Can distribution of trees explain variation in nitrous oxide fluxes?

Abstract

The impact of distance to tree stems on nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes was examined to determine whether it is possible to improve the accuracy of flux estimates from boreal forest soils. Dark static chambers were placed along transects between pairs of trees within a Norway spruce stand and fluxes of N₂O and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were measured during the period 1999–2003. The groundwater table was measured on every sampling occasion along the transects. In addition, radiation transmission, potential diffusion rate and biomass of forest floor vegetation were measured once at each chamber site along one of the transects and soil samples were collected at three depths, from which pH, denitrification enzyme activity, soil moisture, organic matter, and carbon and nitrogen content were determined. There was a high level of variation in the N₂O fluxes, both spatially and temporally. However, the spatial variation in the N₂O fluxes within the transect could not be explained by differences in any of the measured variables. Sometimes, mainly when no major peaks occurred, N₂O fluxes were significantly correlated with CO₂ release. It is concluded that distance to stems cannot be used to improve the design of sampling schemes or for extrapolating flux levels to larger scales.     

Nitrification and denitrification as sources of gaseous nitrogen emission from different forest soils in Changbai Mountain

The contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O and N₂ emissions from four forest soils on northern slop of Changbai Mountain were measured with acetylene inhibition methods. In incubation experiments, 0.06% and 3% C₂H₂ were used to inhibit nitrification and denitrification in these soils, respectively. Both nitrification and denitification existed in these soils except tundra soil, where only denitrification was found. The annually averaged rates of nitrification and denitrification in mountain dark brown forest soil were much higher than that in other three soils. In mountain brown coniferous soil, contributions of different processes to gaseous nitrogen emissions were Denitrification N₂O>nitrification N₂O>Denitrification N₂. The same sequence exists in mountain soddy soil as that in the mountain brown coniferous soil. The sequence in mountain tundra soil was Denitrification N₂O>Denitrification N₂. Foundation item: This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.49701016) and the “Hundred Scientists” Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Biography: XU Hui (1967-), male, Ph. Doctor, associate research fellow 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     

Post-fire soil nitrogen content and vegetation composition in Sub-Boreal spruce forests of British Columbia's central interior,Canada

Forest fires are known to influence nutrient cycling, particularly soil nitrogen (N), as well as plant succession in northern forest ecosystems. However, few studies have addressed the dynamics of soil N and its relationship to vegetation composition after fire in these forests. To investigate soil N content and vegetation establishment after wildfire, 13 sites of varying age class were selected in the Sub-Boreal spruce zone of the central interior of British Columbia, Canada. Sites varied in time since the last forest fire and were grouped into three seral age classes: (a) early-seral (<14 years), (b) mid-seral (50–80 years) and (c) late-seral (>140 years). At each site, we estimated the percent cover occupied by trees, shrubs, herbs and mosses. In addition, the soil samples collected from the forest floor and mineral horizons were analyzed for the concentrations of total N, mineralizable N, available NO₃⁻-N and available NH₄⁺-N. Results indicated that soil N in both the forest floor and mineral horizons varied between the three seral age classes following wildfire. Significant differences in mineralizable N, available NO₃⁻-N and available NH₄⁺-N levels with respect to time indicated that available soil N content changes after forest fire. Percent tree and shrub cover was significantly correlated to the amount of available NH₄⁺-N and mineralizable N contents in the forest floor. In the mineral horizons, percent tree cover was significantly correlated to the available NH₄⁺-N, while herb cover was significantly correlated with available NO₃⁻-N. Moss cover was significantly correlated with total N, available NO₃⁻-N and mineralizable N in the forest floor and available NO₃⁻-N in the mineral horizons. We identified several unique species of shrubs and herbs for each seral age class and suggest that plant species are most likely influencing the soil N levels by their contributions to the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the organic matter.     

Nitrogen transformations and soil processes in a wastewater-irrigated,mature Appalachian hardwood forest

Wastewater bioremediation has been practised successfully in several forests without significant adverse effect on water quality of adjacent aquatic systems. However, long-term success of wastewater irrigation systems depends on an overall positive response of the forest ecosystem to substantial amounts of added water and nutrients over time. Municipal wastewater irrigation effects on the fate of added nitrogen in a mature Appalachian hardwood forest were investigated during the first 2 years of irrigation. Wastewater was secondarily treated, chlorinated, and sprayed on the study site at five rates. Forest litter N decreased on irrigated sites due to increased litter decomposition rates. Nitrogen mineralization potential (N₀) decreased greatly in soils irrigated at a rate of 140 cm year⁻¹ for 2 years. Net nitrification and relative nitrification (the amount of NO₃⁻-N as a proportion of the total mineral N) increased proportionally with irrigation rate. The highest irrigation rates increased denitrification activity and contributed significantly to the bioremediation process by removing nitrate that otherwise would have been subject to leaching. The increase in NO₃⁻ production in the soil and limited N sequestration by the forest system nevertheless resulted in a net loss of N via leaching. Nitrate concentrations of soil water increased owing to irrigation, with the highest rate at 11 mg 1⁻¹ on sites receiving 70 cm year⁻¹. During the 2-year period, the forest ecosystem experienced a net leaching loss of N that ranged from 14.8 to 105 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, depending on the application rate. It is likely that this mature hardwood forest will continue to lose N, and that little or no additional N will be sequestered.     

Nitrification and denitrification in subalpine coniferous forests of different restoration stages in western Sichuan, China

Nitrification is the biological conversion of organic or inorganic nitrogen compounds from a reduced to a more oxidized state. Denitrification is generally referred to as the microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrite and further gaseous forms of nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and molecular nitrogen. They are functionally interconnected processes in the soil nitrogen cycle that are involved in the control of long-term nitrogen losses in ecosystems through nitrate leaching and gaseous N losses. In order to better understand how nitrification and denitrification change during the process of ecosystem restoration and how they are affected by various controlling factors, gross nitrification rates and denitrification rates were determined using the barometric process separation (BaPS) technique in subalpine coniferous forests of different restoration stages. The results showed that forest restoration stage had no significant effects on gross nitrification rates or denitrification rates (One-way ANOVA (analysis of variance), p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the temperature coefficient (Q ₁₀) for gross nitrification rate among all the forest sites (One-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Gross nitrification rates were positively correlated with water content (p < 0.05), but not with soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, or C/N ratios. Denitrification rates in all the forest soils were low and not closely correlated with water content, soil pH, organic matter, or total nitrogen. Nevertheless, we found that C/N ratios obviously affected denitrification rates (p < 0.05). Results from this research suggest that gross nitrification is more responsible for the nitrogen loss from soils compared with denitrification. Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2006, 30(1): 90–96 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

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     

Energy efficiency of large cardamom grown under Himalayan alder and natural forest

Energy efficiency of agroforestry systems of large cardamom grown under N₂-fixing Himalayan alder (alder-cardamom) and natural forest (forest-cardamom) was studied in the Sikkim Himalaya. Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum), the most important perennial cash crop of the region, is widely cultivated with Himalayan alder (Alnus nepalensis) as shade tree. Energy fixation, storage, net allocation in agronomic yield, and heat release and exit from the system were respectively 1.57, 1.44, 2.24 and 2.22 times higher in the alder-cardamom compared to the forest-cardamom system. Energy conversion efficiency and net ecosystem energy increment were also higher in the alder-cardamom than the forest-cardamom system. Energy fixation efficiency and energy conversion efficiency of large cardamom increased under the influence of Himalayan alder. Energy efficiency in N₂-fixation of Himalayan alder was also high (67.5 g N₂ fixed 10⁴ kJ^-1 energy). Quantum and flux of energy increased in the alder-cardamom compared to the forest-cardamom system that optimized the production potential of the cash crop under the influence of the Himalayan alder. Climatic sympatry of the large cardamom and Himalayan alder, and their synergetic energy efficiency makes this association ecologically and economically viable for the mountain regions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Vertical distribution of the ectomycorrhizal community in the top soil of Norway spruce stands

The vertical distribution of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community was studied in four old high-mountain Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stands in northern Italy. The aim was to verify if the variability in the community structure could be explained by characteristics of the organic and mineral soil horizons. The community structure was evaluated in terms of both fungal species and their ability to explore soil (exploration types). From the 128 humus profiles sampled over the two study periods, 31 ECM species were recorded. The study demonstrated that the number of both non-vital tips and vital non-mycorrhized tips decreases with soil depth, from organic to mineral horizons, while the number of ectomycorrhizal tips mainly increases with soil depth. A preference was found of some ECM species and exploration types for specific organic or mineral soil layers and their features, especially moisture and available nitrogen. These results can help in understanding how the functional role of the single consortia and the ecological features determining this “adaptive diversity” in ectomycorrhizal communities could be of major importance to assess the resilience in forest soil ecosystems.     

Soil carbon release along a gradient of physical disturbance in a harvested northern hardwood forest

Changes in soil respiration associated with forest harvest could increase net loss of CO₂ to the atmosphere relative to pre-harvest values. By excavating quantitative soil pits across a gradient of physical disturbance in a harvested northern hardwood forest, this study examines C release from mineral soil. Mineral soil samples were analyzed for pH, percent organic matter (%OM), C and N concentration, δ¹³C, and total C per unit area. Results show a relationship between degree of disturbance and C concentration in soil 10-30 cm beneath the O-horizon. Highly disturbed sites show C depletion, with horizons from disturbed sites containing 25% less total C than the least disturbed sites. δ¹³C signatures of soil profiles at these sites show vertical mixing of plant-derived material into deeper mineral horizons. Mixing, as a result of physical disturbance, could have led to the observed C depletion by physical or chemical destabilization, or through the promotion of microbial respiration in deep mineral soil. Regardless of the mechanism, these results suggest elevated CO₂ emissions from soil following harvest, and, thus, have implications for the validity of wood biomass as a carbon neutral energy source.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in topsoils along forest conversion sequences in the Ore Mountains and the Saxonian lowland, Germany

Carbon and nitrogen stocks and their medium-term and readily decomposable fractions in topsoils were compared in relation to soil microbial biomass and activity along sequences from coniferous to deciduous stands. The study was carried out in the Ore Mountains and the Saxonian lowland, representing two typical natural regions in Saxony, Germany. In accordance with current forest conversion practices, the investigation sites represent different stands: mature conifer stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (type A); Norway Scots spruce and pine with advanced plantings of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) or European beech/Common oak (Quercus petreae Liebl.) (type B); and mature deciduous stands of European beech and European beech/Common oak (type C). The investigated forest sites can be grouped into three silvicultural situations according to the development from coniferous stands to advanced plantings and finally mature deciduous forests (chronosequence A–B–C). The organic layer (L, F and H horizons) and uppermost mineral soil (0–10 cm) were analysed for potential C mineralisation, microbial biomass, concentrations of total C and N (TOC and TN) and for medium-term and readily decomposable C and N fractions, obtained by hot- and cold-water extraction respectively. The results showed an increase in organic layer thickness and mass as well as TOC and TN stocks along the forest sequences in the lowland. Yet, underplanted sites with two storeys revealed higher organic layer mass as well as TOC and TN stocks as compared to coniferous and deciduous stands. Stocks of hot- and cold-water-extractable C and N in relation to microbial biomass and its activity revealed a high turnover activity in deeper organic horizons of deciduous forests compared to coniferous stands. The stand-specific differentiation is discussed in relation to microbial biomass, litter quantity and quality and forest structure, but also with respect to the site-specific climatic factors and water budget as well as liming and fly-ash impacts. Results indicate higher dynamics in deciduous stands in the lowland especially during the initial turnover phase. The elevated microbial activity in deeper organic horizons of deciduous litter-influenced sites in spring is discussed as a specific indicator for long-term C sequestration potential as besides C mineralisation organic compounds are humified and thus, can be stored in the organic layer or in deeper soil horizons. Due to liming activities, stand-specific effects on organic matter turnover dynamics have evened out today in the Ore mountain region, but will presumably occur again once base saturation decreases. Here, the stand-specific effect on microbial biomass can currently be seen again as C_mic in the L horizon increased from spruce to beech. Our study sites in the lowland revealed no significant fly-ash impact. Differences between sites were evaluated by calculating the discriminance function. TOC and TN as well as medium-term degradable C and N were defined in this study as indicators for turnover dynamics along forest conversion sites.     

Impact of tree species on soil carbon stocks and soil acidity in southern Sweden

Abstract

The impact of tree species on soil carbon stocks and acidity in southern Sweden was studied in a non-replicated plantation with monocultures of 67-year-old ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), beech (Fagus silvatica L.), elm (Ulmus glabra Huds.), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.). The site was characterized by a cambisol on glacial till. Volume-determined soil samples were taken from the O-horizon and mineral soil layers to 20?cm. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), pH (H₂O), cation-exchange capacity and base saturation at pH 7 and exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium ions were analysed in the soil fraction?<?2 mm. Root biomass (<5 mm in diameter) and its proportion in the forest floor and mineral soil varied between tree species. There was a vertical gradient under all species, with the highest concentrations of SOC, TN and base cations in the O-horizon and the lowest in the 10–20?cm layer. The tree species differed with respect to SOC, TN and soil acidity in the O-horizon and mineral soil. For SOC and TN, the range in the O-horizon was spruce?>?hornbeam?>?oak?>?beech?>?ash?>?elm. The pH in the O-horizon ranged in the order elm?>?ash?>?hornbeam?>?beech?>?oak?>?spruce. In the mineral soil, SOC and TN ranged in the order elm?>?oak?>?ash?=?hornbeam?>?spruce?>?beech, i.e. partly reversed, and pH ranged in the same order as for the O-horizon. It is suggested that spruce is the best option for fertile sites in southern Sweden if the aim is a high carbon sequestration rate, whereas elm, ash and hornbeam are the best solutions if the aim is a low soil acidification rate.     

Chemical properties of forest soils along a fly-ash deposition gradient in eastern Germany

Chemical characteristics of forest soils subjected to long-term deposition of alkaline and acid air pollutants were analysed in spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands in eastern Germany. Three forest sites along an emission gradient of 3, 6, and 15 km downwind of a coal-fired power plant were selected, representing high, intermediate, and low fly-ash input rates. Past emissions caused an accumulation of mineral fly-ash constituents in the organic layer, resulting in an atypically high mass of organic horizons of forest soils, especially in the F and H horizons. Total mass of organic layers at the site with heavy deposition loads was as high as 128 t ha^–1, compared to 58 t ha^–1 at the low input site. Fly-ash deposition significantly increased the pH values in the L, F and H horizons and mineral topsoil (0–10 cm). Significantly higher concentrations of NH₄Cl-extractable cations (i.e. effective cation exchange capacities) and base saturations of >66% were found in the humic horizons at sites where the pH was increased due to the direct and indirect (i.e. higher proportions of deciduous trees) effects of fly-ash emissions. Stocks of basic cations were dominated by Ca²⁺ and decreased significantly along the fly-ash deposition gradient from 33.6 to 5.3 kmol_c ha^–1. Proportions of water-soluble basic cations out of the total potentially exchangeable (i.e. NH₄Cl-extractable) basic cations generally increased in the forest soil with decreasing deposition loads following the cation exchange capacity and base saturation along the fly-ash gradient. Higher proportions of monovalent cations, such as K⁺ and Na⁺, were observed in the water extracts from fly-ash-affected forest soils, while the NH₄Cl-extracts were dominated by bivalent cations, such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. These results suggest a greater leaching tendency for monovalent cations in these soils. Stocks of organic C and total N in the humus layer decreased from sites with high fly-ash deposition levels to sites with low levels, from 57.4 to 46.4 t C ha^–1 and from 2.43 to 1.99 t N ha^–1. The C/N ratios of the organic horizons varied from 22 to 25, revealing no distinct pattern along the fly-ash gradient. Measurements of hot-water-extractable and water-soluble organic C suggested a reduced availability or a faster decomposition of soil organic matter in soils with historically high fly-ash loads.     

Water Chemistry Profiles under Four Tree Species at Gisburn, NW England

A study was made of the changes and variation in the chemistryof rainwater passing through the different strata of separateecosystems of four tree species (oak, alder, spruce and pine)on the same site at Gisburn (Bowland Forest), north-west England.Waters were sampled as rain, throughfall, forest-floor leachateand soil waters from both the A and B/C horizons; and analysedfor NH₄-N, NO₃-N, PO₄-P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, SO₄-S, Cl, totalorganic carbon and pH. Species differences — often markedones — appear to exist in the concentrations of most solutesin most strata. The between-species differences in throughfallchemistry provide little guide to the chemistry of waters lowerdown the profile: the forest floor is a particularly importantsource of further species differences, e.g. variation in NO₃production and the resulting effects on acidity and other ions. The chemistry of the soil waters provides some indication ofpossible drainage losses, although the question of which horizonacts as the source of drainage waters on this site remains unanswered.The levels of H and Al, in particular, are very different betweenthe upper mineral soil (A horizon) and the lower B/C horizon.In general, and based on these concentration data only, oakis associated with smallest potential solute losses, pine thegreatest. Received 13 February 1990.     

Exceedance of critical loads of nitrogen and sulphur and its relation to forest conditions

The calculation of critical loads and their exceedance is one method to describe the vulnerability of forests to environmental stress caused by anthropogenic impact. Exceedance of critical loads for acidifying inputs and nitrogen was compared to different indicators of the soil and forest conditions in the German part of the extensive forest monitoring (ICP Forests/EU Level I), including more than 1,800 plots. In addition, an empirical relationship between the C/N ratio of the forest floor humus layer (C/N _Humus) and the estimated nitrogen output for ten plots of the intensive monitoring (ICP Forests/EU Level II) was established in order to estimate the potential nitrogen output on Level I plots dominated by Norway spruce. Regarding all tree species assessed, the exceedance of critical loads for nitrogen and sulphur is negatively correlated with pH and base saturation up to 30 cm soil depth. The sulphur deposition and the exceedance of critical loads are highly correlated with the sulphur content of leaves and needles, whereas the respective relations for nitrogen were lower. The crown condition was weakly positively related to the sulphur content in tree leaves and needles. For Norway spruce sites, high exceedance of critical loads for nitrogen and nitrogen deposition corresponded well with low C/N _Humus. In regions with high nitrogen load and low C/N ratios in the humus layer, the calculated nitrogen output was high. The results support the concept of critical thresholds in that way that their exceedance can impair forest ecosystem functions like nitrogen retention.     

Seasonal change in N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O flux from forest soils in a forest catchment in Japan

Temperate forest soils are one source of nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is an important greenhouse gas and the most important ozone-depleting substance. To clarify N₂O flux mechanisms in relation to soil temperature, moisture, and nitrification activity, we measured N₂O fluxes and net nitrification rates over 3 years at the lower (Japanese cedar) and upper (deciduous broad-leaved trees) parts of a hill slope in a small forest catchment in the northern Kanto region of Japan. The N₂O flux was measured by the closed-chamber technique every month, along with soil temperature and water-filled pore space (WFPS). At the lower slope, the N₂O flux increased with increasing soil temperature (r ² = 0.383, P < 0.01) owing to an increase in the nitrification rate. At the upper slope, no positive linear correlation of N₂O flux with soil temperature, WFPS, or nitrification rate was observed. The low N₂O flux at the upper slope during summer was caused by the low summertime WFPS there. We attributed the higher mean N₂O fluxes observed at the lower slope (median 2.36 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹) than at the upper slope (median 1.10 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹) to a high soil moisture during summer season in the surface soil of the lower slope.     

Changes in soil acidity from 1927 to 1982–1984 in a forest area of south‐west Sweden

Reinvestigation of 90 soil profiles sampled for pH measurements in 1927 revealed a general decrease in pH with 0.3–0.9 units (measured electrometrically on field‐moist samples in water with the same ratio soil/water on both occasions). All soil horizons (A₀, A₂, B and the subsoil, C, at 70 cm depth) had become more acid beneath all types of canopy (beech, oak, spruce planted during different periods), but the spruce stands were on average more acid than the hardwoods. In the upper soil horizons (A₀ and A₂), old spruce stands were more acid than the young ones at both samplings, but this effect was small in the B horizon and absent in the C horizon. While the tree species effect and age effect in the spruce stands may be called biological acidification, the acidification of deeper horizons, now often below pH 4.5 and in the aluminium buffer range, seems difficult to explain without assuming an influence of acid deposition.     

Nitrogen Transformations and Decomposition in Litter and Humus from beneath Closed-Canopy Sitka Spruce

Samples of litter and humus from beneath 10 m tall, closed-canopySitka spruce planted on a brown forest soil were incubated underboth field and laboratory conditions to measure mineral nitrogenproduction and carbon dioxide evolution. Mineral nitrogen productionin enclosed samples over 12 months was equivalent to 50 and17 kg N ha^–1 in litter and humus, respectively. Applicationsof fertilizer NPK (200 kg N ha^–1 as ammonium nitrate,100 kg P ha^–1 as unground rock phosphate and 150 kg Kha^–1 as potassium chloride), 18 months previously, decreasedthese values slightly, but stimulated the production of nitratein both litter and humus. Compared with samples kept under laboratoryconditions at 10°C, those incubated in the field at a similarmean temperature released less carbon dioxide and, in the caseof fertilized humus produced smaller amounts of mineral nitrogen.     

Der Einfluß von kontinuierlichen,niedrigen SO2-Begasungen auf den Phenolgehalt und die Phenoloxidase-Aktivität in Blättern einiger Waldbaumarten

Influence of continuous fumigation by low levels of SO₂ on the phenolic contents and phenoloxidase activities in leaves of forest trees. Potted clonal trees of Norway spruce, black alder and English birch were continuously exposed to low levels of So₂ in fumigation chambers. The phenolic content of the Norway spruce needles was increased consiberably over the controls months before the trees showed any symptoms of damage to the naked eye. Fumigated black alder had a significant higher phenoloxidase activity in the leaves; but this increase only occurred two weeks before the development of necroses. In English birch neither the phenolic content nor the phenoloxidase activity was changed against the unfumigated controls during the course of the experiment.     

Nitrogen in soils beneath 18–65 year old stands of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in Laoshan Mountains in Eastern China

Monitoring of soil nitrogen (N) cycling is useful to assess soil quality and to gauge the sustainability of management practices. We studied net N mineralization, nitrification, and soil N availability in the 0 10 cm and 11 30 cm soil horizons in east China during 2006 2007 using an in situ incubation method in four subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest stands aged 18-, 36-, 48-, and 65-years. The proper- ties of surface soil and forest floor varied between stand age classes. C:N ratios of surface soil and forest floor decreased, whereas soil total N and total organic C, available P, and soil microbial biomass N increased with stand age. The mineral N pool was small for the young stand and large for the older stands. NO 3 - -N was less than 30% in all stands. Net rates of N mineralization and nitrification were higher in old stands than in younger stands, and higher in the 0 10 cm than in the 11 30 cm horizon. The differences were significant between old and young stands (p < 0.031) and between soil horizons (p < 0.005). Relative nitrification was somewhat low in all forest stands and declined with stand age. N trans- formation seemed to be controlled by soil moisture, soil microbial bio- mass N, and forest floor C:N ratio. Our results demonstrate that analyses of N cycling can provide insight into the effects of management distur- bances on forest ecosystems.     

Changes in forest-floor chemistry caused by a birch admixture in Norway spruce stands

The aim of this study was to determine how soil chemistry and the distribution of fine roots (<1 mm) in the organic and upper mineral soil horizons were affected by an admixture of birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) stands. The surface organic horizons (LF and H) and mineral soil were characterized to a depth of 10 cm on three sites in southern and central Sweden. On these sites, replicated plots had been established that contained either ca. 30-year-old birch growing as a shelter over similar-aged spruce (mixed plots) or spruce only. The treatments had been created 8–11 years before this study was done. A fourth site, with plots containing ca. 90-year-old spruce or birch/spruce, and a fifth site, with 30-year-old spruce and a low admixture (12% by basal area) of birch, were also included in the study. Concentrations of Ca and Mg and pH in the LF layer were significantly higher in plots with a birch admixture. In the H-horizon, concentrations of K, Ca and Mg were significantly higher in mixed plots than in plots with pure spruce. Consequently, base saturation was higher in mixed plots than in pure spruce plots. A shelter of birch decreased the total amount of spruce fine roots (<1 mm), as revealed at one of the sites. Total fine root biomass (birch + spruce) in the organic and mineral soil horizons (to 10 cm) did not differ significantly between the pure spruce stands and the spruce stands with a birch shelter.