Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 287-300 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | European Journal of Forest Research |
| Volume | 142 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 7 Dec 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2023 |
Abstract
Deadwood is a key component of forest ecosystems, but there is limited information on how it influences forest soils. Moreover, studies on the effect of thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest soil properties are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thinning-derived deadwood logs on the soil chemical and microbial properties of a managed spruce forest on a loamy sand Podzol in Bavaria, Germany, after about 15 years. Deadwood increased the soil organic carbon contents by 59% and 56% at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Under deadwood, the soil dissolved organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio increased by 66% and 15% at 0–4 cm depth and by 55% and 28% at 8–12 cm depth, respectively. Deadwood also induced 71% and 92% higher microbial biomass carbon, 106% and 125% higher microbial biomass nitrogen, and 136% and 44% higher β-glucosidase activity in the soil at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Many of the measured variables significantly correlated with soil organic carbon suggesting that deadwood modified the soil biochemical processes by altering soil carbon storage. Our results indicate the potential of thinned spruce deadwood logs to sequester carbon and improve the fertility of Podzol soils. This could be associated with the slow decay rate of spruce deadwood logs and low biological activity of Podzols that promote the accumulation of soil carbon. We propose that leaving thinning-derived deadwood on the forest floor can support soil and forest sustainability as well as carbon sequestration.
Keywords
- Carbon sequestration, Picea abies, Soil organic matter, Wood decomposition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Forestry
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Plant Science
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In: European Journal of Forest Research, Vol. 142, No. 2, 04.2023, p. 287-300.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Keeping thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest floor improves soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity in a temperate spruce forest
AU - Nazari, Meisam
AU - Pausch, Johanna
AU - Bickel, Samuel
AU - Bilyera, Nataliya
AU - Rashtbari, Mehdi
AU - Razavi, Bahar S.
AU - Zamanian, Kazem
AU - Sharififar, Amin
AU - Shi, Lingling
AU - Dippold, Michaela A.
AU - Zarebanadkouki, Mohsen
N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Mr. Kurt Sollmann for kindly thinning the stand, Ms. Ilse Thaufelder for her kind laboratory assistance, and Mr. Andreas Kolb for determining the soil texture. We also acknowledge the German Federal Environmental Foundation for funding the Ph.D. studies of Meisam Nazari during the preparation of the manuscript.
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Deadwood is a key component of forest ecosystems, but there is limited information on how it influences forest soils. Moreover, studies on the effect of thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest soil properties are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thinning-derived deadwood logs on the soil chemical and microbial properties of a managed spruce forest on a loamy sand Podzol in Bavaria, Germany, after about 15 years. Deadwood increased the soil organic carbon contents by 59% and 56% at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Under deadwood, the soil dissolved organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio increased by 66% and 15% at 0–4 cm depth and by 55% and 28% at 8–12 cm depth, respectively. Deadwood also induced 71% and 92% higher microbial biomass carbon, 106% and 125% higher microbial biomass nitrogen, and 136% and 44% higher β-glucosidase activity in the soil at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Many of the measured variables significantly correlated with soil organic carbon suggesting that deadwood modified the soil biochemical processes by altering soil carbon storage. Our results indicate the potential of thinned spruce deadwood logs to sequester carbon and improve the fertility of Podzol soils. This could be associated with the slow decay rate of spruce deadwood logs and low biological activity of Podzols that promote the accumulation of soil carbon. We propose that leaving thinning-derived deadwood on the forest floor can support soil and forest sustainability as well as carbon sequestration.
AB - Deadwood is a key component of forest ecosystems, but there is limited information on how it influences forest soils. Moreover, studies on the effect of thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest soil properties are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thinning-derived deadwood logs on the soil chemical and microbial properties of a managed spruce forest on a loamy sand Podzol in Bavaria, Germany, after about 15 years. Deadwood increased the soil organic carbon contents by 59% and 56% at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Under deadwood, the soil dissolved organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio increased by 66% and 15% at 0–4 cm depth and by 55% and 28% at 8–12 cm depth, respectively. Deadwood also induced 71% and 92% higher microbial biomass carbon, 106% and 125% higher microbial biomass nitrogen, and 136% and 44% higher β-glucosidase activity in the soil at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Many of the measured variables significantly correlated with soil organic carbon suggesting that deadwood modified the soil biochemical processes by altering soil carbon storage. Our results indicate the potential of thinned spruce deadwood logs to sequester carbon and improve the fertility of Podzol soils. This could be associated with the slow decay rate of spruce deadwood logs and low biological activity of Podzols that promote the accumulation of soil carbon. We propose that leaving thinning-derived deadwood on the forest floor can support soil and forest sustainability as well as carbon sequestration.
KW - Carbon sequestration
KW - Picea abies
KW - Soil organic matter
KW - Wood decomposition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143549873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10342-022-01522-z
DO - 10.1007/s10342-022-01522-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85143549873
VL - 142
SP - 287
EP - 300
JO - European Journal of Forest Research
JF - European Journal of Forest Research
SN - 1612-4669
IS - 2
ER -