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The effects of understorey dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) removal on soil fertility in a Betula ermanii forest of northern Japan

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Ecological Research

Abstract

We investigated the changes in soil microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN) and N mineralization in Sasa kurilensis-present (SP) and S. kurilensis-removed (SR) stands in a Betula ermanii forest. The mean levels of MBC and MBN were significantly higher in the SR stand than in the SP, which may have positively influenced the N-mineralization rate as depicted by a significant positive correlation between these variables and the N-mineralization rate. N immobilization and subsequent N release along with decreased use of available soil N due to S. kurilensis removal may have ensured greater N availability in the SR stand.

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Acknowledgements

We thank two anonymous reviewers for generous comments, Mr Takashi Kuboi for his help with the soil analysis in the laboratory and the staff of the Uryu Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University for their support in the field. The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University and JSPS authorities are thankfully acknowledged for providing financial support. Part of this research has been supported by CREST of the Japan Science and Technology Agency: Parameterization of the Relationships between the Water Cycle System and Plant Eco-physiological Properties in Boreal Forest Areas (R&D of Hydrological Modelling and Water Resources). S. K. T. thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for granting leave to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Shri Kant Tripathi

  2. The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0819, Japan

    Shri Kant Tripathi, Akihiro Sumida, Kiyomi Ono & Toshihiko Hara

  3. Northern Forestry and Development Office, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 250 Tokuda, Nayoro 096-0071, Japan

    Hideaki Shibata & Shigeru Uemura

  4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Koichi Takahashi

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  1. Shri Kant Tripathi
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  2. Akihiro Sumida
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  3. Kiyomi Ono
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  4. Hideaki Shibata
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  5. Shigeru Uemura
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  7. Toshihiko Hara
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Correspondence to Shri Kant Tripathi.

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Tripathi, S.K., Sumida, A., Ono, K. et al. The effects of understorey dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) removal on soil fertility in a Betula ermanii forest of northern Japan. Ecol Res 21, 315–320 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0119-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0119-9

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