Effect of Organic Matter Released from Deadwood at Different Decomposition Stages on Physical Properties of Forest Soil

Abstract

The wood of dead trees is an essential element of the forest ecosystem, as it affects the characteristics of forest soil properties. The present study aimed to determine the influence of dead alder and aspen wood in various stages of decomposition on the physical properties of forest soil. The study was carried out in the area of the Czarna Rózga reserve in central Poland. Alder and aspen logs in third, fourth, and fifth decay classes were selected for the study. Wood and soil samples under the direct influence of wood and soil samples without the influence of deadwood were collected for laboratory analyses. Physical properties of the soil samples, such as bulk density, moisture, porosity, field capacity, and air capacity were analyzed. Water repellency (WR) was also determined. Our study confirmed that decomposing wood influenced the physical properties of forest soil. Organic matter released from decomposing wood penetrates the soil and alters its physical properties. By releasing organic matter from deadwood, it is possible to stimulate the formation of soil aggregates, improve soil porosity, and significantly increase the number of micropores, which results in the retention of more water in the soil.

A soil quality index for seven productive landscapes in the Andean‐Amazonian foothills of Ecuador

“…BD is a structural index that is strongly related to TP, AP and consequently influences hydraulic properties and defines air: water relationships in the soil (Baranian Kabir et al, 2020; Blanco‐Canqui & Ruis, 2018; Pla, 2010; Reynolds, Drury, Tan, Fox, & Yang, 2009). The soil under the influence of decomposing wood differed significantly from the control sample in terms of capillary water capacity, which indicates a significant increase in the number of micropores capable of retaining water (Piaszczyk, Lasota, & Błońska, 2020). It is important to discuss, however, that the BD values under the different use land showed ranges from 0.37 to 0.54 Mg m −3 (Table 4), which were below the that threshold values of BD deemed to be detrimental to seed germination, root development, and plant growth (Blanco‐Canqui & Ruis, 2018).…”

“…A positive correlation (Figure 4) was observed between TOC and AP (r = 0.71) and between AP and saturated hydraulic conductivity (r = 0.85) (Figure 5). Organic remains released from deadwood in the forest and LL in the agroecosystems is delivered to soil and determine soil structure and aggregation (Piaszczyk et al, 2020; Safaei et al, 2019). Understanding the effects of land‐use/cover change on the hydrological properties of soil is essential for sustainable land‐use/cover effective land management and soil quality improvement (Baranian Kabir et al, 2020).…”

Influence of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Hydraulic Properties in South China

“…Along with the process of natural vegetation restoration, the SOM content significantly increased, which has been confirmed by a large number of studies [6,15,41]. The SOM of forests mainly derives from litterfall input, and the accumulation of SOM is beneficial to the improvement of the soil physical structure [11,42,43]. The increase in SOM promotes microbial activity and the growth of the root system.…”

A soil quality index for seven productive landscapes in the Andean-Amazonian foothills of Ecuador

“…Bulk density is a structural index that is strongly related to total porosity, aeration porosity and consequently influences hydraulic properties and defines air:water relationships in the soil (Blanco-Canqui & Ruis, 2018;Pla, 2010;Reynolds et al, 2009). The soil under the influence of decomposing wood differed significantly from the control sample in terms of capillary water capacity, which indicates a significant increase in the number of micropores capable of retaining water (Piaszczyk et al, 2020). It is important to discuss, however, that the bulk density values (BD) under the different use land showed ranges from 0.30 to 0.51 Mg m -3 in the surface layer and from 0.45 to 57 Mg m -3 in the subsurface layer (Table 2), which were below the that threshold values of bulk density deemed to be detrimental to seed germination, root development, and plant growth (Blanco-Canqui & Ruis, 2018).…”

“…A positive correlation (Table 4) was observed between TOC and aeration porosity (r=0.71) and between aeration porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity (r=0.85). Organic remains released from deadwood in the forest and leaf litter in the agroecosystems are delivered to soil and determine soil structure and aggregation (Piaszczyk et al, 2020). Therefore, SOC, AP and BD could play an important role for monitoring soil quality.…”