The influence of spruce on acidity and nutrient content in soils of Northern Taiga dwarf shrub–green moss spruce forests

Presently, among the works considering the influence of forest trees on soil properties, the idea that spruce (Picea abies) promotes the acidification of soils predominates. The aim of this work is to assess the effects of spruce trees of different ages and Kraft classes on the acidity and content of available nutrient compounds in the soils under boreal dwarf shrub–green moss spruce forests by the example of forest soils in the Kola Peninsula. The soils are typical iron-illuvial podzols (Albic Rustic Podzols (Arenic)). Three probable ways of developing soils under spruce forests with the moss–dwarf shrub ground cover are considered. The soils under windfall–soil complexes of flat mesodepressions present the initial status. The acidity of organic soil horizons from the initial stage of mesodepression overgrowth to the formation of adult trees changed nonlinearly: the soil acidity reached its maximum under the 30–40-year-old trees and decreased under the trees older than 100 years. The contents of nitrogen and available nutrients increased. The acidity of the mineral soil horizons under the trees at the ages of 110–135 and 190–220 years was comparable, but higher than that under the 30–40-year-old trees. The differences in the strength and trends of the trees’ effect on the soils are explained by the age of spruce trees and their belonging to different Kraft classes.     

The Influence of Vegetation on the Forest Soil Properties in the Republic of Karelia

Eurasian Soil Science - The effect of vegetation on soil properties (acidity, C/N ratio, content of exchangeable nutrients) was assessed for the northern and middle taiga forests in the Republic of...     

Uptake of nutrients and heavy metals by pine trees under atmospheric pollution

Pollution-induced changes in concentrations of elements in pine needles, branches, stem bark, and wood were investigated on 12 plots along the pollution gradient at distances of 5 to 77 km from the Pechenganikel copper-nickel smelter on the Kola Peninsula (northwestern Russia), the largest emitter of sulfur and heavy metals in northern Europe. Close to the pollution source, concentrations of S, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cd in all the pine compartments were higher as compared to their background levels, while the Zn concentrations were lower. The concentrations of Ni and Cd—the main metals emitted—were the highest in all the pine compartments. Age-related variations in the needle composition were comparable to those at the background plots. Branches and, especially, stem bark, were richer in heavy metals than other tissues and, in addition to wood, contributed significantly to the accumulation of metals in the biomass of the polluted pine forests. Changes in the chemical composition of plant tissues could be explained by changes in element concentrations in the soils and by direct element uptake from the air, as well as by the antagonistic relationships between the elements.     

Fertility of soils under spruce forests of the Khibiny Mountains

The development of fertility of soils on different parent rocks is considered for different types of spruce forests in the Khibiny Mountains. The spruce forests of Mts. Kuel??por, Vud??yavrchorr, Chil??mana, and Saami were the objects for the study. The results showed that the fertility level of the soils of the Khibiny Mountains was determined by the combined influence of the parent rock??s composition and the vegetation. The differences in the soil properties are mainly explained by the composition of the parent rocks. The pod-burs differ from the podzols by the higher contents of organic matter, nitrogen, and available nutrients. The podzols are the most acid soils there. The podburs of Mt Kuel??por developing on base-rich parent rocks are the most fertile. The differences in the fertility of the soils on the intrabiogeocenotic (tessera) level are related to the vegetation. The soils of the spruce and tall-grass tesseras are richer in nitrogen, calcium, and manganese as compared to the soils of the dwarf shrub-green moss, low-grass-dwarf shrub-green moss, and tussock grass-dwarf shrub tesseras.     

Effect of row spacing,growth stage,and nitrogen rate on spectral irradiance in winter wheat

Soil reflectance affects spectral irradiance measurements taken in winter wheat at early stages of growth when percent cover is low. The objective of this study was to determine the critical percent vegetation coverage needed for forage nitrogen (N) uptake calibration with indirect spectral irradiance measurements. Two field experiments were conducted at Tipton and Perkins, OK in October 1996. The effect of row spacing (15.2, 19.0, 25.4, and 30.5 cm) and growth stage (Feekes 4 and 5) under various N fertilizer rates (0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N ha^‐1) on spectral irradiance measurements from wheat was evaluated. The normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) was used to characterize wheat canopy irradiance. In general, NDVI decreased with increasing row spacing and increased with N fertilizer rate at Feekes growth stage 4. Row spacing and N rate were independent of each other since no significant interaction was found. High correlation (r=0.81–0.98) was observed between NDVI and vegetation coverage. Percent vegetation coverage was a good predictor of the other dependent variables including forage dry matter, and total N uptake, which could indirectly be determined using NDVI. The coefficients of variation (CV's) from NDVI values decreased with increasing vegetation coverage suggesting that less variable NDVI values (CV less than 10%) might be obtained from plots where vegetation coverage exceeds 50%.     

Stimulating effect of earthworm excreta on the mineralization of nitrogen compounds in soil

The effect of excreta of earthworm species Aporrectodea caliginosa and Eisenia fetida on the mineralization of nitrogen compounds in soils has been studied. A single application of excreta obtained from three earthworms in one day increased the formation of nitrate nitrogen compounds in the soil by 10–50%. The application of ammonium nitrogen (in the form of NH₄Cl) in amounts equivalent to the ammonium nitrogen content in the daily excreta of three earthworms had the same effect on the mineralization of nitrogen compounds. The effect of earthworm excreta, as well as the effect of ammonium nitrogen, on the nitrification process was an order of magnitude higher than their contribution to the formation of nitrates due to the oxidation of the introduced ammonium. Hence, ammonium—an important component of the earthworm excreta—can exert a stimulating effect on nitrification processes in the soil and produce long-term cumulative effects that are much more significant than the direct effect of this nitrogen compound.     

Assessment of Soil Water Composition in the Northern Taiga Coniferous Forests of Background Territories in the Industrially Developed Region

The composition of soil water under coniferous forests of Murmansk oblast—an industrially developed region of northern Russia—was investigated. The studied objects were dwarf-shrub–green-moss spruce forests and dwarf-shrub–lichen pine forests on Al-Fe-humus podzols (Albic Rustic Podzols) that are widespread in the boreal zone. The concentrations and removal of organic carbon performing the most important biogeochemical and pedogenic functions were estimated. The results proved significant intra- and inter-biogeocenotic variability in the composition of atmospheric depositions and soil water. Carbon removal with soil water from organic and mineral horizons within elementary biogeoareas (EBGA) under tree crowns was 2–5 and 2–3 times (in some cases, up to 10 times) greater than that in the intercrown areas, respectively. The lowest critical level of mineral nitrogen (0.2 mg/L) was, as a rule, exceeded in tree EBGAs contrary to intercrown areas. Concentrations of sulfates and heavy metals in water of tree EBGA were 3–5 times greater than those in inter-crown areas. Significant inter-biogeocenotic variations related to differences in the height of trees and tree stand density were found. It is argued that adequate characterization of biochemical cycles and assessment of critical levels of components in soil water of forest ecosystems should be performed with due account for the intra- and inter-biogeocenotic variability.     

Carbon Stock in Sandy and Loamy Soils of Coniferous–Broadleaved Forests at Different Succession Stages

Eurasian Soil Science - A comparative assessment of the carbon stock in loamy soils (Albic Retisols) of coniferous–broadleaved forests on the Moskvoretsko-Oksky Plain and sandy soils (Albic...     

Influence of Vegetation on the Lability Characteristics of Sandur Areas of the Bryansky Les Nature Reserve

We have assessed the influence of vegetation on the labile characteristics (acidity, total carbon and nitrogen content, and available nutrients) of automorphic soils of polydominant coniferous–broadleaf forests and dwarf-shrub–green-moss pine forests of the Bryansky Les Nature Reserve. Despite the comparable gross and grain size compositions of soil-forming rocks, the differences of soils of these forest types are determined by the influence of vegetation, mainly by its ability to form litters of different quality and to regulate the amount of precipitation percolating through the forest canopy and contributing to the nutrient removal. Soils of pine forests have a higher acidity and lower contents of total nitrogen, organic carbon, and available nutrients than do soils of coniferous–broadleaf forests. The stand of pine forests has a low crown density, which leads to more intensive nutrient removal by atmospheric precipitation infiltrating through the soil.