Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands
Natural treefall gaps have a substantial role in maintaining soil and plant diversity in old-growth forests. However, the amount of information on the effects of gaps on the recovery of physical and chemical properties of compacted soils is scarce. We tested the hypothesis that natural treefall gaps...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF)
2021-08-01
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| Series: | iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry |
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| Online Access: | https://iforest.sisef.org/contents/?id=ifor3432-014 |
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| author | Jourgholami M Feghhi J Tavankar F Latterini F Venanzi R Picchio R |
| author_facet | Jourgholami M Feghhi J Tavankar F Latterini F Venanzi R Picchio R |
| author_sort | Jourgholami M |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural treefall gaps have a substantial role in maintaining soil and plant diversity in old-growth forests. However, the amount of information on the effects of gaps on the recovery of physical and chemical properties of compacted soils is scarce. We tested the hypothesis that natural treefall gaps accelerate the restoration of compacted soil by enhancing biological and microbial activity in the topsoil after a period of five years. Five years after a ground-based skidding operation in the Hyrcanian forest, the recovery levels of soil properties were compared among different treatments including natural canopy gaps with an area of 200 m2 (NCG), clear-cuts with an area of 1600 m2 (CC), disturbed trails under a dense canopy (DDC), and an undisturbed area (UND) as control. The lowest soil bulk density (1.07 g cm-3), penetration resistance (1.11 MPa), and the highest macroporosity (36.3%), and sand content (14.4%) among treatments were recorded for the NCG followed by DDC and CC treatments. Significantly lower values of soil pH, and electric conductivity and the highest values of soil organic C, total N, available P, K, Ca, and Mg were detected under the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments, as compared to the UND area. The highest values of earthworm density and dry mass, and soil microbial respiration were found in the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments. Fine root biomass was significantly higher in the UND area (92.27 g m-2) followed by the DDC, NCG and CC treatments. We can conclude that the effects of gap size on the recovery values of compacted soil were significant in terms of greater nutrient availability and higher earthworm density and dry mass, suggesting that mimicking natural canopy gap was more effective than the clear-cut gap (CC) for the resilience of the forest stand in the restoration of soil quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:00:13Z |
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| id | doaj.art-c0caf4a440a54824920c8fdfd82ac69c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1971-7458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:00:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0caf4a440a54824920c8fdfd82ac69c2022-12-21T22:12:45ZengItalian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF)iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry1971-74582021-08-0114137037710.3832/ifor3432-0143432Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) standsJourgholami M0Feghhi J1Tavankar F2Latterini F3Venanzi R4Picchio R5Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Alborz, Karaj - IranDepartment of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Alborz, Karaj - IranDepartment of Forestry, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University - IranConsiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria - CREA, Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, v. della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo 00015, RM - ItalyDepartment of agricultural and forest sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo - ItalyDepartment of agricultural and forest sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo - ItalyNatural treefall gaps have a substantial role in maintaining soil and plant diversity in old-growth forests. However, the amount of information on the effects of gaps on the recovery of physical and chemical properties of compacted soils is scarce. We tested the hypothesis that natural treefall gaps accelerate the restoration of compacted soil by enhancing biological and microbial activity in the topsoil after a period of five years. Five years after a ground-based skidding operation in the Hyrcanian forest, the recovery levels of soil properties were compared among different treatments including natural canopy gaps with an area of 200 m2 (NCG), clear-cuts with an area of 1600 m2 (CC), disturbed trails under a dense canopy (DDC), and an undisturbed area (UND) as control. The lowest soil bulk density (1.07 g cm-3), penetration resistance (1.11 MPa), and the highest macroporosity (36.3%), and sand content (14.4%) among treatments were recorded for the NCG followed by DDC and CC treatments. Significantly lower values of soil pH, and electric conductivity and the highest values of soil organic C, total N, available P, K, Ca, and Mg were detected under the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments, as compared to the UND area. The highest values of earthworm density and dry mass, and soil microbial respiration were found in the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments. Fine root biomass was significantly higher in the UND area (92.27 g m-2) followed by the DDC, NCG and CC treatments. We can conclude that the effects of gap size on the recovery values of compacted soil were significant in terms of greater nutrient availability and higher earthworm density and dry mass, suggesting that mimicking natural canopy gap was more effective than the clear-cut gap (CC) for the resilience of the forest stand in the restoration of soil quality.https://iforest.sisef.org/contents/?id=ifor3432-014Canopy Gap AreaTimber ExtractionSkid TrailsSoil CompactionForest Soil RecoveryEarthworm |
| spellingShingle | Jourgholami M Feghhi J Tavankar F Latterini F Venanzi R Picchio R Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry Canopy Gap Area Timber Extraction Skid Trails Soil Compaction Forest Soil Recovery Earthworm |
| title | Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands |
| title_full | Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands |
| title_fullStr | Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands |
| title_short | Short-term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands |
| title_sort | short term effects in canopy gap area on the recovery of compacted soil caused by forest harvesting in old growth oriental beech fagus orientalis lipsky stands |
| topic | Canopy Gap Area Timber Extraction Skid Trails Soil Compaction Forest Soil Recovery Earthworm |
| url | https://iforest.sisef.org/contents/?id=ifor3432-014 |
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