Abstract
The effect of wood ash (WA) fertilisation on chemical and biological properties of forest floor layers was studied in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand in the central part of Slovakia at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level. In the forest floor, litter (OL), fragmented (OF), and humic (OH) horizons with average thickness of 1.5, 2, and 4 cm, respectively, could be distinguished. Three replicates of two wood ash treatments (3 and 6 t·ha−1) and a control were established in the autumn of 2012. Soil samples from OL, OF, OH and A-horizon were taken 0.5, 1, 6 and 12 months after the WA application. In soil samples chemical (pH, C and N content, C:N ratio, concentration of exchangeable Ca, Mg and K) and microbial properties (basal respiration, catalase activity, structure of microbial community based on BIOLOG assay) were determined. Our results showed that the changes in microbial and chemical properties do not occur simultaneously in particular horizons. WA application in autumn lead to a significant increase in pH, base cation concentration, and distinct losses in C and N content in the OL layer in the first month; however, at the beginning of the vegetation period, the most pronounced effect of WA was observed in OF and especially OH horizons; no changes were found in the A-horizon. Different properties of particular forest floor horizons led to a vertical stratification of the microbial community. Each forest floor horizon had particular properties, leading to a vertical stratification of the microbial community; deeper horizons had more homogenous functional groups.
Highlights
Forest floor (FF) is a typical component of undisturbed forest soils consisting mainly of dead organic matter in a different stages of decomposition
Based on on existing studies, it is known that thethat mostthe prominent (temporary) consequence consequence of wood ash (WA) application is an increase of base cation content, resulting in a decrease of soil of WA application is an increase of base cation content, resulting in a decrease of soil acidity
WA application in autumn led to a significant increase in pH, base cation concentration, and distinct losses in C and N content in the OL layer in the first month; at the beginning of the vegetation period, the most pronounced effect of WA was observed in the OF and especially the OH horizon, which means that more appropriate conditions appear there due to less acidity and more available nutrients for plant roots or seedlings
Summary
Forest floor (FF) is a typical component of undisturbed forest soils consisting mainly of dead organic matter in a different stages of decomposition. It has an important effect on the hydrological characteristics of a site. It represents an important part of the forest ecosystem from the point of view of maintaining the element cycle in forest ecosystems and preserving their stability. Within FF, several layers can often be recognized representing a gradient of decomposition, differing in their morphological and physico-chemical properties
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