Indices of soil nitrogen availability for an ecological site classification of British forests

An adequate supply of nitrogen (N) is essential for the successful establishment and sustainable productivity of forest stands. N deficits may necessitate the use of artificial fertilisers. Availability of N in the inorganic forms, and the relative abundance of the NO₃-N and NH₄-N components, influences the species composition of natural forest vegetation. Hence it is essential to use reliable measures of soil N supply that fully reflect its ecological significance. The new Ecological Site Classification (ESC) used in British forestry employs a multi-factorial definition of soil nutrient regime (SNR), including soil N. To develop this, a soil and vegetation study was made at 89 forest sites throughout Great Britain covering the major soil types used for forestry. “Total N” levels were compared with separate pre- and post-incubation measures of the two inorganic N components as potential indices of soil N supply. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the major discriminant chemical variables for the sampled soils were pH, calcium and NO₃-N and that these were also the main variables influencing the species composition of the ground vegetation. Total N and NH₄-N were less effective discriminant variables for these sites. In some infertile soils the levels of NH₄-N or total N may be of greater importance, as NO₃-N is usually in very limited supply. A multivariate gradient of SNR, which incorporates the NO₃-N measures, has been adopted for use within the ESC system. The position of a site on this gradient can be estimated quantitatively from soil type, ground vegetation species composition and humus type. This enables soil N supply and overall SNR to be assessed in a simple but effective way that guides the operational management of British forest soils for sustainable productivity. It will also be possible to use these techniques to monitor the nutritional status of forest sites over time.     

太岳山森林立地类型划分研究

文章在2015年森林连续清查资料的基础上,遵循科学性和实用性的原则,采用综合多因子、多级序的方法,对太岳山森林立地类型进行了划分。以地貌、海拔、坡向、坡度、土壤厚度等因子为主要依据,与中国森林立地分类系统相衔接,将太岳山森林划分为4个立地类型小区,9个立地类型组,19个立地类型。     

岷江上游不同森林类型土壤有机碳含量及密度特征

本文研究了岷江上游云杉人工林、紫果冷杉人工林、岷江冷杉人工幼龄林、高山栎天然次生林4种森林类型土壤有机碳含量及密度。结果表明:4种森林类型不同土层有机碳含量和有机碳密度均差异显著,都随土层深度增加而逐渐减小,且土壤有机碳集中分布在表层土(0~20 cm)中;4种森林类型土壤有机碳含量从高到低排序为:云杉人工林(5.896 g.kg-1)紫果冷杉人工林(5.479 g.kg-1)高山栎天然次生林(5.019 g.kg-1)岷江冷杉人工幼龄林(2.245 g.kg-1);土壤有机碳密度从高到低为:云杉人工林(0.03541 kg.m-2)高山栎天然次生林(0.03134 kg.m-2)紫果冷杉人工林(0.02474 kg.m-2)岷江冷杉人工幼龄林(0.01573 kg.m-2)。说明林分起源、树种组成、植物根系、地表枯落物和人类活动等因素影响着土壤有机碳含量及碳密度。     

Whole tree harvesting can reduce second rotation forest productivity

The practice of harvesting forest residues is rapidly increasing due to rising demand for renewable energy. However, major concerns have been raised about the sustainability of this practice and its net impact on productivity, in particular through negative effects on the growth of subsequent tree crops. We measured height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree spacing density on 23-year-old second rotation stands of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), following whole tree harvesting (WTH—of all above ground biomass, by cable crane) or conventional stem-only harvesting (CH) of the first rotation crop. Overall, WTH reduced tree DBH by 10.3% (p = 0.017), with weaker evidence that it may have reduced height (by 8.2%, p = 0.164) and stand basal area (by 15.3%, p = 0.101). However, treatment effects differed greatly between individual blocks and, analysed separately by block, significant differences (WTH plot trees smaller than CH plot trees) were most notable in the two more exposed south-facing blocks (where, in both cases, p < 0.01 for height and p < 0.05 for basal area). Variation in productivity between the experimental plots cannot simply be attributed to preharvesting site environment – no correlation was found between first rotation and second rotation productivity – nor was treatment effect explained by differences in tree spacing density. Treatment effects can be attributed to the removal of three to four times larger quantities of N, P and K in the tree biomass by WTH than by CH of the first rotation crop, combined with greater competition with tree natural regeneration and other vegetation in WTH plots during the early stages of the second rotation. Soil moisture was higher in WTH plots but there was no evidence that WTH increased soil acidity or aluminium mobility nor that it decreased soil organic matter. The results also highlight the complexities of predicting the effect of harvesting treatment on future productivity, even within single-age, single-species forests. The study demonstrates the risk that WTH can reduce second rotation productivity of conifer forests in acidic upland sites, and that this practice will only be sustainable with appropriate interventions to overcome shortage of nutrients and high levels of vegetation competition.     

Influence of storm damage on the runoff generation in two sub-catchments of the Sperbelgraben, Swiss Emmental

The project “Lothar and Mountain Torrents” investigates the effect of storm-originated deforestation on the hydrology on three scales within the Sperbelgraben catchment (Swiss Prealps). This article focuses on runoff measurements during a 3-year period in two differently affected sub-catchments (≈2 ha) and on 2-year surface runoff measurements on smaller plots (50–110 m²). The link between these two scales and the results of irrigation experiments on 1 m² areas are interpreted using a detailed map of forest site types describing soil and vegetation characteristics. Plot results show that surface runoff is generated in two distinct ways. On the one hand, high amounts of saturation overland flow were observed on wet areas of gleyic soils. On the other hand, hardly any surface runoff was measured on Cambisols, with the exception of a short hydrophobic reaction at the beginning of storms occurring on areas with a thick organic litter layer (temporary Hortonian overland flow). On the long term, the lightly damaged sub-catchment (SC1) yields less runoff than the highly damaged one (SC2). This is confirmed when direct runoff volumes during flood events are considered. However, short and intensive showers surprisingly lead to higher discharge peaks in SC1. This occurrence is explained by different geomorphologic characteristics (mainly the channel density) and the spatial distribution of the moist to wet forest site types. Effects of deforestation and local soil compaction due to forest clearing remain small on both plot and sub-catchment scale.     

云南大石林风景区景观格局变化研究

风景游览区土地利用/覆被变化与景观演变是自然保护与风景旅游业协调发展状况的直接表现。以云南石林世界自然遗产地的大石林景区为例,应用遥感技术和GIS空间分析技术,分析了1990年和2006年土地利用/覆被与景观格局变化。结果表明,天然灌草在研究期内减少了近50%,耕地减少了7.81%,石林地减少了4.15%,云南松林、交通用地、水体、建筑、滇青冈林、柏树林、人工草地、香樟树林8种景观类型均有所增加。景观类型呈现出不稳定和频繁变化的特点,地类间的转化呈多向交叉转移转化,除建筑、水体、滇青冈林保有率较高外,其余各地类均有超过50%的比重发生转入和转出。景观间的连通性降低,多样性增加,异质性增强。     

Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils

The aim of this work was to investigate differences in soil chemistry and understory composition between recent forests (sites afforested in the last 170 years) and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. The study was carried out on hardwood forests at moderate elevation (400–600 m asl) in the Jura Mountains (N.E. France) on four main pedological substrates with different characteristics. The floristic composition of 127 stands from recent forests (n = 65) or ancient forests (n = 62) was surveyed. Some functional traits and the Ellenberg indicator values of the surveyed species were recorded. In addition, the topsoil from 30 stands was analysed. The composition of the flora was analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the species which were typical of one class of forest age were identified using a chi-square (χ²) test. The difference between forest classes for plant traits, their indicator values, or soil chemistry was tested using the generalized linear model and Bonferroni t-tests (or Kruskall–Wallis tests). The floristic composition of the ancient forests was significantly different from that of the recent forests and was characterized by a high occurrence of shrub species in recent forests. These differences were associated with higher specific leaf area, low-range seeds dispersal, and some life forms like geophytes. There was no clear difference in soil chemistry between the two classes of forests, except for δ¹⁵N values. The weakness of the difference in the soil between ancient and recent forests suggested that changes in soil chemistry caused by a former agricultural land use were not responsible for the differences in understory composition recorded. The differences in functional traits between the two forest classes supported this conclusion. We finally concluded that (i) past land use modifies the vegetation composition of current forests, even on neutral soils and that (ii) in our context, biological filters were probably responsible for these changes.     

蕉岭长潭省级自然保护区不同林分类型土壤水分物理性质研究

对广东省蕉岭长潭自然保护区的阔叶混交林、马尾松林、杉木林、毛竹林、针阔混交林等五种典型林分的土壤水分物理性质进行了研究,结果表明：（1）五种林分类型土壤自然含水量、毛管持水量、最小持水量的排序为毛竹林〉针阔混交林〉马尾松林〉杉木林〉阔叶混交林;非毛管孔隙度和非毛管持水量的排序为针阔混交林〉阔叶混交林〉杉木林〉马尾松林〉毛竹林。（2）五种林分的非毛管孔隙度;阔叶混交林、杉木林、针阔混交林的总孔隙度;阔叶混交林的毛管持水量、最大持水量、最小持水量、非毛管持水量;针阔混交林的自然含水量、毛管持水量、最大持水量、最小持水量、非毛管持水量都是随着土层深度的增加而减少。阔叶混交林、毛竹林、杉木林、针阔混交林的土壤容重是随土层深度的增加而增加。（3）同一土层不同林分间的容重、孔隙度、自然含水量、最大持水量、毛管持水量、非毛管持水量和最小持水量都没有显著差异,而同一林分的物理性质和持水特性在不同土层之间存在显著差异。     

Soil quality relationships with tree growth in exotic forests in New Zealand

Quantitative information on the relationships between site quality and plantation productivity (dominated by the exotic species Pinus radiata) is required to achieve goals for sustainable forest production. Soil quality is a key component of site quality. A nationwide study of soil quality measurements is reported for 35 representative forest sites, covering a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions found throughout New Zealand's plantation forest estate, representing most of the soils used for plantation forestry in New Zealand. The objectives of the study were to find the most important soil properties that discriminated among eight New Zealand Soil Orders and determine relationships between Soil Orders and early tree growth rates for P. radiata and Cupressus lusitanica. Soil physical and chemical properties were measured to identify key soil indicators of soil quality related to tree productivity. Tree growth was measured after four years on small plots planted at very high stand density (40 000 stems ha⁻¹). A factorial design was used to examine the influence of three factors on tree productivity: two species, P. radiata D. Don (ectomycorrhizal) and C. lusitanica Miller (endomycorrhizal); with and without fertilizer; and low or high disturbance (soil compaction and/or topsoil scalping by machinery). Carbon content, Phosphorus (P) retention, and soil physical properties that index the degree of soil compactness were strongly correlated to Soil Order. These properties are similar to soil quality factors that correlated with tree growth. Discriminant analyses of soil quality parameters by Soil Order clustered soils based on P retention (phosphate absorption capacity), subsoil Carbon (C), and subsoil air capacity (volume % of voids at 10 kPa matric potential). Allophanic Soils and Podzols clustered (from plots of first versus second canonical variates) separately from the other Soil Orders, which were somewhat clustered on the second variate within a broad clustering on the first variate. Soil Orders were ranked for tree growth rates for both species: pumice Andisols > Inceptisols > tephric Andisols > Entisols > Ultisols > Spodosols (NZ classification: for P. radiata is Pumice > Brown > Pallic > Allophanic > Recent > Raw > Ultic > Podzol and for C. lusitanica Pumice > Pallic > Allophanic > Brown > Raw > Ultic > Recent > Podzol).     

Harvest residue management and fertilisation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in a 15-year-old Pinus radiata plantation forest

Growing interest in the use of planted forests for bioenergy production could lead to an increase in the quantities of harvest residues extracted. We analysed the change in C and N stocks in the forest floor (LFH horizon) and C and N concentrations in the mineral soil (to a depth of 0.3 m) between pre-harvest and mid-rotation (stand age 15 years) measurements at a trial site situated in a Pinus radiata plantation forest in the central North Island, New Zealand. The impacts of three harvest residue management treatments: residue plus forest floor removal (FF), residue removal (whole-tree harvesting; WT), and residue retention (stem-only harvesting; SO) were investigated with and without the mean annual application of 190 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of urea-N fertiliser (plus minor additions of P, B and Mg). Stocks of C and N in the forest floor were significantly decreased under FF and WT treatments whereas C stocks and mass of the forest floor were significantly increased under the SO treatment over the 15-year period. Averaged across all harvesting treatments, fertilisation prevented the significant declines in mass and C and N stocks of the forest floor which occurred in unfertilised plots. The C:N ratio of the top 0.1 m of mineral soil was significantly increased under the FF treatment corresponding to a significant reduction in N concentration over the period. However, averaged across all harvesting treatments, fertilisation prevented the significant increase in C:N ratio of the top 0.1 m of mineral soil and significantly decreased the C:N ratio of the 0-0.3 m depth range. Results indicate that residue extraction for bioenergy production is likely to reduce C and N stocks in the forest floor through to mid-rotation and possibly beyond unless fertiliser is applied. Forest floors should be retained to avoid adverse impacts on topsoil fertility (i.e., increased C:N ratio). Based on the rate of recovery of the forest floor under the FF treatment, stocks of C and N in the forest floor were projected to reach pre-harvest levels at stand age 18-20. While adverse effects of residue extraction may be mitigated by the application of urea-N fertiliser, it should be noted that, in this experiment, fertiliser was applied at a high rate. Assessment of the sustainability of harvest residue extraction over multiple rotations will require long-term monitoring.     

林火对土壤氮含量的扰动作用

通过对大兴安岭地区新林林业局 2 0a内不同年份间隔的 11块火烧迹地土壤进行调查取样和室内实验分析 ,发现火烧后不同年限、不同强度的火烧迹地 ,土壤全氮与有效氮含量变化情况如下 :低强度火烧后 9d ,土壤全氮和有效氮含量均比未烧前低 ,这与中、高强度火烧后的情况正好相反。火烧后 4a内 ,土壤氮的含量基本都比未烧林地有所下降 (中强度火烧迹地土壤有效氮含量除外 )。以后有逐年增加的趋势。火烧迹地降第一场雨后 ,低强度火烧迹地土壤全氮比降雨前减少 ,有效氮增加 ;中强度火烧迹地土壤全氮和有效氮均比降雨前增加 ;高强度火烧迹地土壤全氮和有效氮均比降雨前有所下降。连年火烧迹地土壤全氮减少 ,有效氮增加     

Spatial terrain analysis for matching native tree species to sites: A methodology

This methodology has been developed to predict the distribution of preferable biophysical sites for three of the favored plantation species for private land rehabilitation in the Atherton Tablelands of tropical north Queensland: Araucaria cunninghamii, Eucalyptus cloeziana, and Flindersia brayleyana. The site prediction is expressed in a spatial and quantitative form of site classification. The sites (termed toposites) are characterized by soil and terrain qualities using spatial analytical techniques afforded by the predictive capacity of DTMs (digital terrain models) and conceptual regolith-terrain relationships in an explicit approach to forest site analysis through a geographic information system (GIS). Knowledge-based relationships and recorded soil-topographic data are used in this methodology to create conceptual models of climatic, terrain and parent material interaction. These guide the algorithms for digital terrain analysis through use of transfer functions and topographic DTM derivatives. Spatial regolith-terrain attribute predictions for potential toposites from DTMs are then combined with modeled climatic surfaces. The spatial arrangement of potentially favorable toposites for each of the selected species can be portrayed in raster format involving fuzzy classification. This form of classification provides multiple membership values for given regolith-terrain attributes for each grid cell. These can then be grouped as desired in an a posteriori classification to produce toposite preference in raster or vector map form.     

不同林分类型及土层对土壤养分的影响

在中山五桂山保护区选择4个不同的林分类型,分别进行土壤采样,测定土壤养分指标,分析不同林分类型及土层对土壤养分的影响,为林分改造、土壤养分改良提供理论和数据支撑。结果表明:(1)四种土壤养分指标在四种林分类型间均有显著性差异,四种林分类型的土壤养分指标含量大小排序大致为:沟谷季雨林阔叶混针阔混针叶林,只有有效磷含量是阔叶混大于沟谷季雨林。(2)四种土壤养分指标在针叶林、针阔混交林、沟谷季雨林这3种林型中的5个土层间变化均有显著性差异,而在常绿阔叶林中仅速效钾在5个土层间有显著性差异。(3)四种林分类型中,沟谷季雨林各指标含量相对较高,处于"中下"等级,而针叶林各指标含量低,处于"很低"等级。总的来说,四种林分类型的土壤养分含量偏低,特别是针叶林,各项土壤指标含量均为"很低",可以参考群落演替方向对针叶林进行林分改造来提高土壤养分。     

Nitrous oxide emissions from three temperate forest types in the Qinling Mountains,China

To understand soil N2O fluxes from temperate forests in a climate-sensitive transitional zone,N2O emissions from three temperate forest types(Pinus tabulaeformis,PTT;Pinus armandii,PAT;and Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata,QAT)were monitored using the static closed-chamber method from June 2013 to May 2015 in the Huoditang Forest region of the Qinling Mountains,China.The results showed that these three forest types acted as N2O sources,releasing a mean combined level of 1.35±0.56 kg N2O ha^-1 a^-1,ranging from0.98±0.37 kg N2O ha^-1 a^-1 in PAT to 1.67±0.41 kg N2O ha^-1 a^-1 in QAT.N2O emission fluctuated seasonally,with highest levels during the summer for all three forest types.N2O flux had a significantly positive correlation with soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm or in the water-filled pore space,where the correlation was stronger for temperature than for the water-filled pore space.N2O flux was positively correlated with available soil nitrogen in QAT and PAT.Our results indicate that N2O flux is mainly controlled by soil temperature in the temperate forest in the Qinling Mountains.