Simulated soil temperature and moisture at a clearcutting in central Sweden

Abstract

Soil water and temperature measurements were made at a clearcutting in Jädraås, central Sweden, to give appropriate information for nutrient flow calculations and soil biological research. Compared to uncovered plots, slash‐covered plots were 1–2°C colder and had 3–6 volume percent higher water content in the 5 cm thick humus‐layer during the growing season following cutting. Relative to air, soil temperatures became warmer at both treatments during the second season and differences between uncovered and covered plots decreased. Tension dynamics in the mineral soil was most pronounced in uncovered plots, especially during the first dry growing season. The physically based model, SOIL, was used to analyse these observations and to estimate the effects of clearcutting. Simulated snow and frost depths, soil temperatures, water contents and tensions as well as ground water table were compared with measured data during a period of one to four years. Physical parameter values were estimated from independent measurements and by subjective optimization. Simulated soil water dynamics revealed the importance of hysteresis and vapour flows in sandy forest soils. The hydrological clearcutting effect as estimated from mature Scots pine evapotranspiration properties showed a 50% reduction of evapotranspiration, an increased soil water storage (0–1 m) of up to 120 mm and an increased percolation of 125 mm per year.