Long-term effects of a forest amelioration experiment

Jandl, Robert; Starlinger, Franz; Englisch, Michael; Herzberger, Edwin; Johann, Elisabeth

doi:10.1139/x01-169

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This conclusion is in accordance with experiments performed in other localities where Mg was revealed as deficient nutrient leading to needle yellowing and increasing thus risk of consequent forest decline (Huttl, Schneider 1998;Jandl et al 2002;Katzensteiner et al 1992b;Lomský et al 2006). Rate of stand response to Mg fertilization differed in relation to age and altitude of stand in our experiment, but both effects could not be evaluated separately because an age of stands was different in S and BS zones.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effect of Mg fertilization on yellowing disease of Norway spruce at higher elevations of the Šumava Mts., Czech Republic

Vacek¹,

Podrázský²,

Hejcman³

et al. 2006

J. For. Sci.

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AbStRACt:Norway spruce yellowing and defoliation caused by Mg deficiency was frequently recorded on many sites of the Šumava Mts. (Bohemian Forest Mts.) since 1980's. A forest experiment aimed at investigation response of spruce to Mg application (commercial fertilizer SILVAMIX ® Mg NPK) was set up in 1998. Fertilizer was applied manually in a dose of 96.5 kg Mg/ha in spruce (S) and beech-spruce (BS) vegetation altitudinal zones in spring 2000. Immediate decrease of yellowing was revealed in fertilized plots in both vegetation zones and yellowing almost completely disappeared at the end of the investigation in 2005. Further, fertilization resulted in stabile foliation while marked defoliation was reported from control plots in both vegetation zones. Mg deficiency can be effectively eliminated by appropriate fertilizer application. Balanced nutrition contributes to long-term vigour and stability of forest stands.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effect of Mg fertilization on yellowing disease of Norway spruce at higher elevations of the Šumava Mts., Czech Republic

Vacek¹,

Podrázský²,

Hejcman³

et al. 2006

J. For. Sci.

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“…Peak litter removal by raking destroyed the acidneutralizing capacity more quickly than acid rain (Glatzel, 1991) and the combined effect of soil acidification and nutrient depletion was the principal cause of destabilization in forest ecosystems in central Europe, which led to mixed deciduous forests being replaced by, or areas replanted with, less nutrient-demanding conifer stands (Ebermayer, 1876 ;Wittich, 1954;Ellenberg, 1988;Jandl et al, 2002). Productivity in litter-harvested forests sank drastically in the 1800s ; the average decline in wood production of raked Kilian (1998) stands is thought to have been around 50 % (Jandl et al, 2002). The effects of long-term litter use persist for many decades after cessation of the harvesting practice and are still reflected in forest soils today in Austria (Glatzel, 1991;Jandl et al, 2002), Switzerland (Perruchoud et al, 1999), and Germany (Wittich, 1954;Kreutzer, 1972;Prietzel, Kolb & Rehfuess, 1997).…”

Section: Historical Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using experimental manipulation to assess the roles of leaf litter in the functioning of forest ecosystems

Sayer¹

2005

Biol. Rev.

643

494

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The widespread use of forest litter as animal bedding in central Europe for many centuries gave rise to the first litter manipulation studies, and their results demonstrated that litter and its decomposition are a vital part of ecosystem function. Litter plays two major roles in forest ecosystems: firstly, litterfall is an inherent part of nutrient and carbon cycling, and secondly, litter forms a protective layer on the soil surface that also regulates microclimatic conditions. By reviewing 152 years of litter manipulation experiments, I show that the effects of manipulating litter stem from changes in one, or both, of these two functions, and interactions between the variables influenced by the accumulation of litter can result in feedback mechanisms that may intensify treatment effects or mask responses, making the interpretation of results difficult.Long-term litter removal increased soil bulk density, overland flow, erosion, and temperature fluctuations and upset the soil water balance, causing lower soil water content during dry periods. Soil pH increased or decreased in response to manipulation treatments depending on forest type and initial soil pH, but it is unclear why there was no uniform response. Long-term litter harvesting severely depleted the forests of nutrients. Decreases in the concentrations of available P, Ca, Mg, and K in the soil occurred after only three to five years. The decline in soil N occurred over longer periods of time, and the relative loss was greater in soils with high initial nitrogen concentration. Tree growth declined with long-term litter removal, probably due to lower nutrient availability. Litter manipulation also added or removed large amounts of carbon thereby affecting microbial communities and altering soil respiration rates.Litter manipulation experiments have shown that litter cover acts as a physical barrier to the shoot emergence of small-seeded species ; further, the microclimate maintained by the litter layer may be favourable to herbivores and pathogens and is important in determining later seedling survival and performance. Litter manipulation altered the competitive outcomes between tree seedlings and forbs, thereby influencing species composition and diversity ; changes in the species composition of understorey vegetation following treatments occurred fairly rapidly. By decreasing substrate availability and altering the microclimate, litter removal changed fungal species composition and diversity and led to a decline in populations of soil fauna. However, litter addition did not provoke a corresponding increase in the abundance or diversity of fungi or soil fauna.Large-scale long-term studies are still needed in order to investigate the interactions between the many variables affected by litter, especially in tropical and boreal forests, which have received little attention. Litter manipulation treatments present an opportunity to assess the effects of increasing primary production in forest ecosystems; specific research aims include assessing the eff...

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“…Numerous fertilization experiments have been carried out in these countries to Wnd out optimal fertilization regimes, and the issue remains a hot topic until today (e.g., Tamm et al 1995; Communicated by Franz Makeschin and Agustin Merino. Nohrstedt et al 2000;Nilsen and Abrahamsen 2003;McNulty et al 2005;Blevins et al 2006), including new aspects such as the inXuence of forest fertilization on the large scale N balance (Akselsson et al 2007), losses of greenhouse gases (e.g., Maljanen et al 2006), and the sequestration of atmospheric carbon in tree biomass (Iivonen et al 2006) and in forest soils (Akselsson et al 2007;Jandl et al 2002Jandl et al , 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of soil chemistry, stand nutrition, and stand growth at two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sites in Central Europe during 40 years after fertilization, liming, and lupine introduction

et al. 2007

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Long-term (40 years) eVects of two soil amelioration techniques [NPKMgCa fertilization + liming; combination of PKMgCa fertilization, liming, tillage, and introduction of lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus L.)] on chemical topsoil properties, stand nutrition, and stand growth at two sites in Germany (PfaVenwinkel, Pustert) with mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest were investigated. Both sites are characterized by base-poor parent material, historic N and P depletion by intense litter-raking, and recent high atmospheric N input. Such sites contribute signiWcantly to the forested area in Central Europe. Amelioration resulted in a long-term increase of pH, base saturation, and exchangeable Ca and Mg stocks in the topsoil. Moreover, signiWcant losses of the forest Xoor in organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen stocks, and a decrease of the C/N ratio in the topsoil were noticed. The concentrations and stocks of OC and N in the mineral topsoil increased; however, the increases compensated only the N, but not the OC losses of the forest Xoor. During the recent 40 years, the N nutrition of the stands at the control plots improved considerably, whereas the foliar P, K, and Ca concentrations decreased.The 100-fascicle weights and foliar concentrations of N, P, Mg, and Ca were increased after both amelioration procedures throughout the entire 40-year period of investigation. For both stands, considerable growth acceleration during the recent 40 years was noticed on the control plots; the amelioration resulted in an additional signiWcant long-term growth enhancement, with the NPKMgCa fertilization liming + being more eVective than the combination of PKMgCa fertilization, liming, tillage, and introduction of lupine. The comprehensive evaluation of soil, foliage, and growth data revealed a key relevance of the N and P nutrition of the stands for their growth, and a change from initial N limitation to a limitation of other growth factors (P, Mg, Ca, and water).

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Long-term effects of a forest amelioration experiment

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

Effect of Mg fertilization on yellowing disease of Norway spruce at higher elevations of the Šumava Mts., Czech Republic

Effect of Mg fertilization on yellowing disease of Norway spruce at higher elevations of the Šumava Mts., Czech Republic

Using experimental manipulation to assess the roles of leaf litter in the functioning of forest ecosystems

Changes of soil chemistry, stand nutrition, and stand growth at two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sites in Central Europe during 40 years after fertilization, liming, and lupine introduction

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