Stages of litter transformation in bog birch forests

In the litters (peaty, weakly decomposed, and strongly decomposed) of bog birch forests, the biochemical transformation of plant material includes several discrete stages. The best prediction of the decomposition stages is the set of indices characterizing the humus status of the soils: the C/N ratio, (ΣHA + ΣFA)/C_{polysaccharides}, and the contents of humic and fulvic acids of fraction 1 in the groups of plant debris of different sizes. The discrimination of the litters according to the level of the biochemical transformation of the organic residues was observed when using the (ΣHA + ΣFA)/C_{polysaccharides} ratio, which is 6.3 in the peaty litter and 11.2 and 18.4 in the weakly decomposed and strongly decomposed litters, respectively. The biochemical classification of litters in the bog birch forests is in agreement with the morphological classification of litters.     

广西喀斯特次生林地表碳库和养分库特征及季节动态

以自然保护区原生林为对照,调查了广西喀斯特区处于同一次生演替序列中的灌丛、藤刺灌丛、乔灌丛3个群落的地表凋落物存量,同时对凋落物层和土壤表层(0-5 cm)的有机碳,全氮、磷、钾等养分元素的含量、贮量状态及其雨季前后的变化进行了研究.结果表明:地表凋落物存量及有机碳、全氮贮量随演替阶段上升均呈增高趋势;除全磷外,土壤的有机碳和养分元素含量与凋落物层贮量相关性显著(p<0.05);雨季期间,凋落物迅速分解,地表凋落物的分解量要大于当季凋落量,并且次生林的凋落物分解与养分释放量显著高于原生林;雨季后,各群落有机碳和养分的凋落物层贮量以及土壤含量均有所降低.其中凋落物层贮量下降显著的是藤刺灌丛与乔灌丛.土壤养分含量则在灌丛与原生林阶段下降更为明显.在从灌丛向顶级群落演替的进程中,森林的自养能力可能存在一个先增高再降低的过程.     

Spatial variation of peat soil properties in the oil-producing region of northeastern Sakhalin

Morphology and properties of medium-deep oligotrophic peat, oligotrophic peat gley, pyrogenic oligotrophic peat gley, and peat gley soils on subshrub-cotton grass-sphagnum bogs and in swampy larch forests of northeastern Sakhalin have been studied. Variation in the thickness and reserves of litters in the studied bog and forest biogeocenoses has been analyzed. The profile distribution and spatial variability of moisture, density, ash, and pH_KCl in separate groups of peat soils have been described. The content and spatial variability of petroleum hydrocarbons have been considered in relation to the accumulation of natural bitumoids by peat soils and the technogenic pressing in the oil-producing region. Variation of each parameter at different distances (10, 50, and 1000 m) has been estimated using a hierarchical sampling scheme. The spatial conjugation of soil parameters has been studied by factor analysis using the principal components method and Spearman correlation coefficients. Regression equations have been proposed to describe relationships of ash content with soil density and content of petroleum hydrocarbons in peat horizons.     

龙门山断裂带主要森林类型凋落物累积量及其持水特性

采用野外实地调查与室内控制浸提相结合的方法,对龙门山断裂带常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林、常绿针叶林4种森林类型的凋落物储量、持水量、吸水速率进行了研究。结果发现,不同森林类型凋落物总储量大小顺序为:常绿针叶林(8.26t/hm2)落叶阔叶林(6.80t/hm2)针阔混交林(5.52t/hm2)常绿阔叶林(4.61t/hm2),且未分解层累积量所占比例均小于半分解层。不同森林类型不同分解程度凋落物的持水量和持水率与浸泡时间均呈对数关系,其吸水速率与浸泡时间呈幂函数关系。研究区4种森林类型半分解层凋落物的持水能力均强于分解层,而落叶阔叶林和针阔混交林持水能力较强,其次是常绿针叶林,常绿阔叶林最低。研究表明,在该区森林植被恢复和重建过程中,应充分考虑半分解层凋落物对水土保持的作用,且宜优选落叶阔叶林和针阔混交林模式进行森林植被恢复。     

甘南白龙江上游小流域主要林分地被物层的持水特性分异

在甘南白龙江上游林区内,采用实地踏测和浸水法,对林区内主要的4种不同林分类型（冷杉原始林、云杉、落叶松和华山松人工林）林下地被物持水性能进行了研究分析。结果表明:（1）4种不同类型树种林下地被物的总蓄积量为11.75～28.96 t/hm²,其冷杉林（28.96 t/hm²）>落叶松林（16.17 t/hm²）>华山松林（14.36 t/hm²）>云杉林（11.75 t/hm²）;（2）不同林分类型地被物的持水量、吸水速率与浸泡时间之间的动态变化基本相似,持水量与浸水时间存在对数关系,其吸水速率与浸水时间呈幂函数关系。（3）不同树种林下地被物的总有效拦蓄量为21.00～41.99 t/hm²,其中冷杉林最大,其次是落叶松林,最后是华山松林和云杉林;最大拦蓄量、最大持水量、有效拦蓄量和总有效拦蓄深的变化与总有效持水量变化一致。     

Characterization of dissolved organic matter in decomposing Norway spruce and silver birch litter

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in transport, storage and cycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in forest soils where litter is one of the main sources. The aim was to study the amount and characteristics of DOM leached from freshly fallen litters of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and their mixture during decomposition. DOM was collected after irrigation on eight occasions during 252 days incubation in the laboratory at about 18°C, including one freeze‐thaw cycle. During the incubation about 33–35% of C from birch and spruce litter and 40% of C from their mixture was lost. The total cumulative flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the mixture of litters was approximately 40% larger than that from single litters. The flux of DOC, DON, phenolic compounds and proteins followed a two‐stage pattern during decomposition. In the first stage the initially large fluxes decreased gradually. In the second stage, after freezing and thawing, the fluxes tended to increase again. Mixing birch and spruce litters and a freeze‐thaw cycle seems to increase the decomposition of litter and result in the increased flux of DOC, DON and phenolic compounds. The flux of hemicelluloses and the degradability of DOM were large at the first leaching occasion and decreased during the incubation. Birch had a 40% larger total flux of easily degradable DOM than spruce, supporting the previous consistent signs of greater microbial biomass and activities related to C and N cycling in soil under birch than under spruce. It is known that recalcitrant DOM might be stabilized whereas labile DOM may promote microbial activity and nutrient cycling. We conclude that the storage and cycling of C and N is affected by both tree species and degradation stage of litter in forest soils.     

Role of cation exchange in preventing the decay of anoxic deep bog peat

The major bog systems in northern areas are dominated by Sphagnum species, the partially decomposed remains of which form the bulk of deep peat. By adding mono- and di-valent cations to deep peat cores (2.0-2.5 m) and measuring CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations in the manipulated peat cores using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) we demonstrate that the lack of availability to microorganisms of essential cations is limiting decay in deep peat. The cations with the highest binding strength displaced the most cations and stimulated decay. Decay in deep peat cores was also stimulated by a C source (acetate), but not by NH₄⁺. The addition of cations and acetate resulted in a less than additive stimulation of decay. The stimulatory effect of acetate and copper decreased in the presence of ammonium. The addition of EDTA to surface bog peat (where cations are conserved) decreased decay rates in surface peat (0.0-0.5 m) to that of the untreated deep peat (2.0-2.5 m). Deep peat was unaffected by treatment with EDTA. The effect of adding Cu²⁺differed with the depth from which the peat was collected. Cu²⁺ did not stimulate decay in surface bog peat (0.0-1.5 m) but stimulated decay in peat from 1.5-3.5 m. Below 3.5 m to the bottom of the profile (5.0 m) no positive effect was observed. By comparing deep peat with surface peat we have shown that cation limitation because of high cation exchange capacity is specific to the main mass of deep bog peat and may explain differences in decay rates between anoxic surface peat and deep peat.     

Decomposition and substrate quality of leaf litters and fine roots from three exotic plantations and a native forest in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia

Substrate quality and decomposition (measured as CO₂ release in laboratory microcosms) of fresh leaf litter and fine roots of Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus patula, Eucalyptus grandis and native forest trees were studied. Changes in litter chemistry in each forest stand were analysed by comparing fresh leaf litter (collected from trees) and decomposed litter from the forest floor. Elemental concentrations, proximate fractions including monomeric sugars, and cross polarisation magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C NMR spectra were analysed in leaf litters, decomposed litter and fine roots. Leaf litters and fine roots varied in their initial substrate chemistry with Ca concentration in leaf litters being higher than that in fine roots. In each stand, fine roots had a higher acid unhydrolysable residue (AUR) (except for the Pinus stand), higher holocellulose concentration and lower concentration of water-soluble extractives (WSE) and dichloromethane extractives (NPE) than fresh leaf litter. Likewise, ¹³C NMR spectra of fine roots showed lower alkyl and carboxyl C, and higher phenolic (except P. patula), aromatic and O-alkyl C proportions than leaf litters. Compared with fresh leaf litter, decomposed litter had lower concentrations of potassium, holocellulose, WSE, NPE, arabinose and galactose, similar or higher concentrations of Mg, Ca, S and P, and higher concentrations of N and AUR. CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectra of decomposed litter showed a higher relative increase in signal intensity due to methoxyl C, aromatic C, phenolic C and carboxylic C compared with alkyl C. In a microcosm decomposition study, the proportion of initial C remaining in leaf litter and fine roots significantly fitted an exponential regression model. The decomposition constants (k) ranged between 0.0013 and 0.0030 d⁻¹ for leaf litters and 0.0010-0.0017 d⁻¹ for fine roots. In leaf litters there was a positive correlation between the k value and the initial Ca concentration, and in fine roots there was an analogous positive correlation with initial WSE. Leaf litters decomposed in the order Cupressus>native forest>Eucalyptus∼Pinus, and fine roots in the order Pinus>native forest>Cupressus∼Eucalyptus. In each stand the fine root decomposition was significantly lower than the leaf litter decomposition, except for the P. patula stand where the order was reversed.     

大伙房水库流域不同植被类型枯落物层和土壤层水文效应

为了研究大伙房水库流域森林生态系统枯落物层和土壤层水文效应,以流域内3种不同植被类型为研究对象,采用浸泡法、环刀法对其枯落物层和土壤层水文功能进行定量研究。结果表明:(1)3种植被类型枯落物蓄积量为23.20～39.11t/hm~2,表现为刺槐天然次生林油松人工林落叶松人工林,且阔叶林枯落物半分解层蓄积量大于未分解层,而针叶林则相反。(2)枯落物层最大持水量为50.24～109.19t/hm~2,有效拦蓄量为41.70～90.71t/hm~2,均表现为刺槐天然次生林油松人工林落叶松人工林,刺槐天然次生林枯落物层持水功能较好。(3)枯落物未分解层、半分解层分别在浸水10,8h基本达到饱和,持水量与浸水时间呈明显对数关系(R20.91);枯落物在浸水1h内吸水速率变化最大,4h左右吸水速率明显减缓,吸水速率与浸泡时间呈明显幂函数关系(R20.93)。(4)3种植被类型土壤容重均值变化范围为1.10～1.25g/cm~3,总孔隙度变化范围为27.96%～30.19%,土壤有效持水量变化范围为21.11～29.39t/hm~2,不同植被类型土壤层持水能力表现为刺槐天然次生林油松人工林落叶松人工林,土壤入渗速率与入渗时间呈明显幂函数关系(R20.90)。综合3种植被类型枯落物层及土壤层水文功能表明刺槐天然次生林的水源涵养功能较强,建议在该流域加强天然次生林的保护和恢复。     

北京九龙山自然保护区典型林分枯落物水文效应研究

在北京九龙山自然保护区内选取有代表性的4种林分类型,测定各林分枯落物的蓄积量,采用室内浸泡法对其水文效应进行研究,旨在为该区森林植被枯落物生态水文功能评价提供一定的参考。结果表明:（1）4种林分枯落物层蓄积量大小依次为:黄栌油松混交林（29.65 t/hm²） > 黄栌纯林（22.78 t/hm²） > 黄栌侧柏混交林（16.87 t/hm²） > 侧柏纯林（12.17 t/hm²）;（2）同一浸水时间下黄栌油松混交林的枯落物持水量最大,黄栌纯林、黄栌侧柏混交林次之,侧柏纯林最小,枯落物层的持水量与浸泡时间为对数函数关系,持水量历时过程呈现出迅速吸水、缓慢吸水、逐渐饱和、饱和4个阶段;（3）4种林分枯落物层的吸水速率与浸水时间为幂函数关系,其过程可分为迅速下降、缓慢下降、趋于稳定的3个阶段。     

丹江口湖北库区不同林分类型枯落物储量及持水性能

对丹江口湖北库区马尾松林、柏木林、松柏混交林、针阔混交林、栎类林5种主要林分类型的枯落物储量、持水量、吸水速率进行研究。结果表明:不同林分类型枯落物现存量具有一定的差异,松柏混交林枯落物储量最大(29.26t/hm2),其次为马尾松林(24.49t/hm2)、针阔混交林(21.93t/hm2)、栎类林(6.56t/hm2),以柏木林枯落物储量最小(9.47t/hm2)。各林分不同层次持水量、吸水速率与浸水时间之间的动态变化规律基本相似,随着浸泡时间的增加,枯落物吸水速率具有差异,0～1h枯落物吸水最快,1～2h逐渐减缓,而到了2～10h枯落物吸水基本饱和,逐渐趋向于0。拟合回归发现,枯落物持水量与浸泡时间按指数方程Q=aln t+b增加,吸水速率与浸泡时间按幂函数V=ktn递减。同时,最大持水量均是半分解层>已分解层>未分解层,而吸水速率则是针叶林分半分解层>已分解层>未分解层,阔叶林为已分解层>半分解层>未分解层。     

小兴安岭不同森林类型枯落物储量及其持水特性比较

[目的]对小兴安岭主要森林类型林下枯落物蓄积量进行调查分析和持水特性研究,为该区森林生态服务功能评价提供重要依据和理论基础。[方法]选择6种典型森林类型设置样地测定枯落物现储量,并采用浸水法对枯落物持水特性进行测定,计算其最大拦蓄量和有效拦蓄量。[结果]主要森林类型枯落物蓄积量介于13.53~29.48t/hm2,大多是半分解层蓄积量高于未分解层。不同森林类型最大持水率与最大持水量表现不一致,其中最大持水率为243.19%~524.0%,最大持水量为56.81~106.90t/hm2。不同森林类型的最大拦蓄量与有效拦蓄量的表现也略有差异,最大拦蓄量为33.43~64.42t/hm2,有效拦蓄量为24.91~48.38t/hm2。枯落物层的持水率与浸泡时间呈显著对数关系,而吸水速率与浸泡时间呈显著幂函数关系。[结论]受树种特性、枯落物储量、分解速率及林龄的影响,该区不同森林类型林下枯落物储量及其持水特性差异显著。     

黄浦江中游5种典型林分枯落物和土壤水源涵养能力研究

为了解黄浦江流域中游典型人工纯林枯落物和土壤的水源涵养能力,提高流域内水源涵养林建设保护与经营管理水平,选择黄浦江中游东岸的浦江郊野公园内的5种典型人工纯林(香樟林、桂花林、栾树林、无患子林和池杉林)作为研究对象,采用环刀法、烘干法与室内浸泡法对林分地表枯落物和土壤的水源涵养能力进行研究,并结合枯落物有效拦蓄量和土壤有效蓄水量来定量比较5种林分枯落物层和土壤层的水源涵养能力。结果表明:(1)5种林分枯落物有效拦蓄量为7.74～27.90 t/hm^2,表现为池杉林>无患子林>桂花林>栾树林>香樟林。(2)土壤有效蓄水量为104.87～174.01 t/hm^2,表现为栾树林>无患子林>香樟林>池杉林>桂花林。(3)林分枯落物有效拦蓄量和土壤有效蓄水量的总和为116.79～184.17 t/hm^2,表现为栾树林、无患子林的枯落物和土壤水源涵养能力较强,池杉林次之,香樟林与桂花林较弱。因此,在今后水源涵养林的建设管理过程中可优先选择落叶阔叶树种,适当种植针叶树种与常绿阔叶树种,加强对地表枯枝落叶层的保护,使林分更好地发挥其涵养水源的能力。     

Carbon pools and fluxes of 25-year old coniferous and deciduous stands in middle Siberia

Between 72 and 88% of carbon (C) loss in forest litter decomposition returns to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. The share of water-soluble organic products does not exceed 3–4%. Between 8% under spruce and 25% under aspen and pine of the total C loss from litter organic matter goes to the formation of humus. Decomposition intensity of the dead organic matter on the soil surface is close to annual litterfall income (except under cedar). The specific rate of decomposition processes among the coniferous litters is minimum for cedar (167 mgC g^?1yr^?1) and maximum for larch (249 mg C g^?1 yr^?1). The specific rate of decomposition of organic residues under aspen and birch canopies are 344 and 362 mg C g^?1yr^?1.     

Geostatistical analysis of the spatial variation of the ash reserves in the litter of bog birch forests in Western Siberia

A typological series of native Betula pubescens Ehrh. dendrocenoses along the channel of a river crossing a bog was studied. The variability of the mineral element reserves is described by geostatistical methods as the sum of a trend, autocorrelation, and random components. The contribution of deterministic and random components has been assessed in the years with average precipitation and in the year of 2007 with high and long-term flooding. The empirical variograms and the parameters of the model variograms are presented. The class of the spatial correlation of the ash reserves is described. A primary cause of the ash content’s variability is the specific water regime, which is determined by the following: (i) the abundance and duration of the spring floods responsible for the silt mass brought by the river and (ii) the draining effect of the intrabog river, the distance from which provided the formation in the forest of the ground cover with the specific species composition and ash content. The falloff of the arboreal layer in the bog birch forests formed the fundamental mineral background of the litter.     

黄土残塬沟壑区刺槐林枯落物水源涵养功能综合评价

为了对黄土残塬沟壑区刺槐林枯落物水源涵养功能综合评价,并提供以功能导向型的林分改造理论依据。于2017年7—8月在山西省吉县蔡家川流域选取475,900,1 575,1 850,2 525株/hm~2不同密度的刺槐林为研究对象,采用坐标综合评定法对不同密度刺槐林分枯落物层水源涵养功能进行综合评价。结果表明,5种林分密度梯度中,当林分密度为1 575株/hm~2时,刺槐林枯落物层能充分发挥其水源涵养功能,而林分密度过高(2 525株/hm~2)或者过低(475株/hm~2)枯落物发挥水源涵养功能的能力均急剧减弱。为了使刺槐林枯落物水源涵养功能正常发挥,其林分密度应控制为1 500株/hm~2。建议现有林分改造中,宜将刺槐林向该密度进行调控。     

城市水源地5种森林枯落物水文效应特征

[目的]探讨云南省蒙自市菲白城市水源地5种主要森林类型林下枯落物的持水效应特征,为菲白水源地营造水土保持林、水源涵养林提供理论依据。[方法]利用样方调查法、烘干法、浸泡法对其枯落物蓄积量、持水量、吸水速率、最大持水能力和拦蓄量等进行了研究。[结果]各林分总蓄积量相差较大,依次为:杉木林华山松+杉木人工柏树林青冈栎+云南松人工桉树林;不同森林类型枯落物最大持水量变化范围7.85~13.91t/hm2,最大持水率为165.85%~242.45%,最大拦蓄量为7.48~12.62t/hm2,有效拦蓄量为6.53~11.03t/hm2;5种森林枯落物持水量与时间呈较显著的对数函数关系,各层与浸水时间之间存在着显著的幂函数关系。[结论]综合比较5种森林类型的持水性能,杉树的持水能力较好,能够很好地涵养水源。     

重庆缙云山4种林地林下枯落物储量及其持水特性研究

通过对重庆缙云山针阔叶混交林、阔叶林、楠竹林和灌木林4种典型植被类型林下枯落物及其持水特性分析研究,结果表明:林下枯落物储量大小为灌木林>阔叶林>针阔混交林>楠竹林,其中半分解层和分解层的总储量大于未分解层储量.缙云山自然保护区4种不同植被类型下枯落物持水特征曲线具有明显不同,持水能力为灌木林>针阔混交林>阔叶林>楠竹林.在浸泡前2h内持水量变化极大,2h以后变化量变小,各层持水量浸泡8h后均基本达到饱和.未分解层枯落物持水量小于半分解层分解层枯落物的持水量,枯落物各层持水量与浸泡时间之间的关系符合Q=alnt+b关系.4种不同植被类型林下枯落物吸水率大小为针阔混交林>灌木林>阔叶林>楠竹林,枯落物各层吸水速率与浸泡时间存在V=ktⁿ关系.在枯落物持水作用较强的前2h内,其吸水速率最快的为灌木林,达到22.208mm/h.     

Formalized classification of moss litters in swampy spruce forests of intermontane depressions of Kuznetsk Alatau

The approaches of multivariate statistics have been used for the numerical classification of morphogenetic types of moss litters in swampy spruce forests according to their physicochemical properties (the ash content, decomposition degree, bulk density, pH, mass, and thickness). Three clusters of moss litters— peat, peaty, and high-ash peaty—have been specified. The functions of classification for identification of new objects have been calculated and evaluated. The degree of decomposition and the ash content are the main classification parameters of litters, though all other characteristics are also statistically significant. The final prediction accuracy of the assignment of a litter to a particular cluster is 86%. Two leading factors participating in the clustering of litters have been determined. The first factor—the degree of transformation of plant remains (quality)—specifies 49% of the total variance, and the second factor—the accumulation rate (quantity)— specifies 26% of the total variance. The morphogenetic structure and physicochemical properties of the clusters of moss litters are characterized.     

Determinants of litter mixing effects in a Swedish boreal forest

When the litter of a given species decomposes, it will often break down in the proximity of litters from other species. We investigated the effects of litters of 10 different species in a boreal forest of northern Sweden on each others' decomposition and N release rates; this was done through the use of litterbags containing two compartments separated by single mesh partition. Different litters could be placed on opposite sides of this mesh so that they were in contact with each other. Treatments consisted of all the possible pairwise combinations of the 10 species, with members of each pair placed in different compartments of the same litterbag. Litterbags were harvested after 1, 2 and 4 years in the field. Species differed significantly in their effects on decomposition and N loss rates of associated litters. Generally, litters from feather mosses and lichens showed the greatest promotion of decomposition on associated litters, while some vascular plant species, notably Empetrum hermaphroditum, showed the least. At year four, feather mosses also had the greatest positive effects on N loss from the litters of associated species. There were several instances in which litter of a given species decomposed at different rate when litter from its own species, rather than that of a different species, was placed in the adjacent litterbag compartment. This was particularly apparent in the second year, when across the entire data set, litters decomposed fastest when associated with their own litters. Generally, slowly decomposing litters had the greatest positive effects on decomposition of associated litters. It is proposed that in boreal forests slow decomposing litters (particularly those of feather mosses) may contribute to enhancing moisture attention in the litter layer, which in turn promotes the decomposition and N release of associated litters. Further, while litter mixing effects were clearly demonstrated in our study, they were also shown to be of secondary importance to the effects of species identity on decomposition.