Abstract
Changes in soil chemical and microbiological parameters in small (185 m2) and medium (410 m2) gaps, created in mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill) stands (mean height 30 m) in the Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy), were studied over 2 years. Medium gaps had high soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and low soil moisture. Within small gaps we detected a greater amount of organic matter, with respect to under canopy cover sites and medium gaps. Moreover, a different trend of the organic matter between small and medium gaps was observed. In the medium gaps, with respect to under canopy cover sites and small gaps, we found a relatively low content of organic matter, associated to a lower amount of humic acid, which suggested that the organic substrate undergoes a mineralization rather than a humification process. An opposite trend was observed in small gaps, where the increase of organic matter content, associated to an increase of humic acid and microbial biomass, suggested a better humification process. Moreover, in small gaps the highest level of urease and the greatest fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis were observed. The different trend of organic matter observed in small and medium gaps may be related to changes in the environmental conditions. PAR transmittance, significantly higher in medium gaps, contributed to increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture, affecting soil microbial populations and organic matter trend. These results suggest that the creation of small gaps represents the silvicultural practice with minor environmental impact.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adam G, Duncan H (2001) Development of a sensitive and rapid method for the measurement of total microbial activity using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) in a range of soils. Soil Biol Biochem 33:943–951
Amador JA, Glucksman AM, Lyons JB, Gorres JH (1997) Spatial distribution of soil phosphatase activity within a riparian forest. Soil Sci 162:808–825
Arunachalam A, Arunachalam K (2000) Influence of gap size and soil properties on microbial biomass in a subtropical humid forest of north-east India. Plant Soil 223:185–193
Arunachalam A, Maithani K, Pandey HN, Tripathi RS (1996) The impact of disturbance on detrital dynamics and soil microbial biomass of a Pinus kesiya forest in north-east India. For Ecol Manag 88:273–282
Barbagallo C, Brullo S, Furnari F, Longhitano N, Signorello (1982) Studio fitosociologico e cartografia della vegetazione (1:25.000) del territorio di Serra S. Bruno (Calabria). In: C.N.R. Collana Programma Finalizzato “Promozione della Qualità dell’Ambiente”, Roma, pp 1–19
Bengtsson J, Nilsson SG, Franc A, Menozzi P (2000) Biodiversity, disturbances, ecosystem function and management of European forests. For Ecol Manag 132:39–50
Bettany JR, Saggar S, Stewart JWB (1980) Comparison of the amount and forms of sulphur in soil organic matter fractions after 65 years of cultivation. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:70–75
Blondel J, Aronson J (1995) Biodiversity and ecosystem function in the Mediterranean basin: human, non-human determinants. In: Davis GW, Richardson DM (eds) Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 42–120
Bouyoucos GJ (1962) Hydrometer method improved for making particle-size analyses of soils. Agron J 54:464–465
Bremner JM, Mulvaney CS (1982) Nitrogen—total. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 595–624
Cambardella CA, Elliot ET (1992) Particulate organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:777–783
Chen Y, Aviad T (1990) Effects of humic substances on plant growth. In: McCarthy P, Clapp CE, Malcolm RL, Bloom PR (eds) Humic substances in soil and crop sciences: selected readings. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America, Madison
Christensen BT (2001) Physical fractionation of soil and organic matter in primary particle size and density separates. Adv Soil Sci 20:1–76
Coates KD, Burton PJ (1997) A gas-based approach of development of silvicultural system to address ecosystem management objectives. For Ecol Manag 99:337–354
Denslow JS (1980) Patterns of plant species diversity during succession under different disturbance regimes. Oecologia 46:18–21
Donnison LM, Griffith GS, Hedger J, Hobbs PJ, Bardgett RD (2000) Management influences on soil microbial communities and their function in botanically diverse haymeadows of northern England and Wales. Soil Biol Biochem 32:253–263
FAO (1997) Situation des forêts du monde. World Publications, Oxford
Gagnon JL, Jokela EJ, Moser WK, Huber DA (2003) Dynamics of artificial regeneration in gaps within a longleaf pine flatwoods ecosystem. For Ecol Manag 172:133–144
García C, Hernández T (1996) Biological and biochemical indicators in derelict soils subject to erosion. Soil Biol Biochem 29:171–177
García C, Hernández T, Costa F (1994) Microbial activity in soil under Mediterranean environmental conditions. Soil Biol Biochem 26:1185–1193
Hartshorn GS (1978) Tree falls and tropical forest dynamics. In: Tomlinson PB, Zimmermann MH (eds) Tropical trees as living system. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 617–638
Jha DK, Shanna GD, Mishra RR (1992) Soil microbial population number and enzyme activities in relation to altitude and forest degradation. Soil Biol Biochem 24:761–767
Johnson LF, Curl EA (1972) Methods for the research on ecology of soil-borne plant pathology. Plant pathogens. Burges Publishing, Minneapolis
Kandler E, Gerber H (1988) Short-term assay of soil urease activity using colorimetric determination of ammonium. Biol Fertil Soils 6:68–72
Keeley JE, Swift CC (1995) Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Mediterranean-climate California. In: Davis GW, Richardson DM (eds) Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 120–184
Kramer S, Green DM (2000) Acid and alkaline phosphatase dynamics and their relationship to soil microclimate in a semiarid woodland. Soil Biol Biochem 32:179–188
Larson WE, Pierce FJ (1994) The dynamics of soil quality as a measure of sustainable management. In: Doran JW (ed) Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. ASA, SSSA, Madison, pp 37–51
Mehlich A (1953) Rapid determination of cation and anion exchange properties and pH of soils. J Assoc Off Agric Chem 36:445–457
Mitchell AK (2001) Growth limitations for conifer regeneration under alternative silvicultural system in a coastal montane forest in British Columbia, Canada. For Ecol Manag 145:129–136
Nardi S, Pizzeghello D, Muscolo A, Vianello A (2002) Physiological effects of humic substances on higher plants. Soil Biol Biochem 34:1527–1536
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 539–579
Raubuch M, Joergensen RG (2002) C and net N mineralization in a coniferous forest soil: the contribution of the temporal variability of microbial biomass C and N. Soil Biol Biochem 34:841–849
Riddoch I, Lehto T, Grace J (1991) Photosynthesis of tropical tree seedlings in relation to light and nutrient supply. New Phytol 85:137–147
Scarascia-Mugnozza G, Hoswald H, Piussi P, Radoglou K (2000) Forests of the Mediterranean region: gaps in knowledge and research needs. For Ecol Manag 132:97–109
Soil Survey Staff (2003) Keys to soil taxonomy, 9th edn. USDA, Natural Res. Conserv. Serv. US Govt Print Office, Washington
Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1969) Biometry, 1st edn. Freeman, San Francisco
Stevenson FJ (1991) Organic matter–micronutrient reactions in soil. In: Mortvedt JJ, Cox FR, Shuman LM, Welch RM (eds) Micronutrients in agriculture. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 145–186
Tabatabai MA (1982) Soil enzymes. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analyses. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 491–515
Taylor BR, Parkinson D, Parson WFJ (1989) Nitrogen and lignin content as predictors of lignin decay rates. A microcosm test. Ecology 70:97–104
Van der Meer PJ, Bongers F, Chatrou L, Riera B (1994) Defining canopy gaps in a tropical rain forest: effects on gap size and turnover time. Acta Oecol 15:701–714
Waksman SA (1952) Soil microbiology. Wiley, New York
Wright EF, Coates KD, Bartemucci P (1998) Regeneration from seed of six tree species in the interior cedar-hemlock forests of British Columbia as affected by substrate and canopy gap position. Can J For Res 28:1352–1370
Zhang R, Wienhold BJ (2002) The effect of soil moisture on mineral nitrogen, soil electrical conductivity, and pH. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 63:251–254
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Regione Calabria—Research Project: “La rinaturalizzazione dei rimboschimenti di conifere in Calabria” (2003). The authors thank: Dr. Antonio Poletto, Azienda Agraria “S. Maria” Serra San Bruno (VV); Prof. S. Nardi, University of Padua, and Prof. G. Corti, University “Politecnica” of Marche, for critical reading of the manuscript; and Ms. A. Cummins for revising the language.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Hans Pretzsch
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Muscolo, A., Sidari, M. & Mercurio, R. Variations in soil chemical properties and microbial biomass in artificial gaps in silver fir stands. Eur J Forest Res 126, 59–65 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-006-0145-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-006-0145-3