Macro- and Micronutrient Contents in Soils of a Chronosequence of Naturally Regenerated Birch Stands on Abandoned Agricultural Lands in Central Poland

Abstract

Abandoned agricultural lands in Central and Northern Europe undergo a quite rapid secondary succession of woody species, especially silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) as a pioneer tree species. Such a process is desirable both from natural and economic point of views, as afforestation involves a change to the entire ecosystem and, in particular, the transformation of anthropogenic habitats typical for agriculture into habitats similar to a natural forest. In the present study, we report the chemical properties of soils under birch stands that naturally regenerated on abandoned agricultural lands and answer the question of whether silver birch modifies the chemical properties of soils over a (relatively short—17 years) time and with depth in the soil profile. The research investigated the natural secondary succession of silver birch on 28 study plots established as a chronosequence in seven locations in Central Poland. The age of the stands ranged from 2 to 17 years. We analysed the contents of selected micro- and macroelements and heavy metals at three depths in the soil profile. The chemical properties of former agricultural soils covered with newly established silver birch stands, taking into account the depth in the soil profile, demonstrated tendencies to change over the time. In the first age class of birch stands, the stock of investigated nutrients in the soil was higher compared to the following age classes. Statistically significant differences were noted in the case of Cu and Cr. Along with the age of birch stands (age class IV), there was a tendency for stock of the analysed nutrients to grow, which can be associated with an increase in aboveground biomass and root system development. The changes in the contents of the macro- and microelements, as well as heavy metals, were characterised by a gradual increase of the elements analysed in the upper layer of the soil that, in the years following the birch influence on the soil, starts having an effect on the deeper layers. In the case of Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr, there was a statistically significant change in the depth of the soil. Longer chronosequences should be observed to see a clear trajectory in soil chemistry changes with birch stand ages.

Long-term in situ restoration of different arbors in coal areas reconfigures metabolite and bacterial symbiosis patterns in vertical soils

“…Coal mining areas are highly susceptible to heavy metal pollution released from coal gangue (Liu et al, 2018), and we analyzed both total soil elements and effective state elements at different soil depths after long-term woody plant restoration. We found that the soil effective state elements decreased signi cantly, mainly at the 50-100 cm depth after restoration of the four woody plant species, in agreement with a previous report (Gawęda et al, 2021), and that plant roots developed more strongly at deeper depths and promoted the uptake of deep soil nutrients and metals. By contrast, the plant-free control area showed a sharp decrease at 10 cm depth, implying that effective elements are subject to interference by external factors, such as sunlight, weathering, and rainfall (Wang et al, 2019).…”

Antioxidant activities in relation to the transport of heavy metals from the soil to different parts of Betula pendula (Roth.)

“…Last research has shown that B. pendula has developed traits, which help to survive [ 48 ]. For this reason, it is used as a remedial plant [ 49 – 51 ], which makes it more and more widespread and conducive to use in biomonitoring [ 1 , 51 , 52 ]. Therefore, it becomes important to determine the influence of the soil species, as well as other physicochemical properties of the soil on the possibility of accumulation of heavy metals.…”

Nutrient fluxes via litterfall in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands growing on post-arable soils

“…Daugaviete et al (2003) and Aosaar et al (2016) reported positive effects of birch trees on soil N during the first few years after afforestation. Additionally, Uri et al (2012) and Gawęda et al (2014) observed increasing contents of the major nutrients in soils under birch chronosequences. Birch biomass is generally moderately abundant in nutrients; however, their concentrations are strongly controlled by their bioavailability (Daugaviete et al 2015).…”

“…Fresh silver birch biomass is moderately abundant in P, with the highest contents being reported in leaves and the lowest in wood (Novák et al 2017;Rustowska 2022). A major pool of the element is allocated in the aboveground biomass, in the branches and foliage (Ukonmaanaho et al 2008;Gawęda et al 2014;Novák et al 2017). The silver birch litterfall in the studied stands contained 1.05-1.68 g kg −1 P, and leaves were the richest source of the element among the litterfall fractions, followed by flowers and seeds (Table 4, Supplementary material).…”

“…Nutrient distribution is uneven in tree organs, usually reaching their highest contents in the leaves, followed by the fine roots or bark, with the lowest in the stemwood (Rustowska 2022). According to Gawęda et al (2014), the nutrient allocation in a 12-year-old silver birch stand was 543.41 kg ha −1 N, 60.03 kg ha −1 P, 186.42 kg ha −1 K, 220.40 kg ha −1 Ca, and 50.48 kg ha −1 magnesium (Mg) in the aboveground biomass, and 59. 67, 13.44, 33.09, 40.55, and 6.39 kg ha −1 in the roots, respectively.…”