Soil aspects of forest site revitalization after windrow cultivation by heavy mechanization on theKrušnéhoryMts.Plateau

Abstract

The reflection of soil properties in the health condition of forest stands is connected with synergy of stressors that influence the forest existence. In the Krušné hory Mts. (Czech Republic, Europe) methods of full-area site mechanized preparation before reforestation were applied on existing ecotopes of the air polluted clear-cut area and the uniform relief of windrows was established. The hypothesis whether the soil in the windrows could be directly used for local cultivations as a substrate suitable for forest tree species growth was examined. The influence of three machines (digger, bulldozer and cultivator) used for the windrow cultivation was monitored in relation to soil properties. The state of the properties of prepared sites was compared with retained windrows and control plots with scarification. The effects of mechanized soil preparation before reforestation were different according to the concrete ecological factors of the given sites. The influences of individual means of mechanization on concrete soil properties were determined as locally differentiated. The windrow cultivation led to an increase in cation exchange capacity (CEC) especially due to an increase in Ca<sup>2+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> content. Locally it led to the stabilization of N-NH<sub>4</sub> content. The optimization of soil physical properties was connected with the state of C<sub>ox</sub>. The mechanized windrow cultivation did not optimize either C/N ratio or maximum capillary capacity (Θ<sub>MCC</sub>) or porosity (p). The mechanized windrow cultivation in the conditions of decreased air pollution load generally appears as a good technology for revitalization of degraded sites because it provided more optimal trophic conditions for the forest tree species growth than windrows or sites with completed scarification.