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Soil biochemical and chemical changes in relation to mature spruce (Picea abies) forest conversion and regeneration
Author(s) -
Zhong Zheke,
Makeschin Franz
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.200390046
Subject(s) - picea abies , mineralization (soil science) , beech , chemistry , soil water , fagus sylvatica , nitrification , environmental chemistry , botany , ecology , biology , nitrogen , organic chemistry
To investigate soil changes from forest conversion and regeneration, soil net N mineralization, potential nitrification, microbial biomass N, L‐asparaginase, L‐glutaminase, and other chemical and biological properties were examined in three adjacent stands: mature pure and dense Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst) (110 yr) (stand I), mature Norway spruce mixed with young beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) (5 yr) (stand II), and young Norway spruce (16 yr) (stand III). The latter two stands were converted or regenerated from the mature Norway spruce stand as former. The studied soils were characterized as having a very low pH value (2.9 – 3.5 in 0.01 M CaCl 2 ), a high total N content (1.06 – 1.94 %), a high metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ) (6.7 – 16.9 g CO 2 kg –1 h –1 ), a low microbial biomass N (1.1 – 3.3 % of total N, except LOf 1 at stand III), and a relatively high net N mineralization (175 – 1213 mg N kg –1 in LOf 1 and Of 2 , 4 weeks incubation). In the converted forest (stand II), C : N ratio and qCO 2 values in the LOf 1 layer decreased significantly, and base saturation and exchangeable Ca showed a somewhat increment in mineral soil. In the regenerated forest (stand III), the total N storage in the surface layers decreased by 30 %. The surface organic layers (LOf 1 , Of 2 ) possessed a very high net N mineralization (1.5 – 3 times higher than those in other two stands), high microbial biomass (C, N), and high basal respiration and qCO 2 values. Meanwhile, in the Oh layer, the base saturation and the exchangeable Ca decreased. All studied substrates showed little net nitrification after the first period of incubation (2 weeks). In the later period of incubation (7 – 11 weeks), a considerable amount of NO 3 ‐N accumulated (20 – 100 % of total cumulative mineral N) in the soils from the two pure spruce stands (I, III). In contrast, there was almost no net NO 3 ‐N accumulation in the soils from the converted mixed stand (II) indicating that there was a difference in microorganisms in the two types of forest ecosystems. Soil microbial biomass N, mineral N, net N mineralization, L‐asparaginase, and L‐glutaminase were correlated and associated with forest management.