Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis
Drought-sensitive European beech forests are increasingly challenged by climate change. Admixing other, preferably more deep-rooting, tree species has been proposed to increase the resilience of beech forests to drought. This diversification of beech forests might also affect soil organic carbon (SO...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.606669/full |
| _version_ | 1818611611010596864 |
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| author | Stephanie Rehschuh Mathieu Jonard Martin Wiesmeier Heinz Rennenberg Michael Dannenmann |
| author_facet | Stephanie Rehschuh Mathieu Jonard Martin Wiesmeier Heinz Rennenberg Michael Dannenmann |
| author_sort | Stephanie Rehschuh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drought-sensitive European beech forests are increasingly challenged by climate change. Admixing other, preferably more deep-rooting, tree species has been proposed to increase the resilience of beech forests to drought. This diversification of beech forests might also affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks that are relevant for a wide range of soil functions and ecosystem services, such as water and nutrient retention, filter functions and erosion control. Since information of these effects is scattered, our aim was to synthesize results from studies that compared SOC/TN stocks of beech monocultures with those of beech stands mixed with other tree species as well as monocultures of other tree species. We conducted a meta-analysis including 38 studies with 203, 220, and 160 observations for forest floor (i.e., the organic surface layer), mineral soil (0.5 m depth) and the total soil profile, respectively. Monoculture conifer stands had higher SOC stocks compared to monoculture beech in general, especially in the forest floor (up to 200% in larch forests). In contrast, other broadleaved tree species (oak, ash, lime, maple, hornbeam) showed lower SOC stocks in the forest floor compared to beech, with little impact on total SOC stocks. Comparing mixed beech-conifer stands (average mixing ratio with regard to number of trees 50:50) with beech monocultures revealed significantly higher total SOC stocks of around 9% and a smaller increase in TN stocks of around 4%. This equaled a SOC accrual of 0.1 Mg ha−1 yr−1. In contrast, mixed beech-broadleaved stands did not show significant differences in total SOC stocks. Conifer admixture effects on beech forest SOC were of additive nature. Admixing other tree species to beech monoculture stands was most effective to increase SOC stocks on low carbon soils with a sandy texture and nitrogen limitation (i.e., a high C/N ratio and low nitrogen deposition). We conclude that, with targeted admixture measures of coniferous species, an increase in SOC stocks in beech forests can be achieved as part of the necessary adaptation of beech forests to climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:33:04Z |
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| id | doaj.art-689d02963f7a42b994cd95bdff17fd5b |
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| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:33:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj.art-689d02963f7a42b994cd95bdff17fd5b2022-12-21T22:26:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2021-02-01410.3389/ffgc.2021.606669606669Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-AnalysisStephanie Rehschuh0Mathieu Jonard1Martin Wiesmeier2Heinz Rennenberg3Michael Dannenmann4Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research–Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GermanyEarth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumChair of Soil Sciences, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, GermanyChair of Tree Physiology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyInstitute of Meteorology and Climate Research–Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GermanyDrought-sensitive European beech forests are increasingly challenged by climate change. Admixing other, preferably more deep-rooting, tree species has been proposed to increase the resilience of beech forests to drought. This diversification of beech forests might also affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks that are relevant for a wide range of soil functions and ecosystem services, such as water and nutrient retention, filter functions and erosion control. Since information of these effects is scattered, our aim was to synthesize results from studies that compared SOC/TN stocks of beech monocultures with those of beech stands mixed with other tree species as well as monocultures of other tree species. We conducted a meta-analysis including 38 studies with 203, 220, and 160 observations for forest floor (i.e., the organic surface layer), mineral soil (0.5 m depth) and the total soil profile, respectively. Monoculture conifer stands had higher SOC stocks compared to monoculture beech in general, especially in the forest floor (up to 200% in larch forests). In contrast, other broadleaved tree species (oak, ash, lime, maple, hornbeam) showed lower SOC stocks in the forest floor compared to beech, with little impact on total SOC stocks. Comparing mixed beech-conifer stands (average mixing ratio with regard to number of trees 50:50) with beech monocultures revealed significantly higher total SOC stocks of around 9% and a smaller increase in TN stocks of around 4%. This equaled a SOC accrual of 0.1 Mg ha−1 yr−1. In contrast, mixed beech-broadleaved stands did not show significant differences in total SOC stocks. Conifer admixture effects on beech forest SOC were of additive nature. Admixing other tree species to beech monoculture stands was most effective to increase SOC stocks on low carbon soils with a sandy texture and nitrogen limitation (i.e., a high C/N ratio and low nitrogen deposition). We conclude that, with targeted admixture measures of coniferous species, an increase in SOC stocks in beech forests can be achieved as part of the necessary adaptation of beech forests to climate change.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.606669/fulltree speciesmixed forestsforest managementcarbon storagereview |
| spellingShingle | Stephanie Rehschuh Mathieu Jonard Martin Wiesmeier Heinz Rennenberg Michael Dannenmann Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Forests and Global Change tree species mixed forests forest management carbon storage review |
| title | Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Impact of European Beech Forest Diversification on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks–A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | impact of european beech forest diversification on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks a meta analysis |
| topic | tree species mixed forests forest management carbon storage review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.606669/full |
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