Variations in soil chemical properties and microbial biomass in artificial gaps in silver fir stands

Changes in soil chemical and microbiological parameters in small (185 m²) and medium (410 m²) gaps, created in mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill) stands (mean height 30 m) in the Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy), were studied over 2 years. Medium gaps had high soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and low soil moisture. Within small gaps we detected a greater amount of organic matter, with respect to under canopy cover sites and medium gaps. Moreover, a different trend of the organic matter between small and medium gaps was observed. In the medium gaps, with respect to under canopy cover sites and small gaps, we found a relatively low content of organic matter, associated to a lower amount of humic acid, which suggested that the organic substrate undergoes a mineralization rather than a humification process. An opposite trend was observed in small gaps, where the increase of organic matter content, associated to an increase of humic acid and microbial biomass, suggested a better humification process. Moreover, in small gaps the highest level of urease and the greatest fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis were observed. The different trend of organic matter observed in small and medium gaps may be related to changes in the environmental conditions. PAR transmittance, significantly higher in medium gaps, contributed to increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture, affecting soil microbial populations and organic matter trend. These results suggest that the creation of small gaps represents the silvicultural practice with minor environmental impact.     

杉木观光木混交林土壤腐殖质组成及特性

1999年1月对福建三明莘口教学林场杉木观光木混交林及对照杉木纯林土壤腐殖质的有机碳和胡敏酸(HA)含量、HA/FA、可见光谱、红外光谱特性等进行研究。结果表明,与杉木纯林相比,混交林各土层土壤有机碳、胡敏酸含量及胡敏酸的E4值均有显著增加,HA/FA比值亦有所增加(不显著),而E4/E6值略有降低,胡敏酸红外光谱在1650 cm-1处出现明显的吸收峰。可见混交林中土壤腐殖质腐殖化程度和芳香度较纯林的高,这对土壤结构改良和有效养分供应有利,土壤肥力有一定程度的提高。图1表1参17。     

巴山冷杉-牛皮桦混交林乔木更新及土壤化学性质对更新的影响

调查太白山巴山冷杉-牛皮桦混交林林下与林隙乔木更新及土壤化学性质,分析林隙及土壤化学性质对乔木更新的影响.结果表明:巴山冷杉-牛皮桦混交林乔木更新苗密度较小,为0.059株·m-2,但林下与林隙均以巴山冷杉更新苗为主;林下与林隙乔木更新苗密度差异不显著(P=0.160),但巴山冷杉幼苗密度表现为林隙内显著高于林下(P =0.012);相关分析表明,小林隙更利于巴山冷杉更新(r=- 0.397,P=0.030),而林隙大小对牛皮桦更新没有显著影响(r=0.125,P=0.511);在林下,土壤碱解N、全P含量和pH值与牛皮桦更新苗密度呈显著正相关;在林隙内,土壤全P和有效P含量与巴山冷杉更新苗密度呈显著负相关,全P含量与牛皮桦幼树密度呈显著负相关;林下土壤有机质含量、全N含量和有效P含量及林隙土壤pH值、有机质含量、全N含量和碱解N含量与牛皮桦和巴山冷杉更新苗密度均没有显著相关关系;林下土壤pH值显著高于林隙,而有机质、全N、碱解N、全P和有效P含量显著低于林隙.     

Canopy gaps in an old-growth fir-beech forest remnant of Western Carpathians

The old-growth forest remnants of Western Carpathians provide a unique possibility to study the disturbance regimes of forest ecosystems without human influence. This study investigated the gap dynamics in beech-dominated old-growth forest Badínsky prales in Central Slovakia. Considering the decline of silver fir in last decades, the study analyzed the main characteristics of disturbance regime with the emphasis on the role of fir. On a 5-ha research plot, the dominant tree species was beech, the proportion of fir reached about 10%. However, a significantly higher proportion of fir (>30%) was observed in the coarse woody debris. In total, 45 canopy openings were recorded. Canopy gaps and expanded gaps covered 11.3 and 37.9% of the forest area, respectively. Despite the highest frequency of small gaps <100 m², their proportion of the overall gap area reached only 20%, what suggests the important role of intermediate and large gaps in the gap dynamics as well. The analysis of gapmakers’ crown projections confirmed a rather low contribution of fir (14.6%) to the gap formation despite its relatively intensive mortality. A high variability of the next generation age between the gaps (6–44 years) was recorded what suggests a large temporal variation of the disturbance events. The lateral expansion of adjacent trees was found to be the determining process for the closure of small canopy openings. The intermediate and large gaps are more likely closed by the height growth of natural regeneration and understory trees that are present on the majority of the area.     

落叶松人工林土壤腐殖物质组分及其对酸度的影响

对落叶松人工纯林不同发育阶段幼龄林、中龄林、近熟林、成熟林及二代幼龄林土壤腐殖物质组分变化及其对酸度的影响进行研究,以次生林和一代幼龄林为对照,比较不同发育阶段落叶松人工林与天然次生林、一代幼龄林与二代幼龄林土壤有机质含量、腐殖物质组分特征的差异.结果表明:落叶松人工林从幼龄林到近熟林根际与非根际土壤有机质含量、胡敏酸含碳量、胡敏素含碳量随林龄的增大而增大;近熟林到成熟林根际与非根际土壤有机质含量、富啡酸含碳量和胡敏素含碳量随着林龄的增大而降低;土壤腐殖化程度(土壤中胡敏酸占全C的百分比)和土壤腐殖质中胡敏酸含碳量与富啡酸含碳量比值(HA/FA)为次生林大于幼龄林和近熟林;二代幼龄林与一代幼龄林相比,根际土壤有机质含量、富啡酸含碳量和胡敏素含碳量分别降低4.53%、35.8%和1.98%,非根际土壤有机质含量、胡敏酸含碳量、富啡酸含碳量和胡敏素含碳量分别提高46.44%、43.69%、47.45%和49.5%;土壤腐殖物质组分与酸度的相关关系随着年龄的变化而变化,并且不同发育阶段根际土壤腐殖物质组分与根际土壤活性酸(pH值)、交换性酸、水解性酸相关性密切.     

13C-NMR spectroscopy studies of humic substances in subtropical perhumid montane forest soil

We investigated soil organic matter in a forest of natural Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) under perhumid weather conditions in north central Taiwan. Humic substances along the transect from the summit and footslope to lakeshore were characterized by use of solid-state cross-polarization, magic-angle-spinning ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR). The major components of soil organic carbon in whole soil and humic substances were alkyl-C, O-alkyl-C, and di-O-alkyl-C, ranging from 60.6% to 80.7%, then aromatic-C, 7.5% to 9.8%. The degree of humification of soil organic matter, both O-alkyl-C/alkyl-C ratio and aromaticity, decreased slightly from the summit to lakeshore. The content of functional groups of polar and acidic groups, including O-alkyl-C, di-O-alkyl-C, and carboxyl-C, corresponded with the topographical effect, increasing slightly from the summit to lakeshore. However, the relatively low degree of humification in soils of this perhumid forest and low aromaticity were due to high precipitation and acidity, which appeared to hinder organic matter decomposition with topography change.     

杉木人工林不同发育阶段林下植被、土壤微生物、酶活性及养分的变化

土壤微生物总数及细菌、真菌数量、土壤酶活性（特别是蛋白酶、磷酸酶和蔗糖酶）及土壤养分状况（主要是有机质含量）从杉木幼龄林到中龄林随着林冠的郁闭，林下植被盖度急剧下降，呈明显下降趋势；土壤微生物总数，细菌总数，蛋白酶，磷酸酶，蔗糖酶以及土壤有机质从中龄林到成熟林随着林木密度及郁闭度下降，林下植被盖度逐步得到恢复，也呈明显的上升趋势。由于过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性的降低，有可能导致中龄林土壤中多酚类有毒物质的积累，这或许是杉木连栽产量下降或成活率低的原因之一。     

Regeneration in experimental gaps of subalpine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> forest in the Slovenian Alps

In 1998, we analysed regeneration success in four 20 year old medium-sized (600–800 m²) and four small experimental gaps (100–200 m²) in subalpine Norway spruce forest in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. We assessed the influence of site (depressions, slopes), gap size, and position within gap (centre, gap south, and north edge) on regeneration success and interactions between regeneration density, height, height increment, direct and diffuse light, ground vegetation, soil depth, thickness of humus horizons, presence of woody debris, and microrelief. Seedling density was higher in depressions, where more seedlings developed in central positions of gaps in both gap sizes, and in microsites with deeper soils, less competition from ground vegetation and convex microsites. On slopes, a higher seedling density was found in small gaps, and at the northern edge of gaps regardless of gap size. Here, seedling density was negatively influenced by diffuse radiation and positively by soil depth. The results suggest that regeneration should be initiated from medium to large gaps in depressions and small gaps on slopes. Development of established seedlings was enhanced by higher radiation levels on both sites, therefore favourable extension of the gaps would be lateral to northwards.     

Regeneration of Norway spruce in canopy gaps in Sphagnum-Myrtillus old-growth forests

Gap-associated spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) regeneration in Sphagnum-Myrtillus stands of south taiga forests (Central Forest Biosphere reserve, Tver region, Russia) was studied to evaluate the role of different disturbances in spruce dynamics. Sampled gaps (n=70) ranged from 40 m² to 1.7 ha in size, and from 1 to 70 years since disturbance moment. Formation of gaps lead to increase in the number of stems per ha in all gap size classes (small: 40–200 m², medium: 200–3000 m², and large: >3000 m² gaps). Spruce was the most important species in gap refilling, although its role was not the same in different gap classes. The highest values of relative abundance (compared to other species) were recorded in small gaps, and much lower values – in middle and large gaps. However, as refilling of gaps proceeded, spruce showed rather active regeneration in middle and large gaps and partly regained its abundance in middle-age disturbances. In general, all types of gaps studied supported spruce regeneration into the forest canopy. Almost perfect correlation between predicted outcome of spruce dynamics in gaps and its current role in the canopy of Sphagnum-Myrtillus stands suggests a good adaptation of this species to the current disturbance regime and a steady state of the these forests.     

Spatial distribution of regeneration in West-Carpathian uneven-aged silver fir forests

The objective of our study was to examine whether distribution of regeneration in uneven-aged fir (Abies alba Mill.) forests is related to the spatial pattern of trees. In 12 sample plots of size 0.45–1.00 ha (in total 8.65 ha, with stand basal areas ranging from 27.6 m² ha^–1 to 39.5 m² ha^–1), all live and dead trees above 5 cm in d_1.3 were mapped and their diameters measured. In eight plots, all live and dead fir saplings were mapped. In three plots, the number of live fir saplings and seedlings was registered on small systematically distributed circular plots. The values of an analytically developed index of stand influence were compared in patches occupied and unoccupied by live or dead fir regeneration. Contrary to preliminary assumptions, only in a few cases did saplings and trees 5–15 cm in d_1.3 appear more often in gaps and looser stand patches. Rather, in many plots, the opposite tendency was observed. The seedling density showed a weak but positive correlation with the index of influence. If the spatial pattern of regeneration reflects the spatially varying mortality of juvenile trees, then no evidence was found that stand competition was the most important factor inducing this mortality. On the contrary, on the basis of the results obtained, we can presume that the survival rate of juvenile firs was higher in patches with a relatively higher local basal area. Thus, it was hypothesised that, first, dispersion of regeneration in uneven-aged fir forests is controlled by easy-to-change edaphic factors such as humus form and acidity of the upper soil horizons, and second, that these soil features are linked with the spatial pattern of trees.     

Effects of afforestation on soil organic matter characteristics under subtropical forests with low elevation

We selected sites of natural broad-leaved forests and adjacent coniferous plantations (Cunninghamia konishii and Calocedrus formosana of 30 and 80 years old, respectively) in central Taiwan to evaluate the effects of plantations on soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics and composition. SOM was characterized by chemical analyses, solid-state ¹³C cross-polarization magic-angle nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS ¹³C NMR), and optical measurements. Semiquantitative analysis of CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectra showed the litter of broad-leaved forests to be less resistant to decomposition than that of coniferous forests. The humification degree of SOM was higher under broad-leaved than coniferous forests because of the relatively high percentage of aromatic C and carboxyl C in the humic acids (HAs) of A horizons under broad-leaved forests. Additionally, the E ₄/E ₆ ratio of HAs was lower in the A horizon under broad-leaved than coniferous forests, which reflected more condensation of SOM. High alkyl C content under coniferous forests could be attributed to needle litter quality, which has a high content of waxes or lipids. Afforestation with conifers induced accumulation of the litterfall layer, gradually increased SOM concentrations, and changed the composition structures of SOM in the topsoils.     

雪灾干扰下林窗对木荷幼苗更新的影响

林窗干扰是维持森林生态系统的重要驱动力之一,对种子萌发、幼苗等自然更新过程、森林物种组成和动态、森林生物多样性的维持具有重要作用。本研究以2008年雪灾干扰后的浙江江郎山木荷林为研究对象,对木荷林窗大小结构、幼苗更新、生长等进行调查研究,结果表明:扩展林窗以50 100 m2的林窗个数最多(占总数的45.45%),各等级林窗中以50 100 m2的林窗占总面积比例最大(占总面积的30.31%)。林窗中木荷幼苗的平均高度和地径较对照林分分别高1.44 cm和0.61 mm,幼树在林窗中的平均高度和地径则比对照林分中分别高45.37 cm和5.00 mm且差异显著;林窗大小对木荷幼苗、幼树的高度和地径生长影响显著,中林窗中幼苗的高度和地径均高于小林窗和大林窗中的幼苗且差异均显著(F=4.893,P=0.007;F=5.203,P=0.004;n=357);幼树的地径在不同大小林窗中差异显著(F=3.569,P=0.037;n=43)。林窗幼苗的更新密度随着林窗面积的增大而增大,在林窗面积达到76 m2时,更新密度达到最大值,而后随着林窗面积的增大下降;中林窗和小林窗中更新苗木以低矮植株(1级、2级)为主,面积100 m2大林窗中,木荷幼苗生长较快。与他人研究的森林天然林窗相比,雪灾干扰后改变了林窗的大小分布结构和面积,50 100 m2的林窗比例较大,一定程度上更利于幼苗更新,具有相对较大的林窗幼苗更新密度;不论林窗大小,林窗内的更新幼苗都比林内多,郁闭度较大的林内或大面积的空地上都不利于更新幼苗的生长。因此,从受灾木荷林窗大小结构、幼苗更新、生长等来看,中林窗是幼苗适宜更新的面积,为木荷灾后恢复与重建提供了科学依据。     

不同栽植代数29年生杉木林土壤腐殖质及结合形态的研究

国内许多学者对不同栽植代数的杉木（Ｃｕｎｎｉｎｇｈａｍｉａｌａｎｃｅｏｌａｔａ（Ｌａｍｂ．）Ｈｏｏｋ．）林生产力及林地土壤理化性质、土壤微生物及生化活性的研究有较多的报道,但对不同栽杉代数处于近熟时林分土壤腐殖质组成及其结合形态的研究报道则较少（方奇...     

Spatial variation of seed rain and seed banks in gaps of karst forest in the Maolan Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province

Based on an investigation on gaps and non-gap stands of the Maolan National Karst Forest Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, quantitative characteristics and dynamic changes of seed rain and seed banks in gaps were analyzed. The results show that the total amount of seed rain was 117.4 ± 32.6 seeds/m² during the period of observation. The number of immature seeds was 56.3 ± 10.3 seeds/m², that of mature damaged seeds was 15.7 ± 4.7 seeds/m², and the number of mature germinated seeds was 45.4 ± 8.2 seeds/m². It is suggested that the seed number is rich for gap regeneration. Seed rain in gaps has spatial and temporal heterogeneities which deeply affect regeneration patterns of gap plants. Along a gradient from the gap center to a non-gap stand, seed density in the litter layer, the number of species, and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index were gradually reduced, but these indices increased in the soil. The seed density in the gap center was 2415 ± 639 seeds/m², near the gap center was 2218 ± 421 seeds/m² and at the gap border area 1815 ± 311 seeds/m². This shows that plants in gaps have good latent regeneration potential. In both gaps and non-gap stands, the Jaccard similarity index of seed in litter layer was the largest, second largest at 5–10 cm soil depth, and the least at the 0–5 cm soil layer the index. The Jaccard index between the soil seed bank and the present plant community was large in the litter layer, but decreased with soil depth both in gaps and non-gap stands. The results show that soil seed banks are the main source of gap regeneration in the karst forests of Maolan and contribute significantly to gap regeneration. __________ Translated from Acta Botanica Yunnanica, 2007, 29(3): 327–332 [译自: 云南植物研究]     

枫香与杉木、马尾松混交林土壤有机质和腐殖质碳的研究

对枫香与杉木、马尾松混交后土壤有机质碳和腐殖质碳的变化进行研究表明:枫香与杉木、马尾松混交后,增加了土壤的有机质碳和腐殖质碳的储量,0~20 cm土层增加的幅度大于20~40 cm土层。从腐殖质的组成来看,混交林土壤无论是胡敏酸、富啡酸还是土壤腐殖化度都大于纯林,混交林土壤胡敏酸与富啡酸比值(HA/FA)也大于纯林。从而表明了混交林土壤腐殖物质的品质变佳,土壤熟化度增大,土壤供肥保肥的能力增强,土壤肥力得以提高。     

Soil respiration following site preparation treatments in boreal mixedwood forest

The effects of experimental site preparation treatments on soil respiration were studied in a boreal mixedwood forest. The treatments were: (1) intact forest (uncut); (2) clearcut without site preparation (cut); (3) clearcut followed by mixing of organic matter with mineral horizons (mixed); and (4) plots from which all organic matter was removed (screefed). Soil respiration was measured as carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution from surface soil once a month from June to October, 1994 in the field using infra-red gas analyzer (IRGA). In addition, soil temperature and moisture content were determined once a month during the 1994 growing season and soil organic matter content was determined once in July 1994. Mixed plots had the highest soil respiration rates (0.86 to 0.98 g m⁻² h⁻¹), followed by the clearcut (0.68 to 0.84 g m⁻² h⁻¹) and uncut plots (0.56 to 0.82 g m⁻² h⁻¹), with screefed plots having the lowest respiration rates (0.24 to 0.52 g m⁻² h⁻¹) from June to September. Soil respiration of the cut plots was not significantly different from that of the uncut control. The site preparation treatments reduced soil moisture and soil organic matter contents significantly. Changes in soil temperature within treatment at 0, 5 and 10 cm depths and between the treatments were not significant. Observed soil respiration patterns were attributed to changes in soil moisture and organic matter content associated with the various treatments. A laboratory incubation experiment elucidated the effects of organic matter, soil moisture, and temperature on soil respiration rates. Site preparation treatments in boreal mixedwood forests affect soil respiration by modifying the moisture and organic matter content of the soil.     

The effect of single-tree selction system on soil properties in an oriental beech stand of Hyrcanian forest,north of Iran

A case study was conducted in beech forests of northern Iran to determine the effect of the created gaps on some soil properties in beech stand. Changes of soil properties in small (60 150 m 2 ), medium (151 241 m 2 ), large (242 332 m 2 ) and very large (333 550 m 2 ) gaps, as well as under closed stands were studied eight years after the gap creation. Soil samples were taken from three depths, 0 10, 10 20 and 20 30 cm. The gaps were different from their around undisturbed stands in terms of the following soil parameters: Mg +2 concentration of 0 10 cm at medium gap size, bulk density of 10 20 cm at very large gap size as well as K + and Ca +2 concentrations at 20 30 cm at small and large gap sizes, respectively. Furthermore, the size of the gaps had no effect on soil characteristics through the whole profile. Water saturation percent (Sp %) at 0 10cm as well as P and Mg +2 at 20 30 cm was different amongst undisturbed stands around different gap sizes. The center and the edges of the gap were different only in terms of organic carbon at the depth of 10 20 cm. Significant differences were observed between gaps andclosed canopy regarding P and Ca +2 at depth 0 10 cm and 10 20 cm, respectively. It can be concluded that applied silvicultural system for harvesting trees which created these gaps might be suitable for conservation and forest management in the region.     

Long-term changes of structure and tree species composition in Dinaric uneven-aged forests: are red deer an important factor?

Uneven-aged silver fir-European beech forest stands were studied to (1) analyse the dynamics of diameter structure and tree species composition in the past two centuries and (2) determine the impact of red deer on the regeneration and recruitment of silver fir. The study used current data on forest stands, archival data from old forest management plans for the period 1789–2004, and red deer harvesting records for the period 1907–2006. During the observation period, the silver fir population aged and silver fir and European beech alternated in dominance. The study revealed a strong impact of red deer on the composition and recruitment of tree regeneration, especially on silver fir regeneration. The drastic changes in red deer density (from extermination up to 5.8 animals km⁻²) and past forest management practices were apparently the main factors driving the population dynamics of silver fir (regeneration, recruitment, and diameter structure) in the study area during the past two centuries.     

杉木连栽土壤组成、结构、性质变化及其对林木生长的影响

杉木连栽土壤组成、结构、性质变化及其对林木生长的影响杨承栋，张小泉，焦如珍（中国林业科学研究院林业研究所北京１０００９１）魏以荣（浙江省丽水地区实验林场丽水３２３０００）冯福娟（浙江省林业学校丽水３２３０００）关键词杉木连栽，红外光谱杉木为我国特有的...     

Relationships between local stand density and local species composition and nutrient content in the topsoil of pure and mixed stands of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)

This study examined topsoil samples from the humic mineral horizon in four pure silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and five mixed stands with beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), spruce (Picea abies L.; Karst.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). In every stand, 60–70 sampling locations were chosen using a stratified random scheme that represented a gradient in local stand density and local species composition. One working hypothesis was that stand density and species composition affect the content of nutrients in the mineral humic soil horizon. Specifically, the analysis statistically tested for relationships between general and species-specific local stand density measures (basal area, sum of tree diameters weighted by distance, canopy openness) and the contents of total C, total N (in four stands), base cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) and Mn²⁺ (in nine stands). A considerable variation in nutrient concentrations was observed; the coefficients of variation ranged from 0.21 to 0.38 for N, from 0.20 to 0.94 for the sum of base cations and from 0.56 to 0.95 for Mn. However, no clear relationship emerged between local stand density and the concentration of N and base cations; in five stands, manganese showed a negative correlation with local stand density. In the mixed fir-beech stand, significantly higher concentrations of Ca, K and Mn were found in the vicinity of beeches, and species-specific stand density explained up to 15, 29 and 34% of total variation in the content of these elements, respectively. Similar tendencies also appeared in the mixed stands with pine, although the relationships were weak. The results obtained for two fir-spruce stands were ambiguous. In sum, in the stands studied, small canopy gaps and inter-crown openings might not be considered ‘‘nutrient hot spots’’, and the admixed species, except for beech, had an insignificant effect on nutrient content in the humic mineral horizon.