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.     

The influence of stoniness and canopy properties on soil water content distribution: simulation of water movement in forest stony soil

Mountainous forest soils usually contain a large number of rock fragments (particle diameter >2?mm), which influence soil properties. Data characterizing hydraulic properties of these soils usually describe only the fine soil fraction (particle diameter <2?mm) properties. To quantitatively describe soil water movement in stony soils, it is necessary to evaluate effective hydrophysical characteristics, involving the influence of stones, that is, the effective hydraulic conductivity and retention capacity should be known. Properties of evaporating surface (plant canopy) also play important role in formation of soil water movement and retention. This work presents results of the study of rock fragments (stoniness) effect on soil water content profiles and soil water dynamics during the season. Stony and homogeneous soil behavior is compared. The effect of different canopies (spruce forest, low vegetation) and bare soil in both types of soils on soil water dynamics is also studied. Stones as a part of soil are decreasing its water capacity and hydraulic conductivity as well. This is expressing in the decrease of stony soil water content retention capacity. High interception capacity of trees, followed by the low undercanopy precipitation, leads to the decreased soil water content of the upper soil layer. Combination of stony soil and dense forest canopy led to the low undercanopy precipitation, to relatively low infiltration totals into soil, and to decreased outflow.     

Infiltration characteristics of water in forest soils in the Simian mountains, Chongqing City, southwestern China

Spearman rank-correlation analysis and grey relational grade analysis were used to study infiltration characteristics of water in different forest soils in the Simian mountains, Chongqing City. The results indicate that the soil bulk density, contents of coarse sand, and porosity of macropores were significantly correlated with saturated hydraulic conductivity. Porosity of macropores and contents of coarse sand were positively correlated with soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil bulk density negatively. Based on the initial infiltration rate, the stable infiltration rate, time required for infiltration to reach a stable state, and cumulative infiltration, all of which are crucial parameters determining soil infiltration capacity, the results of grey relational grade analysis showed that the grey relational grades of the different forest soils were listed from high to low as broad-leaved forest (0.8031) > Phyllostachys pubescens forest (0.7869) > mixed conifer-broadleaf forest (0.4454) > coniferous forest (0.4039). Broadleaf forest had the best ability to be infiltrated among the four soils studied. The square roots of the coefficients of determination obtained from fitting the Horton infiltration equation, simulated in our study of forest soils, were higher than 0.950.We conclude that soils of broad-leaved forests were the best suited for infiltration processes of forestry in the Simian mountains. __________ Translated from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2008, 22(4): 95–99 [译自: 水土保持学报]     

Tree effects on the chemical topsoil features of oak, beech and pine forests

We aimed to study tree effects on the chemical properties of forest soils. We compared soil features of three types of forest ecosystems, each with four stands (replicates): beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), oak forests (dominated by Quercus pyrenaica) and pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris). Five samples from the top 10 cm of soil were taken per stand, from which pH, organic matter content (O.M.), total nitrogen (N) and available calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potassium (K⁺) and sodium (Na⁺) were determined. Litter layer depth was measured at each soil sampling point. We also measured tree density and crown diameters at each stand. Our results indicated that soil samples from the four pine plantation stands were more similar while oak and beech stands were characterised by great variability in terms of soil properties and leaf litter depth. Although the identity of the dominant tree species significantly influenced several topsoil chemical properties (increase in pH and available cations in oak forests and higher organic matter and total nitrogen in beech and pine ecosystems), there were other important factors affecting soil features that may be taken under consideration. Differences between soil properties of the three types of forest ecosystems were mainly related to the characteristics of the litter layer and less related to the tree layer structure. Finally, the establishment of pine plantations in naturally deciduous tree areas made the topsoil features more homogeneous.     

云南松林土壤水文特征对计划烧除的响应

为探究计划烧除对云南松林土壤水文特征的影响,为计划烧除后森林生态系统服务功能评价提供依据,以云南省新平县实施多年计划烧除的云南松纯林为研究对象,设立20 m×20 m计划烧除样地和不进行计划烧除的自然对照样地各3块。2019年2月实施计划烧除作业,进行样地调查、火烧强度和枯落物储量调查,2020年6月采集土样,测定土壤物理、化学性质和土壤入渗性能。结果表明,计划烧除后土壤容重增加且在0~10 cm土层差异显著;毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度减少但差异不显著;有机质减少并在0~20 cm土层差异显著。计划烧除后土壤自然含水率、饱和持水率、毛管持水率和田间持水量减少但差异不显著;吸湿水量减少并且在0~20 cm土层差异显著。计划烧除后土壤初渗速率、土壤平均入渗速率和土壤稳定入渗率减少;土壤初渗速率和平均入渗速率在不同样地0~20 cm土层差异显著。计划烧除对土壤稳定入渗率的显著影响因素为土壤容重、孔隙度、有机质和饱和持水率。说明计划烧除后云南松林土壤持水性能下降,入渗性能下降,对于入渗性能的影响主要是源于土壤理化性质的改变。     

Effects of environmental changes on the vitality of forest stands

Using the physiological single tree growth model BALANCE, vitality of forest stands was simulated in dependence of the site-related factors, climate and stand structure. At six level II plots in southern Germany with the main tree species beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), oak (Quercus robur L.), spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), simulated results were compared to measured values (soil water content, bud burst and leaf colouring, diameter at breast height, tree height and crown density) in order to validate the model. Sensitivity tests were done to examine the influence and the interactions of the environmental parameters. The validation results show that BALANCE is capable of realistically simulating the growth and vitality of forest stands for central European regions for medium term time spans (several years). The validation of the water balance module produces mean absolute errors based on field capacity between 2.7 and 6.9% in dependence of sites and forest stands. Senescence of foliage as well as crown density is reproduced with a correlation coefficient of 0.70 compared to measurements. Differences between measured and simulated diameter values were smaller than 1% for spruce and smaller than 6.5% for beech after 7 years of simulation, and smaller than 1% for oak after 8 years of simulation. On the other hand, the simulations for pine trees conform less with the measurements (difference: 22.6% after 8 years). The sensitivity of the model on environmental changes and on combinations of these parameters could be demonstrated. The responses of the forest stands were quite different.     

Does tree species composition control soil organic carbon pools in Mediterranean mountain forests?

We compared soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and stability under two widely distributed tree species in the Mediterranean region: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) at their ecotone. We hypothesised that soils under Scots pine store more SOC and that tree species composition controls the amount and biochemical composition of organic matter inputs, but does not influence physico-chemical stabilization of SOC. At three locations in Central Spain, we assessed SOC stocks in the forest floor and down to 50 cm in the mineral in pure and mixed stands of Pyrenean oak and Scots pine, as well as litterfall inputs over approximately 3 years at two sites. The relative SOC stability in the topsoil (0-10 cm) was determined through size-fractionation (53 μm) into mineral-associated and particulate organic matter and through KMnO₄-reactive C and soil C:N ratio.Scots pine soils stored 95-140 Mg ha⁻¹ of C (forest floor plus 50 cm mineral soil), roughly the double than Pyrenean oak soils (40-80 Mg ha⁻¹ of C), with stocks closely correlated to litterfall rates. Differences were most pronounced in the forest floor and uppermost 10 cm of the mineral soil, but remained evident in the deeper layers. Biochemical indicators of soil organic matter suggested that biochemical recalcitrance of soil organic matter was higher under pine than under oak, contributing as well to a greater SOC storage under pine. Differences in SOC stocks between tree species were mainly due to the particulate organic matter (not associated to mineral particles). Forest conversion from Pyrenean oak to Scots pine may contribute to enhance soil C sequestration, but only in form of mineral-unprotected soil organic matter.     

Impact of land use on physico-chemical and hydrological properties of ustifluvent soils in riparian zone of river Yamuna,India

Land use influences physico-chemical and water transmission properties of soil, which ultimately determine the suitability of land for different purposes. In present study, impact of different land use (forest and agriculture) on selected physicochemical and hydrological properties of soil was evaluated and compared with a reference site (uncultivated ravinous wasteland). Land use influenced infiltration rate, bulk density, mean weight diameter of aggregates and plant available water of soils. After 25 years of plantation of forest species, soil organic carbon content increased by more than twofold and mean weight diameter of aggregates by 2- to 6-fold in comparison to reference site. Significant reduction in soil bulk density (4–18%) and increase in steady state infiltration rate (1.5–2 times) was observed under the forest land use system. Conversion of ravine to forest system resulted in significant improvement in moisture retention capacity of soil. Conversion of ravine landform to agriculture adversely affected the soil bulk density and infiltration rate. The study provided practical information regarding rehabilitation potential of different tree species (Prosopis juliflora, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia nilotica and Azadirachta indica) that could be used for restoration of ustifluvent soil susceptible to gully erosion in the semi-arid region.     

Nitrogen cycling following mountain pine beetle disturbance in lodgepole pine forests of Greater Yellowstone

Widespread bark beetle outbreaks are currently affecting multiple conifer forest types throughout western North America, yet many ecosystem-level consequences of this disturbance are poorly understood. We quantified the effect of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak on nitrogen (N) cycling through litter, soil, and vegetation in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) forests of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (WY, USA) across a 0-30 year chronosequence of time-since-beetle disturbance. Recent (1-4 years) bark beetle disturbance increased total litter depth and N concentration in needle litter relative to undisturbed stands, and soils in recently disturbed stands were cooler with greater rates of net N mineralization and nitrification than undisturbed sites. Thirty years after beetle outbreak, needle litter N concentration remained elevated; however total litter N concentration, total litter mass, and soil N pools and fluxes were not different from undisturbed stands. Canopy N pool size declined 58% in recent outbreaks, and remained 48% lower than undisturbed in 30-year old outbreaks. Foliar N concentrations in unattacked lodgepole pine trees and an understory sedge were positively correlated with net N mineralization in soils across the chronosequence. Bark beetle disturbance altered N cycling through the litter, soil, and vegetation of lodgepole pine forests, but changes in soil N cycling were less severe than those observed following stand replacing fire. Several lines of evidence suggest the potential for N leaching is low following bark beetle disturbance in lodgepole pine.     

The effects of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on the growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine in Turkey

In this study, the effect of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on basal area increment of Crimean pine and Scots pine was investigated. Dendrochronological data were collected from 223 (71 uninfected and 152 infected) Crimean pines and 195 (77 uninfected and 118 infected) Scots pines located in Kastamonu province of Turkey in 2014. Infected sample trees were classified as light, moderate or severe infection levels. Growth trends and basal area increment loses were compared between uninfected and infected trees for the periods of the last 10, 20 and 30 years. In addition, infection status of forest stands was investigated using temporary sample plots; 27 plots in Crimean pine stands and 26 plots in Scots pine. Results demonstrated that basal area increments were negatively affected by pine mistletoe for both species. Mean basal area increment losses of infected trees for the last decade were determined as 24% for Scots pine and 26% for Crimean pine. Basal area increment losses varied by infection levels (light, moderate and severe) as follows: 25%, 20% and 28% for Scots pines and 20%, 32% and 9% for Crimean pines. Scots pine stands were more severely infected by pine mistletoe than Crimean pine stands. There were negative correlations between number of infected trees and stand density for both species, while positive correlation was detected between the number of infected trees and mean diameter for Scots pine. The results of this study indicate that the pine mistletoe infection has negative effect on radial growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine trees. The results can be an important contribution to the forest management and protection activities in mistletoe-infected stands.     

Evaluation of mature conifer plantations as secondary habitat for epigeic forest arthropods (Coleoptera: Carabidae; Araneae)

Spiders (Araneae) and ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were studied in a woodland of the Northwest German lowland. An ancient oak–beech stand (170 years old) growing on mineral soil as well as a 110-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and a 55-year-old spruce (Picea spp.) forest growing on peat were investigated by pitfall trapping. A total of 155 species (39 carabids, 116 spiders) and 16,887 individuals (5269 carabids, 11,618 spiders) was recorded. Beetle diversity was high in the oak–beech stand and the spruce forest, but significantly lower in the pine forest. In both conifer plantations the activity density of carabids was considerably lower. Spider diversity was significantly higher in the spruce forest when compared to the beech and pine stand, respectively. Analyses of assemblage similarity distinguished clearly the fauna of all three stands. For each forest type, indicator species were detected. Although both conifer plantations were planted on former bogs, spider species typical of bogs were present only in the pine stand, not in the spruce stand. In both animal taxa, species typical of deciduous forests were more numerous and abundant in the oak–beech stand when compared to the conifer plantations. Although they were in direct contact, the conifer stands on peat only to a very low extent serve as secondary habitats for the epigeic fauna of the autochthonous deciduous woodland. During the 1990s, various agricultural programmes in Central Europe promoted such conifer plantations – in contrast, such afforestation measures on extensively used or fallow land of former bogs are not supported by the results of this study.     

Phosphorus supply and cycling at long-term forest monitoring sites in Germany

In this study, the supply and input–output balances of phosphorus (P) were investigated for a 10-year-period at 85 long-term monitoring sites in German forest ecosystems under the European Level II programme. These sites encompass 23 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands, 9 oak stands comprised of common oak (Quercus robur L.) and/or sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.), 20 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and 33 Norway spruce (Picea abies H.Karst.) stands. We quantified P concentrations in needles and leaves, P inputs from the atmosphere, P outputs through leaching and harvesting, and total P in the soil and humus layers. The P concentrations in European beech leaves from two sites (>1 mg P g⁻¹ dry weight), and in Norway spruce needles from four sites (>1.2 mg P g⁻¹ dry weight), were deficient over several years. In contrast, the oak and Scots pine sites were well supplied with P. When P removal through harvesting was disregarded, P balances were positive or stable (median 0.21 kg P ha⁻¹ a⁻¹). With harvesting, balances were mostly negative (median −0.35 kg P ha⁻¹ a⁻¹), with long-term P removal from the forest ecosystems.     

Land‐use changes influence the sporulation and survival of Phytophthora agathidicida,a lethal pathogen of New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis)

Phytophthora agathidicida is the accepted causal agent of dieback in remnant stands of long‐lived indigenous New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) and poses a significant threat to the long‐term survival of this species. Little is known about the effect of key soil physicochemical characteristics on the growth of P. agathidicida. In this study, we investigated the growth of P. agathidicida in soils collected from adjacent areas under original kauri forest, short rotation pine (Pinus radiata) plantation forest and grazed pastures. A growth response assay was used to quantify asexual (sporangia) and sexual (oospore) spore counts over 8 days in soils sampled from each land‐use. Significantly higher numbers of sporangia (p < 0.001) and oospores (p < 0.01) were found in pasture and pine forest soil within 2 days of the growth assay trials, suggesting these soils may favour asexual/sexual reproduction in the early stages of P. agathidicida establishment compared to kauri forest soils. Additionally, oospore production significantly increased over 8 days in pine forest soil, suggesting that with an increase in inoculum loads, these soils potentially act as pathogen reservoirs. The soil physicochemical properties (e.g., pH, C and N, phosphorus content and electrical conductivity) investigated in this study did not significantly correspond to spore count data between land‐uses, suggesting that differences in growth response are driven by other edaphic factors not explored in the present study.     

Reclaiming sodic soils for wheat production by Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC afforestation in India

A green house pot trial was conducted to assess the impact of Prosopis afforestation on the productivity and fertility of degraded sodic soils in Haryana, India. Wheat (Triticum aestivum, L; cultivar HD 2329) plants were grown from seed on top soils collected from a chronosequence of 0, 5, 7, and 30-year-old Prosopis juliflora plantations established on highly sodic soils and a non-sodic reference soil collected from a local farm. The afforestation improved physical and chemical properties of surface soils by decreasing pH, electrical conductivity and exchangeable Na levels, and increasing infiltration capacity, organic C, total N, available P, and exchangeable Ca, Mg, and, K levels. The amelioration effect of the trees on top soil increased with duration of tree occupancy. Soil nutrient status under the 30-year-old plantation was higher than that of the non-sodic farm soil. The reduced soil sodicity and improved fertility contributed to higher germination, survival, growth, and grain yield of wheat plants grown on the Prosopis chronosequence soils, even surpassing the yield attained on the farm soil in the case of 30-year-old plantation soil. Sodium accumulation in the crop declined while N, P, K, Ca, and Mg uptake increased with soil plantation age reflecting the changing nutrient status of the rooting zone due to afforestation. Results confirmed that successful tree plantation may restore the productivity and fertility of highly degraded sodic soils.     

Comparison of soil nitrogen dynamics under beech,Norway spruce and Scots pine in central Germany

To investigate the effect of tree species on soil N dynamics in temperate forest ecosystems, total N (Nt), microbial N (Nmic), net N mineralization, net nitrification, and other soil chemical properties were comparatively examined in beech (64–68 years old) and Norway spruce (53–55 years old) on sites 1 and 2, and beech and Scots pine (45 years old) on site 3. The initial soil conditions of the two corresponding stands at each site were similar; soil types were dystric Planosol (site 1), stagnic Gleysols (site 2), and Podzols (site 3). In organic layers (LOf₁, Of₂, Oh), Nmic and Nmic/Nt, averaged over three sampling times (Aug., Nov., Apr.), were higher under the beech stands than under the corresponding coniferous ones. However, the Nmic in the organic layers under beech had a greater temporal variation. Incubation (10 weeks, 22 °C, samples from November) results showed that the net N mineralization rates in organic layers were relatively high with values of 8.1 to 24.8 mg N kg^–1 d^–1. Between the two corresponding stands, the differences in net N mineralization rates in most of the organic layers were very small. In contrast, initial net nitrification rates (0.2–17.1 mg N kg^–1 day^–1) were considerably lower in most of the organic layers under the conifer than under the beech. In the mineral soil (0–10 cm), Nmic values ranged from 4.1–72.7 mg kg^–1, following a clear sequence: August>November>April. Nmic values under the beech stands were significantly higher than those under the corresponding coniferous stands for samples from August and April, but not from November. The net N mineralization rates were very low in all the mineral soils studied (0.05–0.33 mg N kg^–1 day^–1), and no significant difference appeared between the two contrasting tree species.     

Hydraulic Properties of Mor Layers in Finland

Mor, which is the most common humus form in Finnish forests, is an important interface between the mineral soil and the atmosphere through which hydraulic processes, e.g. infiltration and evaporation, take place. Hydraulic properties, i.e. water-retention characteristics and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity K ( ) in the mor layers of low-fertility (CT) Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) sites and medium-fertility (MT) Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) sites were measured on undisturbed samples. Samples were collected from four clusters, each of which contained 3-5 stands of CT and MT sites. Water retention and K ( ) were slightly higher on MT than on CT sites. With a decrease in matric potential ( ) from -4 to -60 kPa, the mean K decreased from 8.8 2 10 -3 to 1.4 2 10 -6 m d -1 and from 6.9 2 10 -3 to 4.9 2 10 -7 m d -1 at the MT and CT sites, respectively. The main source of variation both in water retention characteristics and K ( ), was the spatial heterogeneity within a stand. K ( ) did not differ statistically between stands or between clusters within either of the site types studied.     

Effects of thinning and canopy type on growth dynamics of Pinus sylvestris: inter-annual variations and intra-annual interactions with microclimate

We assessed the effects of thinning (0, 20 and 30 % extraction of basal area) and canopy type (pine–beech vs. pine plots, beech accounting for 12 % of total basal area) on radial growth of dominant and codominant Scots pine at inter-annual scale and on microclimatic conditions, radial growth and xylogenesis 9 years after thinning at intra-annual scale. Thinning weakly affected pine growth, which was enhanced 3 years after harvesting. Over time, a gradual reduction in pine growth in mixed canopy relative to pure canopy occurred only in unthinned plots apparently due to beech expansion. Indeed, 9 years after thinning, a higher seasonal radial increment and a greater number of tracheids were produced under pine canopy in the unthinned plots, whereas no differences between canopy types were observed in the thinned plots. Radial increment and tracheid production were mainly affected by tree water status (air and soil humidity, throughfall). The differences of tree water status caused by treatments, and plausibly disparities in tree size and tree-to-tree competition, were the main drivers explaining the patterns observed for radial increment and xylogenesis. Our results suggest that the negative effects of beech competition on Scots pine growth in similar mixed forest may be controlled to some extent by thinning.     

Results of long-term K and Mg fertilizer experiments in afforestation

Results from long-term fertilizer experiments on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) planted on old arable land in the north-eastern German lowlands demonstrate the necessity for fertilization with KMg on poorly buffered sandy soils.Applying KMg to young Scots pine increased pole production over a 60 year period by a total of 129 m³ ha⁻¹ (26%). In other experiments the improvement was as much as 93%.KMg manuring on light soils ensures optimal K and Mg nutrition and creates the conditions for uninterrupted growth and healthy development of the plantation. On degraded soils, KMg treatment leads to improved utilisation of the low soil nitrogen supply.With increasing eutrophication due to atmospheric nitrogen, KMg fertilization overcomes the depletion of soil cations and resulting imbalance in tree metabolism.Adequate application of KMg is a prerequisite for success in underplanting with beech (Fagus silvatica) on soils with a land use classification below 30, increasing the growth in height of beech by about 30%.KMg fertilizer favours biomass production and thus the fixation of N deposited through the atmosphere by the vegetation. Thereby, KMg fertilizer use and other silvicultural measures reduce the negative effects of atmospheric N-input in forest ecosystems to a certain extent, especially the N-pollution of groundwater. However, they cannot replace the technologies to reduce the N emissions.     

Influence of forest growth on former heathland on nutrient input and its consequences for nutrition and management of heath and forest

The low nutrient supply of heathland soils is often insufficient for the nutrient demand of growing forests and woodlands, and additional atmospheric input of nutrients is beneficial for the tree growth. On old heathland soils tree species influencing nutrient input with regard to higher amounts have competitive benefits on the early stages of succession and/or as first planted trees with consequences for both the successional development and the nutrition and management of heathland and forests. In three stages of heathland forest succession on highly acidified and nutrient poor soil, the influence of the canopies of a Calluna heathland, a pioneering birch-pine woodland, and a terminal oak-beech forest on nutrient input was investigated. Of all investigated species Scots pine has the highest interception of water and nutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg). As a consequence, the nutrient input into the pioneering birch-pine forest is the highest of the three types of ecosystems. This ability to meliorate the nutrient supply by increasing the nutrient input favours pine in the early stages of the succession. The enhanced nutrient input and accumulation within the young successional forest ecosystems involves two different succession and/or management considerations depending upon the further ecosystem development.

• 1.The increasing nutrient availability mitigates the negative influence of the highly acidified nutrient poor soil on the growth of oak and beech and facilitates the conversion of pine dominated woodlands and forests into forests dominated by broadleaved species.
• 2.For regeneration of heathland from naturally established pine woodlands and forests, deforestation have to be combined with techniques of nutrient impoverishment of the soil.

     

Coarse woody debris dynamics in a post-fire jack pine chronosequence and its relation with site productivity

The long-term relationships between coarse woody debris (CWD) dynamics, soil characteristics and site productivity have, so far, received little attention. The objectives of the study were to describe CWD dynamics along a post-fire chronosequence (43–86 years after fire) in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands, assess the importance of buried CWD in terms of soil available water holding capacity (AWHC), and investigate relationships between CWD, AWHC, nutrient retention and site productivity.

Twelve jack pine stands on sandy, mesic sites of glaciolacustrine origin were surveyed. Buried wood volume within the forest floor varied between 1 and 57 m³ ha⁻¹ (4–92% of total site CWD volume) and showed no relationship with time. Downed log mass accumulation followed a “U shaped” successional pattern with time since fire. Buried wood AWHC was negligible compared with that of the 0–20 cm mineral soil layer. The most productive sites were characterised by higher forest floor dry weight, effective CEC and water holding capacity in the mineral soil. Path analyses of relationships between organic matter content, CWD and forest floor CEC showed that CEC was conditioned by forest floor organic matter and buried wood content.