The Use of Wood Chips for Revitalization of Degraded Forest Soil on Young Scots Pine Plantation

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of several methods of mulching degraded forest soil with wood chips on the development of mite (Acari) community, with particular emphasis to oribatid mites (Oribatida), and on the growth of young plantings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Mulching with wood chips should contribute to revitalize soil fauna and restore natural forests on degraded soils. Scots pine seedlings were planted at the post-military training ground. Four experimental treatments were tested: control—uncovered soil (C), mulching with wood chips (W), W + mycorrhiza preparation (WM), and W + forest litter (WL). At the end of the growing season in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the following plant measurements were carried out: length of annual increment of the main stem, stem base diameter, number and lengths of lateral shoots in the annual whorl. The mite calculations included average mite density, dominance index, species richness, oribatid mite diversity, average number of species, and Shannon general species diversity index. The use of mulching with wood chips did not significantly affect the growth characteristics of Scots pine plants, but strongly increased the mite community. After mulching, the total number and species diversity of Acari increased many times, and Oribatida began to dominate among micro-arthropods. The number of Oribatida increased most in W. The largest species diversity was observed in WL. 24 species of Oribatida were found that were used as the bio-indicators of soil succession changes. Tectocepheus velatus clearly dominated in all mulching treatments. Oppiella nova and Scutovertex sculptus were also numerous populations of Oribatida. The study shows that mulching with Scots pine wood chips, especially with the addition of forest litter, significantly enriches soil fauna and is therefore useful in the regeneration process of degenerated forest soils.

Modelling the Event-Based Hydrological Response of Mediterranean Forests to Prescribed Fire and Soil Mulching with Fern Using the Curve Number, Horton and USLE-Family (Universal Soil Loss Equation) Models

“…At the experimental sites, one day after the fire, small pieces (maximum length of 5 cm) of fern stems were applied to the soil as a mulch material in a part of the burned area. The fern was supplied from the same forest and the fresh residues were spread on the ground at a dose of 500 g/m 2 of fresh weight (200 g/m 2 of dry matter, as suggested for straw mulching by [37,38]). Straw is commonly used as a mulch material, mainly in croplands, and this mulch is not always suitable in forest areas.…”

“…Biomass transport from agricultural sites may be expensive, and these vegetal residues often contain agro-chemicals and parasites, with the possible development of non-native vegetation and diseases to forest plants [36]. Woodchips are sometime used as a mulch material in forests (particularly in young stands), but production may be expensive and difficult, due to the need of big machinery and a large amount of wood biomass [37]. Fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn), which is abundant on the Mediterranean forest floor and does not bring non-native seeds or chemical residues into the forest ecosystem, may replace straw for the mulching of fire-affected areas.…”

Immediate effects of chemical and mechanical soil preparation techniques on epigaeic arthropod assemblages during reclamation of in situ oil and gas sites in northern Alberta, Canada

“…In particular, wood chips that may be present in great quantities during initial phases of site construction, provide an effective onsite soil amendment. Both as a mulch and in whole form, they contribute nutrients to the soil, increase soil structure, help to control weeds and increase biodiversity of reclaimed sites (Bulmer 2000;Homyak et al 2008;Scharenbroch and Watson 2014;Klimek at al. 2020).…”

Differences of oribatid mite community and trophic structure between karst caves and surface different moss habitats

“…The oribatid mite is also an important indicator species of past environmental changes, playing an important role in the nutrient cycle of the ecosystem and the formation of Humus [ 15 ], It also plays an indispensable role in litter decomposition and trophic cycling [ 16 ]. The study of the community structure and trophic structure of oribatid mites plays an important role in various fields such as air pollution control and forest soil succession changes [ 17 ], the oribatid mite generally has a complete trophic structure in different environments, and some oribatid mites are predators of nematodes and slow-moving or injured snails [ 18 ]. The presence of complex trophic networks in geothermal active lava fields by oribatid mites [ 19 ], the mites on the bark of dead trees span at least three trophic levels [ 20 ].…”