Impact of several common tree species of European temperate forests on soil fertility

Abstract

-The aim of the present work was to provide a synopsis of the scientific literature concerning the effects of different tree species on soil and to quantify the effect of common European temperate forest species on soil fertility. The scientific literature dealing with the tree species effect on soil has been reviewed. The composition of forest overstory has an impact on the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of soil. This impact was highest in the topsoil. Different tree species had significantly different effects on water balance and microclimate. The physical characteristics of soils also were modified depending on the overstory species, probably through modifications of the soil fauna. The rates of organic matter mineralization and nitrification seem to be dependent on tree species. A coniferous species, Picea abies, had negative input-output budgets for some nutrients, such as Ca and Mg. This species promoted a higher soil acidification and a decrease in pH. Thus, it should not be planted in very poor soils in areas affected by acidic atmospheric depositions. Nevertheless, the effect of the canopy species on soil fertility was rarely significant enough to promote forest decline. The impact of a tree species on soil fertility varied depending on the type of bedrock, climate and forest management.forest soils / tree species / fertility / sustainability / resiliency Résumé -Effet des principales essences des forêts tempérées sur la fertilité des sols. L'objectif de cet article est de fournir une synthèse bibliographique au sujet de l'effet des essences sur le sol, et, en particulier, de l'effet des principales essences utilisées en foresterie tempérée. La composition du couvert arboré a une influence importante sur les propriétés physiques, chimiques et biologiques du sol. Cet impact est le plus important dans les horizons superficiels. L'effet des essences se traduit au niveau du pédoclimat, modifiant fortement le bilan hydrique du sol. La modification des paramètres physiques est liée à l'activité biologique, elle même dépendant de nombreux paramètres chimiques et biochimiques. La dégradation de la matière organique (minéralisation) et la nitrification semblent dépendre des essences. L'épicéa commun conduit à une acidification substantielle du sol qui se traduit parfois au niveau du pH ; les bilans d'éléments nutritifs calculés pour cette essence sont le plus souvent négatifs pour des éléments tels Ca et Mg. Cette essence ne doit pas être introduite sur des sols trop pauvres ou affectés par des apports atmosphériques acidifiants. Il faut cependant insister sur le fait que le seul effet des essences n'est jamais tel qu'il puisse conduire au dépérissement des forêts. L'impact des essences sur la fertilité du sol dépend du type de sol, du climat et des aménagements forestiers (essences et traitement).sols forestiers / essences forestières / fertilité des sols / durabilité / résilience Ann. For. Sci. 59 (2002) 233

Elevated Cd and Zn uptake by aspen limits the phytostabilization potential compared to five other tree species

“…It is generally known that plant species can differ in their effect on soil pH, organic matter content and CEC, and differences between tree species for these soil characteristics have been reported in the past (Augusto et al, 2002;Finzi et al, 1998;Hagen-Thorn et al, 2004;Mertens et al, 2007;Nordén, 1994;Reich et al, 2005). In the present study, all tree species except aspen, tended to decrease the pH slightly, but not (yet) significantly, in the topsoil compared to 20-30 cm (Table 5).…”

“…The main driving biogeochemical processes affecting metal mobility in soils are oxidation-reduction reactions, acidification, organic matter dynamics, and changes in base cations concentrations and the CEC (Andersen et al, 2002;McBride et al, 1997;Römkens and Salomons, 1998;Sauvé et al, 2000). The changes in the above-mentioned soil characteristics after afforesting agricultural land strongly depend on the tree species (Alriksson and Eriksson, 1998;Augusto et al, 2002;Hagen-Thorn et al, 2004;Nordén, 1994;Reich et al, 2005).…”

Inter-crown versus under-crown area: contribution of local configuration of trees to variation in topsoil morphology, pH and moisture in Abies alba Mill. forests

“…This effect probably has several origins (Augusto et al 2002): the capacity to intercept atmospheric deposition that is potentially acidic, the acidity of litter, the number of protons released after tree uptake of cations, the higher amounts of acids with lower pK released under some tree species and the modification of soil micro-climate.…”

Biocontrolled soil nutrient distribution under the influence of an oxalogenic-oxalotrophic ecosystem

“…In addition, the type of plant directly influences litter quality and, in turn, soil biogeochemistry (Augusto et al 2002;Hobbie et al 2006) and structure of the soil microbial community (Ettema and Wardle 2002;Saetre 1998). These two parameters, litter composition and microbial community structure, are interconnected to the build-up of plant species-specific soil organic matter (Ehrenfeld 2003;Potter and Woodall 2014;Vesterdal et al 2013).…”