Effects of afforestation on soil structure formation in two climatic regions of the Czech Republic

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to determine the effect of agricultural land afforestation on soil characteristics. Two sites in two regions of the Czech Republic were evaluated, at lower as well as higher submountain elevations: in the regions of the Orlické hory Mts. and Kostelec nad Černými lesy, afforested, arable and pasture lands were compared for basic chemical and physical characteristics. It was determined: pH, CEC, exchangeable nutrients, SOC, bulk density, volume density, porosity (differentiated by pore size), water conductivity and soil aggregate stability. This study demonstrated the important influence of previous land use upon soil characteristics. The characteristics of the arable horizon can persist for many years; in forests, the mineral horizons (15-30 cm) can persist within 15-30 years after afforestation. Afforestation, which caused an increase in soil porosity by decreasing reduced bulk density and increasing capillary and gravitational pores (increasing the water-holding capacity and soil air capacity), is important for maintaining the soil stability. The positive effect on infiltration and retention capacity resulted not only from the presence of a forest overstorey, but also from the presence of permanent grass cover of pasture land.

Effects of Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Mattusch.) Liebl.) on the forest soil chemical properties

“…Good growth of this species was confirmed also on abandoned agricultural lands, but protection against browsing is necessary in this case (Tužinský et al 2015). These areas are relatively large throughout Europe, including the Czech Republic (Vopravil et al 2015) and therefore the introduced species can play important role in this process (Podrázský et al 2015(Podrázský et al , 2016. The evaluation of their effects on the soil ecosystem compartment can prevent many mistakes (Ehrenfeld 2003).…”

Comparison of Wood Quality of Douglas Fir and Spruce from Afforested Agricultural Land and Permanent Forest Land in the Czech Republic

“…The supply of Norway spruce timber will likely decrease in the near future [10]. Afforestation of agricultural lands constitutes a serious change in soil dynamics, including soil structure, organic matter and nutrient dynamics [11][12][13][14]. Compared to Norway spruce, Douglas fir shows less negative effects on the forest soil [15,16] and herb vegetation layer [17], and thus Douglas fir can represent a very convenient substitute for declining spruce, at least as a part of its non-native range in commercial forests [18].…”

A major tool for afforestation of semi-arid and anthropogenic steppe areas in Turkey: Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe

“…Therefore, if the number of individuals can be reduced by using the stocks of large-sized transplants, the costs of establishing a plantation can be significantly reduced in the Czech Republic (Gallo et al 2020a). So far, positive effects were determined on (i) soil quality of sand dunes in 35-year-old acacia (Acacia cyanopylla Lindley), Eucalyptus L'Hér., and stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) afforestation (Akça et al 2010); (ii) on electrical conductivity and soil microbial respiration in 23-year-old black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) afforestation (Kaptanoğlu Berber et al 2014); (iii) on soil porosity, capillary and gravitational pores in 41-year-old afforestation with eight forest tree species (Podrázský et al 2015); (iv) on organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen, clay, dust, field capacity, wilting point and available water capacity in 13-year-old black pine afforestation (Yazici, Turan 2016); (v) on hydrophysically important soil properties and soil loss per unit area in 40-year-old black pine afforestation (Hacisalihoglu 2018), and (vi) investigated to compare production parameters, structure and diversity of seven pine stands (as exotic species: Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Hawson, Pinus jeffreyi Balf., Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, Pinus strobus L., Pinus contorta Douglas, Pinus peuce Griseb.…”