scholarly journals Soil carbon and nutrient stocks under Scots pine plantations in comparison to European beech forests: a paired-plot study across forests with different management history and precipitation regimes

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Diers ◽  
Robert Weigel ◽  
Heike Culmsee ◽  
Christoph Leuschner
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Total N ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
Pine Stands

Abstract Background Organic carbon stored in forest soils (SOC) represents an important element of the global C cycle. It is thought that the C storage capacity of the stable pool can be enhanced by increasing forest productivity, but empirical evidence in support of this assumption from forests differing in tree species and productivity, while stocking on similar substrate, is scarce. Methods We determined the stocks of SOC and macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium) in nine paired European beech/Scots pine stands on similar Pleistocene sandy substrates across a precipitation gradient (560–820 mm∙yr− 1) in northern Germany and explored the influence of tree species, forest history, climate, and soil pH on SOC and nutrient pools. Results While the organic layer stored on average about 80% more C under pine than beech, the pools of SOC and total N in the total profile (organic layer plus mineral soil measured to 60 cm and extrapolated to 100 cm) were greater under pine by about 40% and 20%, respectively. This contrasts with a higher annual production of foliar litter and a much higher fine root biomass in beech stands, indicating that soil C sequestration is unrelated to the production of leaf litter and fine roots in these stands on Pleistocene sandy soils. The pools of available P and basic cations tended to be higher under beech. Neither precipitation nor temperature influenced the SOC pool, whereas tree species was a key driver. An extended data set (which included additional pine stands established more recently on former agricultural soil) revealed that, besides tree species identity, forest continuity is an important factor determining the SOC and nutrient pools of these stands. Conclusion We conclude that tree species identity can exert a considerable influence on the stocks of SOC and macronutrients, which may be unrelated to productivity but closely linked to species-specific forest management histories, thus masking weaker climate and soil chemistry effects on pool sizes.

scholarly journals Landscape-Scale Mixtures of Tree Species are More Effective than Stand-Scale Mixtures for Biodiversity of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes and Lichens

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffi Heinrichs ◽  
Christian Ammer ◽  
Martina Mund ◽  
Steffen Boch ◽  
Sabine Budde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Gamma Diversity ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Scale Mixtures ◽  
Species Mixtures

Tree species diversity can positively affect the multifunctionality of forests. This is why conifer monocultures of Scots pine and Norway spruce, widely promoted in Central Europe since the 18th and 19th century, are currently converted into mixed stands with naturally dominant European beech. Biodiversity is expected to benefit from these mixtures compared to pure conifer stands due to increased abiotic and biotic resource heterogeneity. Evidence for this assumption is, however, largely lacking. Here, we investigated the diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens at the plot (alpha diversity) and at the landscape (gamma diversity) level in pure and mixed stands of European beech and conifer species (Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir) in four regions in Germany. We aimed to identify compositions of pure and mixed stands in a hypothetical forest landscape that can optimize gamma diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens within regions. Results show that gamma diversity of the investigated groups is highest when a landscape comprises different pure stands rather than tree species mixtures at the stand scale. Species mainly associated with conifers rely on light regimes that are only provided in pure conifer forests, whereas mixtures of beech and conifers are more similar to beech stands. Combining pure beech and pure conifer stands at the landscape scale can increase landscape level biodiversity and conserve species assemblages of both stand types, while landscapes solely composed of stand scale tree species mixtures could lead to a biodiversity reduction of a combination of investigated groups of 7 up to 20%.

Influence of species identity and charring conditions on fire-derived charcoal traits

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1669-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Pluchon ◽  
Sophie C. Casetou ◽  
Paul Kardol ◽  
Michael J. Gundale ◽  
Marie-Charlotte Nilsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Ammonium Concentration ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Total N ◽  
Chemical Traits ◽  
Increasing Temperature

Fire is a major disturbance worldwide, and it produces significant amounts of wood-derived charcoal. There is increasing evidence that the key properties (“traits”) of charcoal vary greatly, with consequences for ecosystem processes, but how the key factors drive variability of charcoal traits, i.e., species identity and charring conditions, remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally produced charcoal from three common boreal tree species under six charring conditions representing those encountered during boreal fires and then analyzed their structural and chemical traits. Overall, we found that species identity affected charcoal traits more than did charring conditions. Among the structural traits, density and microporosity varied among tree species, and density decreased with increasing temperature. Among the chemical traits, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, and phosphate concentration differed among species, whereas pH, total N content, and ammonium concentration responded to charring conditions. No traits except nitrate concentration responded to the interactive effect of species identity and charring condition. Our results reveal that traits of charcoal, and potentially its ecological functions, are driven by a combination of fire behavior and tree species identity; such information is relevant for understanding ecological consequences of altered fire regimes due to the changing climate and to forest management.

scholarly journals Tree species identity mediates mechanisms of top soil carbon sequestration in a Norway spruce and European beech mixed forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Andivia ◽  
Victor Rolo ◽  
Mathieu Jonard ◽  
Pavel Formánek ◽  
Quentin Ponette
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Soil Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Top Soil

scholarly journals Simulation of the long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics in Dutch forest soils under Scots pine

1998 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.-J. Groenenberg ◽  
W. de Vries ◽  
H. Kros
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Forest Soils ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Root Turnover ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Transformation Rate ◽  
Organic Layers ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Scots Pine Stands

Abstract. Dynamics of C and N in forest soils in the Nutrient Cycling and Soil Acidification Model (NUCSAM) are described by the transformation and decomposition of three organic matter compartments, litter, fermented material and humic material. These three compartments are allocated to the morphological distinguishable L, F and H horizons of the organic layer. Changes in the pools of these organic compartments are described with first order equations for decomposition and transformation. Rate constants for decomposition and transformation were derived by calibrating the model to measured organic matter pools in organic layers of a chrono-sequence of five first succession Scots pine stands between 15 and 120 years old. Simulated pools of organic matter in the organic layers were in agreement with measured pools in the five pine stands, except for the first thirty years of the H-horizon. During this period, an increase in organic matter in the H horizon was simulated while no H horizons were observed in the field. The simulated total pool of organic matter in the organic layer agreed well with values from a field inventory in 20 other Scots pine stands, but the simulated distribution over the three horizons differed from the field measurements which varied among sites. For the Scots pine stands the model was able to simulate the organic matter accumulation in the top 40-cm of the mineral soil; derived almost completely from fine root turnover. The accumulated pool of nitrogen in the organic layer was in agreement with measured pools for the oldest Scots pine stand but was too high for the younger stands. Especially, the accumulation of N in the F-horizon was too fast, presumably due to an overestimated retention of nitrogen.

scholarly journals Analysis of biomass in young Scots pine stands as a basis for sustainable forest management in Czech lowlands

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 555-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Novák Jiří ◽  
Dušek David ◽  
Kacálek Dušan ◽  
Slodičák Marian
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Coarse Roots ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Pine Stands

Scots pine covers large areas on sandy soils in lowlands of the Czech Republic. These sites can be threatened by non-sustainable biomass removal after clear-cutting. Totally 14 young pine stands at 14–26 years of age were analysed. Particular biomass components were separated, weighed and analysed to investigate their biomass and nutrient contents such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results showed that leaving slash (needles and branches) plus belowground biomass (stumps and coarse roots) on the site represents 51% of calcium, 62% of magnesium, 74% of nitrogen, 67% of phosphorus and 72% of potassium. The total nutrient pools (without fine roots) were 171–377 kg·ha<sup>–1</sup> for nitrogen, 34–72 kg·ha<sup>–1</sup> for phosphorus, 74–172 kg·ha<sup>–1</sup> for potassium, 82–180 kg·ha<sup>–1</sup> for calcium and 19–42 kg·ha<sup>–1</sup> for magnesium. Needles and live branches are the most important pools of nutrients and the extraction of these parts of biomass can negatively affect the nutrient balance of forest stands on nutrient-poor sites. Stumps with coarse and fine roots also represent a significant pool of nutrients which is left on the studied sites.

scholarly journals Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezary Urbanowski ◽  
Paweł Horodecki ◽  
Jacek Kamczyc ◽  
Maciej Skorupski ◽  
Andrzej Jagodziński
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Mesh Size ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Vertical Movement ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Spoil Heap ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Forest Habitats

Mites significantly contribute, prevalently by vertical movement, to mixing of the organic layer with the mineral soil, thus they may be important in renewing soils. Our aim was to analyze the changes in abundance and species richness of mesostigmatid assemblages on decomposing leaves of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Betula pendula Roth, Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L. in pine and birch stands growing on a reclaimed spoil heap and adjacent forests. In December 2013, 1024 litterbags (mesh size = 1 mm) containing leaf litter of broadleaved and coniferous trees (mean initial dry weight per sample = 5.789 g) were laid out in the same number and kind in each of the two sites. Mites were extracted from litterbags which were collected every 3–6 months for 3 years. In total, 6466 mites were identified in 59 taxa. Total abundance was higher on forest habitats (5174 specimens) compared to the spoil (1292), and in birch compared to pine stands, both in forest (3345, 1829, respectively) and spoil habitats (981, 311). Throughout the experiment, mites were most abundant on oak litter samples (2063 specimens), while the remaining litter types had similar abundances (1455–1482). At the beginning of the experiment (3–6 months) mite abundance was very low, but was higher on forest habitats. The highest abundance was found after 9 months—144 specimens in pine stands on the spoil heap and 685 in birch stands on forest habitats. During the study, 49 taxa were found on forest and 29 on heap habitats. In birch stands, 37 and 22 taxa were found, whereas in pine 30 and 21, on forest and heap, respectively. The most frequent species on the heap were Amblyseius tubae Karg, Asca bicornis Canestrini et Fanzago, and Asca aphidioides Linneaeus, whereas in forest habitat—Zercon peltatus C.L. Koch, Veigaia nemorensis C.L. Koch, and Trachytes aegrota C.L. Koch. Habitat conditions, tree species and litter type significantly determined the mesostigmatid species composition, richness and abundance. By selection of dominant tree species during afforestation, it is possible to significantly affect the soil fauna composition, and thus indirectly the rate of decomposition.

Dynamics in maturing Scots pine monoculture in north-east Belgium

1990 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maddelein ◽  
N. Lust ◽  
S. Meyen ◽  
B. Muys
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Deschampsia Flexuosa ◽  
North East ◽  
Stand Conversion ◽  
Pine Stands

The  State Forest Pijnven, created early this century by afforestation with Scots  pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) of  heathland areas is now characterised in most stands by an important ingrowth  of deciduous tree species. Ingrowth is dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), both  species originating from North America.  Deciduous ingrowth in the pine stands profoundly influences herbal  composition of the stand. Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin., abundant in all older pine stands, disappears when  deciduous trees settle and species diversity, already low in the pine stands,  further diminishes. Important oak and cherry regeneration is depending on the  presence of seed trees in the vicinity; when lacking, a new pine generation  manages to settle. A good red oak regeneration can be useful as a basis for  stand conversion towards a mixed, uneven-aged deciduous forest type, but in  many cases this possibility is hampered by massive invasion of black cherry,  preventing all other species to regenerate.

Typology of the natural regeneration in a middle-aged Scots pine forest

1988 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. De Schepper
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Free Field ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Scots Pine Forest ◽  
Forest Practice ◽  
Scots Pine Stands

The  study describes the natural regeneration state of a forest on coarse sandy  soils. The natural regeneration was studied in three different ecological  conditions: in 30 to 60 year old Scots pine stands, in a 62 year old mixed  stand of pedunculate oak and red oak, and on the free field.     The analysis of the regeneration groups revealed that the first settler  maintained a dominant social position during the following years after the  settlement. The structural basis is consequently laid out early. This means  that the forest practice has to consider the very first phase of the  regeneration as determining for the following evolution of the regeneration  groups.

An analysis of a spontaneous ingrowth of deciduous trees in 70 year old stands of Scots pine

1987 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lust
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Height Distribution ◽  
Stem Number ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Spontaneous Regeneration ◽  
Scots Pine Stands

In 70  years old homogeneous Scots pine stands, bordered by a hardwood belt, an  analysis was made about the spontaneous ingrowth of natural seedlings. The  analysis involved especially the following points: species and stem number,  influence of the hardwood belts, diameter and height distribution, age,  growth and structure. From the age of 30 years, a spontaneous regeneration of  hardwoods established in Scots pine stands. There are on average 7,000 plants  per ha, 80 % of which are black cherry and another fair number are red oak  and pedunculate oak. The regeneration has an average age of 25 to 30 years,  it is uneven aged, contains several diameter and height classes and has  already partially penetrated the upper stratum.     The spontaneous ingrowth allows to convert in a simple way the homogeneous  coniferous stands into mixed hardwood stands.

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