The effect of stand structure on litter decomposition in Pinus sylvestris L. stands in Turkey

Forest fire ignition potential was investigated in Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) and Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) dominated stands of 0, 15, 3045, and 4060 years of age. A series of small-scale (<0.5 m2) ignition tests were carried out in experimental plots on 61 different days in June, July, and August. Ignition success percentages were analyzed in relation to stand structural properties, preclassified stand types, and the output of the Canadian Fire Weather Index system. In addition, the number of average stand-type-specific fire days was estimated based on weather data (JuneAugust) for southern Finland for the years 19912002. Factors in stand structure that significantly correlated with the ignition success percentage were canopy depth and leaf area index, the correlation coefficients being 0.575 (p < 0.005) and 0.582 (p < 0.005), respectively. In Pinus sylvestris dominated stands, ignition tests produced self-sustained surface fires in 32.0%, 24.0%, and 19.3% of cases in 0-, 15-, and 30- to 45-year age classes, respectively. In Picea abies dominated sites conditions were favorable for fire in 12.0% and 4.6% of trials in the 0- and 40- to 60-year age classes, respectively. The output of the FWI-system correlated well with the ignition success in June and July but poorly in August. Based on the 12-year time series analysis, there were on average per year 27, 18, and 14 potential fire days in 0-, 15-, and 30- to 45-year-old Pinus sylvestris stands, and 10 and 4 potential fire days in 0- and 40- to 60-year-old Picea abies stands, respectively. We concluded that the dominance of Picea abies or Pinus sylvestris and stand age appear to modify the ignition conditions significantly and should be used as threshold indicators in fire occurrence predictions.

Download Full-text

Macrofungal communities of lowland Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten.) plantations in England: relationships with site factors and stand structure

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/s0378-1127(99)00218-2 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 131 (1-3) ◽

pp. 255-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Richard Ferris ◽

Andrew J Peace ◽

Adrian C Newton

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Site Factors

Download Full-text

Establishment of mixed plantations of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Populus × xiaozhuanica may not be appropriate: evidence from litter decomposition

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtz020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 857-870 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Huan-Huan Song ◽

Tao Yan ◽

De-Hui Zeng

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Northeast China ◽

Critical Role ◽

Plant Litter ◽

Transplant Experiment ◽

Litter Mixture ◽

Mixed Plantation

Abstract Aims Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) and Xiaozhuan poplar (Populus × xiaozhuanica) are two predominant afforestation tree species in the semi-arid sandy lands of northeast China, which are characterized by poor soil nutrients. Plant litter decomposition plays a critical role in regulating nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Admixture of broadleaf litter to conifer litter is expected to improve litter decomposition and soil fertility, and thus productivity. However, the effects on the decomposition of litter mixture of the above two tree species are not well understood. Therefore, it is essential to assess the decomposition performance of litter mixture with the aim of improving forest nutrient management and the establishment of mixed plantation. Appropriate forest management practice is critical for the sustainability of site productivity in plantation forests. Methods We conducted a field litterbag decomposition transplant experiment for single pine litter, single poplar litter and their mixture in a pine stand, a poplar stand and an adjacent grassland for 16 months in the Keerqin Sandy Lands, northeast China. Important Findings After 16 months of incubation, there remained significantly more litter mass of pine (73.8%) than of poplar (67.2%). The mass remaining was positively correlated with litter carbon (C):nitrogen (N), C:phosphorus (P) and lignin:N ratios, and negatively with litter N and P concentrations, which suggests that initial litter chemical properties were an important factor affecting litter decay. Generally, net N and P immobilizations were observed during decomposition. This indicates that litter decomposition in this area was N-limited as N was progressively immobilized, and then tended to induce P limitation. Thus, we strongly recommend prohibiting litter harvesting by local residents to maintain soil fertility in this nutrient-poor area. Our results do not support the home-field advantage hypothesis, as illustrated by the fact that, in most cases, mass loss of litter from native habitat was comparable to that in transplanted habitats during decomposition. Furthermore, a dominant additive effect was detected, indicating that the establishment of mixed plantation may not be appropriate for these two species.

Download Full-text