Abstract
The wood of dead trees is an essential element of the forest ecosystem, as it affects the characteristics of forest soil properties. The present study aimed to determine the influence of dead alder and aspen wood in various stages of decomposition on the physical properties of forest soil. The study was carried out in the area of the Czarna Rózga reserve in central Poland. Alder and aspen logs in third, fourth, and fifth decay classes were selected for the study. Wood and soil samples under the direct influence of wood and soil samples without the influence of deadwood were collected for laboratory analyses. Physical properties of the soil samples, such as bulk density, moisture, porosity, field capacity, and air capacity were analyzed. Water repellency (WR) was also determined. Our study confirmed that decomposing wood influenced the physical properties of forest soil. Organic matter released from decomposing wood penetrates the soil and alters its physical properties. By releasing organic matter from deadwood, it is possible to stimulate the formation of soil aggregates, improve soil porosity, and significantly increase the number of micropores, which results in the retention of more water in the soil.
Highlights
Deadwood is a source of biodiversity and is an important element of the ecosystem that positively affects the physical, chemical, and biochemical properties of soil [1,2]
The findings demonstrate an increase in lignin content in the subsequent decay classes (Table 4)
Leaving dead trees in the forest ecosystem is justified in terms of its impact on the physical properties of the soil
Summary
Deadwood is a source of biodiversity and is an important element of the ecosystem that positively affects the physical, chemical, and biochemical properties of soil [1,2]. Wood from dead and fallen trees left in the ecosystem serves as the habitat of fungi, insects, and microorganisms, and it functions as a reservoir of nutrients [3]. Fungi are the dominant agents of wood decomposition, it has long been known that bacteria inhabit deadwood [4]. Spongy structure, deadwood constitutes an extremely rich reservoir of water [5], originating both from precipitation and produced directly in the wood through the metabolic processes of bacteria and fungi [6]. Because lying deadwood has direct contact with the soil, soil microorganisms enter the wood and participate in the process of wood decomposition. The chemical, Forests 2020, 11, 24; doi:10.3390/f11010024 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests
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