Leaching of macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from soils is of particular interest in the Baltic Sea region because of its adverse effects on water quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate macronutrient leaching in a juvenile hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) plantation cultivated in an agroforestry system and fertilized with biogas production residues, wastewater sludge and wood ash in hemi-boreal climate conditions. Analysis of macronutrient concentrations in the soil solution showed that annual macronutrient leaching decreased over time after the establishment of the plantation and application of fertilizers. Moreover, macronutrient leaching was affected not only by meteorological conditions, but also by the type of fertilizer used. During the five years after establishment of the plantation, nitrate-nitrogen leaching decreased up to 99.6%, phosphate-phosphorus leaching decreased up to 97.1%, but potassium ions leaching decreased up to 76.5%. Nevertheless, juvenile hybrid aspen plantations cultivated in an agroforestry system remain an important part in mitigation of leaching of macronutrients from agricultural lands in the Baltic Sea region.

The increasing interest in carbon budget estimation and the growing use of woody biomass in bioenergy production raises the necessity for precise estimates of belowground biomass and soil carbon pools in forest ecosystems, particularly in terms of changes in the age structure of forests. The aim of this study was to estimate the belowground biomass of young (< 40 years) stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Latvia. The biomass of small roots (diameter 2-20 mm), coarse roots (diameter > 20 mm), and stumps of 39 trees from eight stands growing on dry, nutrient-poor mineral soils was measured and compared to the aboveground variables of sampled trees. The results revealed that stumps, small roots, and coarse roots comprised 43%, 35% and 22%, respectively, of the belowground biomass of young Scots pines. The proportion of belowground biomass over the total tree biomass was age-dependent, ranging from 33% to 17% for 8-year and 40-year old trees, respectively. Aboveground tree variables were significantly correlated with the belowground biomass, being stemwood volume and basal area the best predictors (R 2 = 0.86-0.98, relative errors = 26-43%) of the belowground biomass components. Accordingly, the developed models produced more accurate estimates compared to previous models for the region, thus reducing the uncertainty in determining the carbon budget for belowground biomass. Still, an analysis of a more comprehensive dataset is needed to account for the effect of the social status of trees, as well as the within-and between-stand variation.

Abstract:The data of field studies about mineral nutrient content in the biomass components of young birch stands (9-15 years old) in different forest growing conditions and soil types have been analyzed. In forest growing conditions on fertile soils (ASG, TSC and SP) the total amount of biomass produced by young birch stands divides into fractions as follows: stem wood 51.8%-59.5%; branch wood 9.8%-12.4%; foliage 5.7%-6.8%; stump wood and roots 25%-30%. In forest types on lean soils (TP) the same indices are 32.3%-41.8%, 18.2%-24.2%, 13.2%-16.1% and 26.8%-27.4%, respectively. The stand performance closely correlates with the basic nutrient (P, N, K, C and Mg) availability in forest soils. In lean typicpodzol soils (TP) the content of mineral nutrients is no higher than 20%-48% of that in more fertile soils (ASG, TSC and SP). In young birch stands the take-up of mineral nutrients from 0-40 cm soil layer for developing the above-ground biomass makes a fairly small proportion of the total: up to 4.8%-6.2% for P; 4.9%-12.2% for N; 1.1%-4.1% for K; 11.6% for Ca; 0.8%-7.7% for Mg; in leaner soils the same indices are P 0.1%-0.4%, N 1%-1.5%, K 0.2%-0.6%, Ca 0.1%-0.9%, Mg 0.1%-0.8%, respectively. The analyses of pest damages in young birch stands confirm a hypothesis that the degree of pest damage depends on the stand vitality as described by the site index.

Yasso07 soil carbon model was used to estimate soil carbon balance in dry forest site types (6 site types in total) in Latvia and the results were compared with data from Biosoil2012 soil surveys. Litter input, chemical quality and climatic data are required to run the model. Three different scenarios were used for climate data input-steady climate, climate change + 0.025 °C annually and climate change + 0.05 °C annually. Forest mineral soil is a carbon sink for the whole modelled period-the years of 1990-2030. Under steady climate, the average carbon removal is 0.6 t CO 2 ha-1 yr-1 , under climate change (+ 0.025 °C) scenario 0.4 t CO 2 ha-1 yr-1 , but under climate change (+ 0.05 °C) scenario 0.3 t CO 2 ha-1 yr-1. CO 2 removal at the beginning of the period (1990) was 0.35-0.38 t CO 2 ha-1 yr-1. Carbon stock modelled with Yasso07 is lower than estimated in Biosoil2012 soil surveys. Differences between modelled and Biosoil2012 results vary from 2 t C ha-1 in the poorest and 41 t CO 2 ha-1 in the third poorest site type. Carbon stock modelled with Yasso07 increases from the poorest to the most fertile site type while Biosoil2012 shows an increase from the poorest to the third poorest, and a decrease from the third poorest to the most fertile site type. Underestimation and different trends between Yasso07 and measured carbon stock may be explained by inappropriate equations and models used to estimate non-woody biomass. It is necessary to improve accuracy of input data for non-woody biomass by elaborating national equations and models in order to include Yasso07 in the national GHG inventory.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread and economically most important tree species in Latvia. Scots pine forest health and element flow changes have been monitored in Latvia within the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) with assessment of crown condition and damaging agents at 115 Level I monitoring sites (mostly oligothrophic and mesotrophic Vacciniosa, Myrtillosa and Hylocomiosa forests) and with sampling and analyses of environmental samples at three Level II monitoring sites representing typical Scots pine forests (Myrtillosa) in hemiboreal conditions in Latvia. This study summarizes the background information and presents the trends of forest health, carbon turnover and environment condition in Scots pine forest since 2009. In general, defoliation rate in Scots pine stands remains stable for the studied period, with some yearly fluctuations, possibly related to regional insect outbreaks, especially well demonstrated in two Level II plots. The share of damaged trees varied by year from 12.8% to 19% of the total number; the main cause of damage was direct action of man. Chemical element flows in Scots pine forests in Level II monitoring plots have been relatively stable as well except the decreasing trend in total N concentration in deposition and SO4-S concentration in soil solution and increasing trends in DOC concentration in soil solution that is in line with common trends in Europe. Carbon input with above-ground litter was relatively stable during the whole period; however, interannual variations were rather wide.