Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Green alder improves chemical properties of forest floor and topsoil in formerly air-polluted mountains

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Forest Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although air pollution at the Central European “Black Triangle” sites has decreased since the 1990s, its legacy has persisted. Unlike the dominating Norway spruce that was planted again in order to restore forest cover, deciduous broadleaves were expected to improve soil. The objective of the study was to compare effect of N-fixing green alder on forest floor and soil properties compared to Norway spruce of comparable age. Forest floor layers [diagnostic horizons: litter (OL), fermentation (OF) and humified (OH)] and topsoil (A) were sampled in three replicates where green alder (GA), Norway spruce (NS), and mixture (GA + NS) were growing. Upper (OL, OF) horizons were affected positively where green alders were present and effect on OH and A horizons was weaker. Properties of GA + NS were in general intermediate to GA and NS. The improvement in soil was manifested by higher nutrient pools of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in both OL and OF; more dry matter, organic carbon and higher cation exchange capacity were shown in OF and lower acidity in all analyzed horizons. Lower P concentrations were found in GA, nevertheless with no effect on P-pools. Forest floor and topsoil conditions confirmed green alder’s capability for improving chemistry of the formerly polluted mountain soil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Balcar V (1998) Vývoj výsadeb lesních dřevin ve smrkovém vegetačním stupni v Jizerských horách: development of forest tree plantations in the spruce zone in the Jizer hory Mts. In: Zesz. Naukowe Akad. Rol. im H. Kollątaja w Krakowie. Nr. 332. Ses. Naukowa Zesz. vol 56, pp 259–271. (Czech text with captioned tables, figures and English summary)

  • Balcar V (2005) Olše zelená a borovice blatka v Jizerských horách: green alder and bog pine in Jizerské Mountains. Lesn Práce 84(4):178–180 (in Czech)

    Google Scholar 

  • Balcar V, Podrázský V (1994) Založení výsadbového pokusu v hřebenové partii Jizerských hor: establishment of a tree planting experiment in the ridge part of the Jizerské hory Mts. Rep For Res: Zpr Lesn 39(2):1–7 (Czech text with English abstract and captioned tables, figures)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatti JS, Foster NW, Hazlett PW (1998) Fine root biomass and nutrient content in a black spruce peat soil with and without alder. Can J Soil Sci 78(1):163–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (1986) Forest nutrition management. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (1995) The influence of tree species on forest soils: processes and patterns. In: Mead DJ, Cornfort IS (eds) Proceedings of the trees and soil workshop. Lincoln University, 28 February–2 March 1994. Agronomy Society of New Zealand special publication no. 10, Canterbury, Lincoln University Press, pp 1–33

  • Binkley D (2003) Seven decades of stand development in mixed and pure stands of conifers and nitrogen-fixing red alder. Can J For Res 33(11):2274–2279

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (2005) How nitrogen-fixing trees change soil carbon, chapter 8. In: Binkley D, Menyailo O (eds) Tree species effects on soils: implications for global change. NATO science series. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 155–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D, Giardina Ch (1998) Why do tree species affect soils? The warp and woof of tree–soil interactions. Biogeochemistry 42:89–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D, Sollins P, Bell R, Sachs D, Myrold D (1992) Biogeochemistry of adjacent conifer and alder–conifer ecosystems. Ecology 73:2022–2033

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borůvka L, Podrázský V, Mládková L, Kuneš I, Drábek O (2006) Some approaches to the research of forest soils affected by acidification in the Czech Republic. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 51(5):745–749

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun S, Thomas VFD, Quiring R, Flückiger W (2010) Does nitrogen deposition increase forest production? The role of phosphorus. Environ Pollut 158(6):2043–2052

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brockley RP, Sanborn P (2003) Effects of Sitka alder on the growth and foliar nutrition of young lodgepole pine in the central interior of British Columbia. Can J For Res 33(9):1761–1771

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown KR, Courtin PJ (2003) Effects of phosphorus fertilization and liming on growth, mineral nutrition and gas exchange of Alnus rubra seedlings grown in soils from mature alluvial Alnus stands. Can J For Res 33(11):2089–2096

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown KR, Courtin PJ (2007) Phosphorus additions increase the early growth of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) on Vancouver Island. West J Appl For 22(2):116–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Bühlmann T, Körner Ch, Hiltbrunner E (2016) Shrub expansion of Alnus viridis drives former montane grassland into nitrogen saturation. Ecosystems 19:968–985

    Google Scholar 

  • Callahan MK, Whigham DF, Rains MC, Rains KC, King RS, Walker CM, Maurer JR, Baird SJ (2017) Nitrogen subsidies from hillslope alder stands to streamside wetlands and headwater streams, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. J Am Water Resour Assoc 53(2):478–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Callender KL, Roy S, Khasa DP, Whyte LG, Greer C (2016) Actinorhizal alder phytostabilization alters microbial community dynamics in gold mine waste rock from Northern Quebec: a greenhouse study. PLoS ONE 11(2):e0150181. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Carnol M, Bazgir M (2013) Nutrient return to the forest floor through litter and throughfall under 7 forest species after conversion from Norway spruce. For Ecol Manag 309:66–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin FS, Conway AJ, Johnstone JF, Hollingsworth TN, Hollingsworth J (2016) Absence of net long-term successional facilitation by alder in a boreal Alaska floodplain. Ecology 97(11):2986–2997

    Google Scholar 

  • Chodak M, Niklińska M (2010) The effect of different tree species on the chemical and microbial properties of reclaimed mine soils. Biol Fertil Soils 46:555–566

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cools N, De Vos B (2010) Sampling and analysis of soil. manual part X, 208 p. In: Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests, UNECE, ICP Forests, Hamburg. http://www.icp-forests.org/Manual.htm

  • Cortini F, Comeau P (2008) Evaluation of competitive effects of green alder, willow and other tall shrubs on white spruce and lodgepole pine in Northern Alberta. For Ecol Manag 255(1):82–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Deal RL, Orlikowska EH, D’Amore DV, Hennon PE (2017) Red alder-conifer stands in Alaska: an example of mixed species management to enhance structural and biological complexity. Forests 8:131. https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmonds RL, Tuttle KM (2010) Red alder leaf decomposition and nutrient release in alder and conifer riparian patches in western Washington, USA. For Ecol Manag 259(12):2375–2381

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández JLF, Wilpert KV, Schäffer J, Hartmann P (2015) Growth and establishment of woody subsidiary plants for regeneration of compacted soils. Allg Forst Jagdztg 186(7/8):137–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Fottová D (2003) Trends in sulphur and nitrogen deposition fluxes in the GEOMON network, Czech Republic, between 1994 and 2000. Water Air Soil Pollut 150(1/4):73–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox J, Weisberg S (2011) An R companion to applied regression. Sage Publications, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  • Frelich LE, Hale CM, Scheu S, Holdsworth AR, Heneghan L, Bohlen PJ, Reich PB (2006) Earthworm invasion into previously earthworm-free temperate and boreal forests. Biol Invasions 8:1235–1245

    Google Scholar 

  • Frouz J, Pižl V, Cienciala E, Kalčík J (2009) Carbon storage in post-mining forest soil, the role of tree biomass and soil bioturbation. Biogeochemistry 94:111–121

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frouz J, Livečková M, Albrechtová J, Chroňáková A, Cajthaml T, Pižl V, Háněl L, Starý J, Baldrian P, Lhotáková Z, Šimáčková H, Cepáková Š (2013) Is the effect of trees on soil properties mediated by soil fauna? A case study from post-mining sites. For Ecol Manag 309(1):87–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Grotta AT, Gartner BL, Radosevich SR (2004) Influence of species proportion and timing of establishment on stem quality in mixed red alder: Douglas-fir plantations. Can J For Res 34(4):863–873

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins BJ, Jones MD, Kranabetter JM (2015) Ectomycorrhizae and tree seedling nitrogen nutrition in forest restoration. New Forest 46:747–771

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerabkova L, Prescott CE, Kishchuk BE (2006) Nitrogen availability in soil and forest floor of contrasting types of boreal mixedwood forests. Can J For Res 36(1):112–122

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kappen H (1929) Die Bodenazidität. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y-S, Yi M-J, Lee Y-Y, Kobayashi M, Son Y (2009) Estimation of carbon storage, carbon inputs, and soil CO2 efflux of alder plantations on granite soil in central Korea: comparison with Japanese larch plantation. Landsc Ecol Eng 5:157–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopáček J, Veselý J (2005) Sulfur and nitrogen emissions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from 1850 till 2000. Atmos Environ 39:2179–2188

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuneš I, Koňasová T, Balcar V, Baláš M, Zahradník D, Kacálek D, Vítámvás J, Jakl M, Jaklová DJ (2011) Growth response of Alnus viridis to application of crushed limestone and amphibolite and forestry potential of the species in harsh acidic mountain sites. J For Sci 57(5):200–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavery JM, Comeau P, Prescott CE (2004) The influence of red alder patches on light, litterfall, and soil nutrients in adjacent conifer stands. Can J For Res 34(1):56–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Lê S, Josse J, Husson F (2008) FactoMineR: an R package for multivariate analysis. J Stat Softw 25(1):1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Liao W, Menge DNL (2016) Demography of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing trees explains their rarity and successional decline in temperate forests in the United States. PLoS ONE 11(10):e0164522. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lomský B, Šrámek V, Novotný R (2012) Changes in the air pollution load in the Jizera Mts.: effects on the health status and mineral nutrition of the young Norway spruce stands. Eur J For Res 131:757–771

    Google Scholar 

  • Mareschal L, Bonnaud P, Turpault MP, Ranger J (2010) Impact of common European tree species on the physicochemical properties of fine earth: an unusual pattern. Eur J Soil Sci 61:14–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Materna J (1989) Air pollution and forestry in Czechoslovakia. Environ Monit Assess 12(3):227–235

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlich A (1984) Mehlich 3 soil test extractant: a modification of Mehlich 2 extractant. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 15:1409–1416

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer C, Lüscher P, Schulin R (2014) Recovery of forest soil from compaction in skid tracks planted with black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). Soil Tillage Res 43:7–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JS, Ruess RW (2009) N2 fixing alder (Alnus viridis spp. fruticosa) effects on soil properties across a secondary successional chronosequence in interior Alaska. Biogeochemistry 95:215–229

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myskow E, Błaś M, Sobik M, Godek M, Owczarek P (2019) The effect of pollutant fog deposition on the wood anatomy of subalpine Norway spruce. Eur J For Res 138:187–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Nitschke CR, Waeber PO, Klaassen JW, Dordel J, Innes JL, Aponte C (2017) Nutrient uptake and use efficiency in co-occurring plants along a disturbance and nutrient availability gradient in the boreal forests of the southwest Yukon, Canada. J Veg Sci 28:69–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlova MA, Lukina NV, Smirnov VE, Artemkina NA (2016) The influence of spruce on acidity and nutrient content in soils of northern taiga dwarf shrub–green moss spruce forests. Eurasian Soil Sci 49(11):1276–1287

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palviainen M, Finér L, Laiho R, Shorohova E, Kapitsa E, Vanha-Majamaa I (2010) Phosphorus and base cation accumulation and release patterns in decomposing Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch stumps. For Ecol Manag 260:1478–1489

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietrzykowski M, Krzaklewski W, Woś B (2015) Preliminary assessment of growth and survival of green alder (Alnus viridis), a potential biological stabilizer on fly ash disposal sites. J For Res 26(1):131–136

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Podrázský V, Ulbrichová I (2003) Soil chemistry changes in green alder [Alnus alnobetula (EHRH.) C. KOCH] stands in mountain areas. J For Sci 49:104–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Podrázský V, Ulbrichová I, Kuneš I, Folk J (2005) Green alder effects on the forest soils in higher elevations. J For Sci 51(Special Issue):38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott CE (2002) The influence of the forest canopy on nutrient cycling. Tree Physiol 22:1193–1200

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott CE (2010) Litter decomposition: what controls it and how can we alter it to sequester more carbon in forest soils? Biogeochemistry 101:133–149

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2017) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Radaei M, Izadi M (2016) Response of earthworm’s biomass and soil properties in different afforested type areas in the North Iran. Eurasian J Soil Sci 5(1):47–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautio P, Fürst A, Stefan K, Raitio H, Bartels U (2016) Part XII: sampling and analysis of needles and leaves. In: UNECE ICP Forests Programme Co-ordinating Centre (ed) Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems, Eberswalde, Germany. https://www.icp-forests.org/pdf/manual/2016/ICP_Manual_2017_01_part12.pdf. Assessed 31 May 2018

  • Rothe A, Binkley D (2001) Nutritional interactions in mixed species forests: A synthesis. Can J For Res 31(11):1855–1870

    Google Scholar 

  • Šach F, Černohous V (2009) Soil conservative and ameliorative effects of Alnus viridis. Rep For Res: Zpr Lesn Výzkumu 54(4):267–274 (Czech text with English abstract and captioned tables, figures)

    Google Scholar 

  • Šach F, Černohous V (2014) Assessment of the Norway spruce plantation growth on a mountain forest site disturbed by windrowing and ameliorated by green alder. Beskydy 7(2):107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanborn PT, Brockley RP (2009) Decomposition of pure and mixed foliage litter in a young lodgepole pine: Sitka alder stand in the central interior of British Columbia. Can J For Res 39(11):2257–2262

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sariyildiz T (2015) Effects of tree species and topography on fine and small root decomposition rates of three common tree species (Alnus glutinosa, Picea orientalis and Pinus sylvestris) in Turkey. For Ecol Manag 335:71–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Oren R (2012) Forest decline and air pollution: a study of spruce (Picea abies) on acid soils. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Simard SW, Radosevich SR, Sachs DL, Hagerman SM (2006) Evidence for competition and facilitation trade-offs: effects of Sitka alder density on pine regeneration and soil productivity. Can J For Res 36(5):1286–1298

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer JS, Munns DN (1996) Soils: an introduction. Prentice Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Slodičák M, Balcar V, Bednářová E, Borůvka L, Fadrhonsová V, Jurásek A, Hadaš P, Kacálek D, Kantor P, Kulasová A, Kulhavý J, Leube F, Lomský B, Matějka K, Mauer O, Navrátil P, Nárovec V, Novák J, Ostrovský J, Palátová E, Podrázský V, Rychnovská A, Řičář L, Skorupski M, Smejkal J, Souček J, Stoklasa M, Šach F, Šrámek V, Vacek S (2009) Forestry management in the Jizerské hory Mts, 2nd edn. Lesnická práce, Kostelec nad Černými lesy

    Google Scholar 

  • Šrámek V, Fadrhonsová V (2018) Comparison of nutrient stock in upper organic layer of pure European beech, Norway spruce and mixed forest stands of these species. Rep For Res: Zpr Lesn Výzkumu 63(1):61–72 (Czech text with English abstract and captioned tables, figures)

    Google Scholar 

  • Šrámek V, Slodičák M, Lomský B, Balcar V, Kulhavý J, Hadaš P, Pulkráb K, Šišák L, Pěnička L, Sloup M (2008) The ore mountains: will successive recovery of forests from lethal disease be successful? Mt Res Dev 28(3/4):216–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobita H, Yazaki K, Harayama H, Kitao M (2016) Responses of symbiotic N2 fixation in Alnus species to the projected elevated CO2 environment. Trees 30:523–537

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomaszewicz T, Chudecka J, Gamrat R, Stankowski S (2017) Suitability of soils developed on the basis of black coal ash as a forest habitat. Pol J Soil Sci 2:131–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Uri V, Aosaar J, Varik M, Becker H, Ligi K, Padari A, Kanal A, Lõhmus K (2014) The dynamics of biomass production, carbon and nitrogen accumulation in grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) chronosequence stands in Estonia. For Ecol Manag 327:106–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Vacek S, Hůnová I, Vacek Z, Hejcmanová P, Podrázský V, Král J, Putalová T, Moser WK (2015) Effects of air pollution and climatic factors on Norway spruce forests in the Orlické hory Mts. (Czech Republic), 1979–2014. Eur J For Res 134:1127–1142

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Miegroet H, Cole DW (1984) The impact of nitrification on soil acidification and cation leaching in a red alder ecosystem. J Environ Qual 13(4):586–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Verburg PSJ, Johnson DW, Harrison R (2001) Long-term nutrient cycling patterns in Douglas-fir and red alder stands: a simulation study. For Ecol Manag 145(3):203–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Viewegh J, Kusbach A, Mikeska M (2003) Czech forest ecosystem classification. J For Sci 49:85–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel JG, Gower ST (1998) Carbon and nitrogen dynamics of boreal jack pine stands with and without a green alder understory. Ecosystems 1:386–400

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vu VQ (2018). Ggbiplot. A tool for visualizing the results of PCA. http://www.vince.vu/software/#ggbiplot. Accessed 15 Feb 2019

  • Zasada JC, Norum RA, Teutsch C, Densmore R (1987) Survival and growth of planted black spruce, alder, aspen and willow after fire on black spruce/feather moss sites in interior Alaska. For Chron 63(2):84–88

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the National Agency for Agricultural Research (QJ1530298—Project completed in 2017 and QK1920328) and also by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic (MZE-RO0118). The authors gratefully acknowledge establishment of the three study sites by Vratislav Balcar (1. Jizerka), Theodor Lokvenc and Horst Kriegel (2. Lesní bouda), and František Šach and Václav Nárovec (3. Velká Deštná) from the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Opočno Research Station. The chemical analyses were performed in the Josef Tomáš laboratory in Opočno, Czech Republic. The authors would like to thank Gale A. Kirking (English Editorial Services) for editing the language.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Research Station at Opočno, Na Olivě 550, 517 73, Opočno, Czech Republic

    Ondřej Špulák, Dušan Kacálek & Vladimír Černohous

Authors
  1. Ondřej Špulák
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dušan Kacálek
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vladimír Černohous
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ondřej Špulák.

Additional information

Communicated by Agustín Merino.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Špulák, O., Kacálek, D. & Černohous, V. Green alder improves chemical properties of forest floor and topsoil in formerly air-polluted mountains. Eur J Forest Res 139, 83–96 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-019-01235-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-019-01235-w

Keywords