Role of position within the windthrow in forest floor chemistry in the flysch zone of the Carpathians

Abstract

A hypothesis was verified that forest floor chemistry varies according to position within the windthrow (mound, pit, or control). A parallel assessment was made of differences in the chemistry of horizons and their forms. A total number of 1720 windthrows were studied in the fir–beech primeval forest in the flysch zone of the Western Carpathians. A total of 100 samples were taken on three positions from the following horizons and their forms (in brackets): litter, fermented (amphigenous, zoogenous, or mycogenous), humification (unresolved, zoogenous, residues, or humic), and mineral. A random sampling eliminated the effect of correlation between the horizons and positions. Parameters assessed were Q4/6, HA/FA, C-forms, total N, P, K, and Mg contents, soil reaction, and cation-exchange capacity. The positions exhibited a significant difference in the forest floor chemistry even at a level of horizon forms. The position’s significance decreased with the horizon depth. Organic horizons in the pit, in particular, exhibited the lowest content of total humic substances, fulvic acids, and the lowest colour coefficient values. However, the mineral horizon showed no significant differences between the positions within the windthrow. Compared with other humus types, the decomposing wood mass did not exhibit a different ratio of humic and fulvic acids.