transect with points at 20 or at 10 m intervals. We studied a total of 82 vegetation relevés (4 m²) on 18 transects according to the Braun–Blanquet method. Around the study sites, the abundance of each species present was noted according to a grid-map with cells of 50 m × 50 m, up to a distance of 150 m from the clearcut edges. Differences in species’ cover percentage and frequency between the clearcuts and the surrounding matrix were tested. The colonisation rate for each species was calculated and possible effect of clearcut age on the plant composition was examined. Results of this study show that plant functional groups with a high conservation value, such as ancient-forest species, stress-tolerant species and autochorous species showed a progressive decrease in time after clearcutting. Most of the studied forest herbs had a lower frequency and/or cover in the clearcut areas than in the surrounding forest matrix. For some of these species, we found a progressive abundance decrease along a 150 m-gradient within the forest towards the clearcut (e.g. Dryopteris dilatata, Luzula pilosa, L. sylvatica, Oxalis acetosella). Others, such as Anemone nemorosa and Circaea lutetiana, are characterised by a regular cover in the forest which suddenly drops at the edge and sustains a very low level throughout the clearcut. If some forest herbs recover better than others, data collected so far indicate that most of the studied species are not able to recover such disturbed sites within a few years. We conclude that silvicultural systems should be adapted to the dispersal and recruitment limitations of forest herbs in order to enable their long-term conservation. To achieve this goal, management without large clear fellings and harvesting methods that never leave the ground completely bare are proposed as alternatives to the clearcutting system.