Development of ground vegetation biomass and nutrient pools in a clear-cut disc-plowed boreal forest

Abstract

Nutrient leaching from forest substrate after clear-cutting and subsequent soil preparation is strongly influenced by the capacity of ground vegetation to sequester the released nutrients. We studied the rates and patterns of biomass and nutrient accumulation in ground vegetation growing on ridges, in furrows and on undisturbed surfaces for 2–5 years after disc-plowing in eastern Finland. The biomass of mosses on ridges remained significantly lower than that in furrows and on undisturbed surfaces. Field layer biomass on ridges and in furrows was significantly lower than on undisturbed surfaces throughout the study period. Field layer biomass increased more on ridges than in furrows. Root biomass on ridges and undisturbed surfaces was considerably higher than in furrows. Five years after disc-plowing, total biomass and nutrient pools for ridges (biomass 4,975 kg ha−1, N 40 kg ha−1, P 5 kg ha−1, K 20 kg ha−1 and Ca 18 kg ha−1) and undisturbed surfaces (biomass 5,613 kg ha−1, N 43 kg ha−1, P 5 kg ha−1, K 22 kg ha−1 and Ca 18 kg ha−1) were similar, but considerably lower for furrows (biomass 1,807 kg ha−1, N 16 kg ha−1, P 2 kg ha−1, K 10 kg ha−1 and Ca 6 kg ha−1). Ridges covered 25% of the area, furrows 30 and 45% was undisturbed surfaces. Taking into account the proportion of each type of surface, values for the whole prepared clear-cut area were 4,312, 34, 4, 18 and 14 kg ha−1 for biomass, N, P, K and Ca, respectively. Biomass and nutrient pools had not returned to uncut forest levels at the end of the 5-year study period. The results indicate that mosses and field layer vegetation respond differently to soil preparation, that the development of biomass on ridges, in furrows and on undisturbed surfaces proceeds at different rates, and that the biomass and nutrient uptake of ground vegetation remains below pre-site preparation levels for several years. However, ridges, which are known to be the most susceptible to leaching, revegetate rapidly.