Factors influencing humus forms and forest litter properties in the mid-mountains under temperate climate of southwestern Poland

Łabaz, Beata; Gałka, Bernard; Bogacz, Adam; Waroszewski, Jarosław; Kabała, Cezary

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.021

Cited by 62 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In contrast, on the south-exposed slope there is a trend of relatively high pH values (around 6.5) decreasing with elevational gain to lower average values (around 4.5-5.0). Consequently, the analogous distributions of humus forms and pH values generally turn out as expected [6]: the presence of mull-like humus forms characterized by a high biological activity in the mineral soil coincides with higher pH values as compared to moder-like humus forms. Altogether, these findings at the slope scale confirm and amplify the trends from modeling at broader scales [9,57].…”

Section: Spatial Modeling Of Humus Forms and Topsoil Aciditysupporting

confidence: 69%

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

et al. 2018

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Humus forms are the morphological results of organic matter decay and distribution in the topsoil, and thus important indicators for decomposer activities in forest ecosystems. The first aim was to examine if humus forms are suitable indicators of microbiological properties of the topsoil in a high mountain forest (Val di Rabbi, Trentino, Italian Alps). The second aim was to predict microbiological parameters based on the topsoil pH value on two slopes of the study area (ca. 1200-2200 m a.s.l.). We investigated humus forms and determined pH values and microbiological parameters (enzymatic activities, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and the ratio of bacterial/archaeal abundance) of the uppermost mineral horizon. The results reveal significant correlations between pH value and microbiological parameters (except for bacterial/archaeal abundance), which enable upscaling to the landscape scale using linear models. Based on a random forest with kriging of model residuals, predictive maps of humus form, pH value and microbiological parameters show that decomposition processes in our study area correspond with the topography. As compared to locations on south-facing slopes or close to the valley bottom, locations on north-facing slopes or close to the upper treeline exhibit Moder (scarcely Mull or Amphimull), more acidic topsoil (around pH 4), a lower activity of leucine-aminopeptidase, a lower ratio of alkaline/acid phosphomonoesterase activity and a higher soil C/N ratio (above 20). Our results suggest a high potential of humus forms to indicate soil microbiological properties in a high mountain forest. Together with the pH values of the topsoil, humus forms proved to be a useful tool as a basis for predictive maps of leucine-aminopeptidase activity, ratio of alkaline/acid phosphomonoesterase activity and C/N ratio of the mineral topsoil.

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Section: Spatial Modeling Of Humus Forms and Topsoil Aciditysupporting

confidence: 69%

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

et al. 2018

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“…The total litter accumulation in the beechwood was between 5 and 10 cm, whereas in the pinewood, it was 7-15 cm. Increasing litter accumulation under coniferous forest is a common result reported in the literature [9,[26][27][28]. This is related to the coniferous biomass chemical composition, rich in compounds that are difficult to decompose, which results in thicker O-layers [11].…”

Section: Organic Layers Morphology and Classificationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Changes in Topsoil Properties after Centennial Scots Pine Afforestation in a European Beech Forest (NE Spain)

Girona-García

Badía

Martí

2018

Forests

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Abstract:In this work, we studied the effects of centenary Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) afforestation on topsoil properties conducted in a deforested area that was previously occupied by a natural European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest. Organic layers and topsoil Ah mineral horizons (0-10 cm) were sampled in the Scots pine and European beech forests of Moncayo Natural Park (north-eastern Spain). The physical (stoniness, aggregate stability, and water repellency persistence and intensity), chemical (total organic C, total N, C/N, pH, and exchangeable Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , Al 3+ , and Fe 3+ ), and physicochemical (cation exchange capacity) properties of soil were analyzed. Total organic C and N were also obtained for litter samples. The studied topsoils shared a series of common properties, such as a high stoniness and aggregate stability, very low base content, high cation exchange capacity, and extreme acidity. Soils that developed under the pinewood showed a higher soil water repellency intensity. However, K + content was significantly higher in the beechwood soil. In both forest types, total organic C and N were similar in topsoil and litter (Hemimoder type), although C and N were pooled in different O-layers. Results indicate that pine afforestation in a deforested area was an adequate measure for soil protection since it did not show significant differences in the long term (ca. 100 years) compared to the nearby natural beech stands.

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“…It seems unlikely that these pollens migrated along the soil profile. Podzols of the upper forest zone in the Sudeten Mountains typically have the humus form more that is considered to be almost inactive in terms of faunal activity and therefore bioturbation (Labaz et al ., ; Bojko and Kabala, ). It seems more likely that tree pollens are more or less stable in a specific layer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying slope processes over time and their imprint in soils of medium‐high mountains of Central Europe (the Karkonosze Mountains, Poland)

Waroszewski

Egli

Brandová

et al. 2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Soils in mountainous areas are often polygenetic, developed in slope covers that relate to glacial and periglacial activities of the Pleistocene and Holocene and reflect climatic variations. Landscape development during the Holocene may have been influenced by erosion/solifluction that often started after the Holocene climatic optimum. To trace back soil evolution and its timing, we applied a multi‐methodological approach. This approach helped us to outline scenario of soil transformation. According to our results, some aeolian input must have occurred in the late Pleistocene. During that time and the early Holocene, the soils most likely had features of Cryosols or Leptosols. Physico‐chemical and mineralogical analyses have indicated that the material was denudated (between late Boreal to the Atlantic) from the ridge and upper‐slope positions forming a colluvium at mid‐slope positions. Later, during the Sub‐Boreal, mass wasting of the remains of silt material deposited at the end of the Pleistocene age on the ridge top seems to have occurred. In addition, the cool and moist conditions caused the deposition of a colluvium at the lower‐slope positions. The next phase was characterized by the transformation of Leptosols/Cambisols into Podzols at upper‐slope or shoulder positions and to Albic Cambisols at mid‐slope positions. During the Sub‐Boreal period, Stagnosols started to form at the lower part of the slope catena. Overall, the highest erosion rates were calculated at the upper‐slope position and the lowest rates at mid‐slope sites. Berylium‐10 (10Be) data showed that the Bs, BC/C were covered during the Holocene by a colluvium with a different geological composition which complicated the calculation of erosion or accumulation rates. The interpretation of erosion and accumulation rates in such multi‐layered materials may, therefore, be hampered. However, the multi‐methodological reconstruction we applied shed light on the soil and landscape evolution of the eastern Karkonosze Mountains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Factors influencing humus forms and forest litter properties in the mid-mountains under temperate climate of southwestern Poland

Cited by 62 publications

References 55 publications

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

Changes in Topsoil Properties after Centennial Scots Pine Afforestation in a European Beech Forest (NE Spain)

Identifying slope processes over time and their imprint in soils of medium‐high mountains of Central Europe (the Karkonosze Mountains, Poland)

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