Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of forest thinning on soil-plant carbon and nitrogen dynamics

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aims

Corymbia spp. (previously included in the genus Eucalyptus) are common species in sub/tropical Australia and produce high quality timber and round logs. Thinning of native forests helps to preserve native tree species and is more sustainable than replacing native forest stands with mono-species plantations to produce timber. This study aimed to explore the effects of native forest thinning on soil-plant carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in two experimental sites, Esk (5 years post-thinning) and Herberton (7 years post-thinning), situated in Queensland, Australia.

Methods

The two sites had different thinning regimes. The final stocking rates varied between 75 and 200 stems ha−1 at Esk and between 250 and 400 stems ha−1 at Herberton. The thinned plots were compared to un-thinned plots. Soil samples were collected to measure labile C and N. Leaf samples were collected from C. variegata and C. citriodora in Esk and Herberton respectively.

Results

Thinning did not change soil total C, total N, δ15N and inorganic N at either Esk or Herberton. However, at Esk, intensive thinning resulted in decreases in water soluble total N (WSTN). Foliar δ13C did not vary with respect to thinning whereas foliar δ15N values were more enriched in thinned areas than those of un-thinned plots. The stepwise linear regression indicated that both foliar total N and δ15N were explained mainly by soil TN and WSTN.

Conclusions

Thinning did not change soil C and N most likely due to the retention of thinned materials on site and their incorporation into soil. Foliar δ13C was not thinning-dependent due to homeostatic maintenance of the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentrations during photosynthesis. In our study, soil N was not a limiting factor for foliar N, however, foliar N was mainly driven by WSTN which may foreshadow a possible N limitation in severely thinned plots in the long term. We conclude that forest thinning does not decrease soil C and N availability in native Corymbia forests for several years post-thinning if the thinned materials are retained on site.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcorn PJ, Pyttel P, Bauhus J, Smith RGB, Thomas D, James R, Nicotra A (2007) Effects of initial planting density on branch development in 4-year-old plantation grown Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana trees. For Ecol Manag 252:41–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baena CW, Andrés-Abellán M, Lucas-Borja ME, Martínez-García E, García-Morote FA, Rubio E, López-Serrano FR (2013) Thinning and recovery effects on soil properties in two sites of a Mediterranean forest, in Cuenca Mountain (south-eastern of Spain. For Ecol Manag 308:223–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai, S. H., Blumfield, T. J., Reverchon, F., Ryan, R., 2013. Profitable practice management in native forests to sustain timber production: an opportunity for the private sector. In International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 2013 Fukuoka, Japan

  • Bai SH, Blumfield TJ, Reverchon F, Amini S (2015a) Do young trees contribute to soil labile carbon and nitrogen recovery? J Soils Sediments 15:503–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai SH, Xu Z, Blumfield TJ, Reverchon F (2015b) Human footprints in urban forests: implication of nitrogen deposition for nitrogen and carbon storage. J Soils Sediments 15:1927–1936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs RD, Hornbeck JW, Smith CT, Lemin RC, McCormack ML (2000) Long-term effects of forest management on nutrient cycling in spruce-fir forests. For Ecol Manag 138:285–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buée M, Vairelles D, Garbaye J (2005) Year-round monitoring of diversity and potential metabolic activity of the ectomycorrhizal community in a beech (Fagus silvatica) forest subjected to two thinning regimes. Mycorrhiza 15:235–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cernusak LA, Winter K, Turner BL (2009) Physiological and isotopic (δ13C and δ18O) responses of three tropical tree species to water and nutrient availability. Plant Cell Environ 32:1441–1455

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cernusak LA, Ubierna N, Winter K, Holtum JAM, Marshall JD, Farquhar GD (2013) Environmental and physiological determinants of carbon isotope discrimination in terrestrial plants. New Phytol 200:950–965

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chase CW, Kimsey MJ, Shaw TM, Coleman MD (2016) The response of light, water, and nutrient availability to pre-commercial thinning in dry inland Douglas-fir forests. For Ecol Manag 363:98–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng X, Han H, Kang F, Liu K, Song Y, Zhou B, Li Y (2014) Short-term effects of thinning on soil respiration in a pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantation. Biol Fertil Soils 50:357–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng X, Kang F, Han H, Liu H, Zhang Y (2015) Effect of thinning on partitioned soil respiration in a young Pinus tabulaeformis plantation during growing season. Agric For Meteorol 214–215:473–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dannenmann M, Gasche R, Ledebuhr A, Papen H (2006) Effects of forest management on soil N cycling in beech forests stocking on calcareous soils. Plant Soil 287:279–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erskine PD, Lamb D, Bristow M (2006) Tree species diversity and ecosystem function: can tropical multi-species plantations generate greater productivity? For Ecol Manag 233:205–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Biol 40:503–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fotelli MN, Rennenberg H, Holst T, Mayer H, Geßler A (2003) Carbon isotope composition of various tissues of beech (Fagus sylvatica) regeneration is indicative of recent environmental conditions within the forest understorey. New Phytol 159:229–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franks PJ, Drake PL, Froend RH (2007) Anisohydric but isohydrodynamic: seasonally constant plant water potential gradient explained by a stomatal control mechanism incorporating variable plant hydraulic conductance. Plant Cell Environ 30:19–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ganzlin PW, Gundale MJ, Becknell RE, Cleveland CC (2016) Forest restoration treatments have subtle long-term effects on soil C and N cycling in mixed conifer forests. Ecol Appl 26:1503–1516

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garten CT (1993) Variation in foliar 15N abundance and the availability of soil nitrogen on Walker branch watershed. Ecology 74:2098–2113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geßler A, Schrempp S, Matzarakis A, Mayer H, Rennenberg H, Adams MA (2001) Carbon isotope composition of phloem sap, wood and foliage of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): effects of water availability and radiation during the growing season. New Phytol 150:653–664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giuggiola A, Ogée J, Rigling A, Gessler A, Bugmann H, Treydte K (2015) Improvement of water and light availability after thinning at a xeric site: which matters more? A dual isotope approach, New Phytologist

    Google Scholar 

  • Grady KC, Hart SC (2006) Influences of thinning, prescribed burning, and wildfire on soil processes and properties in southwestern ponderosa pine forests: a retrospective study. For Ecol Manag 234:123–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hättenschwiler S, Vitousek PM (2000) The role of polyphenols in terrestrial ecosystem nutrient cycling. Trends Ecol Evol 15:238–243

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henskens FL, Battaglia M, Cherry ML, Beadle CL (2001) Physiological basis of spacing effects on tree growth and form in Eucalyptus globulus. Trees 15:365–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbie EA, Macko SA, Williams M (2000) Correlations between foliar δ15N and nitrogen concentrations may indicate plant-mycorrhizal interactions. Oecologia 122:273–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P (1997) Tansley review no. 95 15N natural abundance in soil-plant systems. New Phytol 137:179–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P (2007) Environmental science: nitrogen impacts on forest carbon. Nature 447:781–782

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horton BM, Glen M, Davidson NJ, Ratkowsky D, Close DC, Wardlaw TJ, Mohammed C (2013) Temperate eucalypt forest decline is linked to altered ectomycorrhizal communities mediated by soil chemistry. For Ecol Manag 302:329–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang WZ, Schoenau JJ (1998) Fluxes of water-soluble nitrogen and phosphorus in the forest floor and surface mineral soil of a boreal aspen stand. Geoderma 81:251–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibell PT, Xu Z, Blumfield TJ (2010) Effects of weed control and fertilization on soil carbon and nutrient pools in an exotic pine plantation of subtropical Australia. J Soils Sediments 10:1027–1038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ibell PT, Xu Z, Blumfield TJ (2013) The influence of weed control on foliar δ15N, δ13C and tree growth in an 8 year-old exotic pine plantation of subtropical Australia. Plant Soil 369:199–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inagaki Y, Nakanishi A, Fukata H (2011) Soil properties and nitrogen utilization of hinoki cypress as affected by strong thinning under different climatic conditions in the Shikoku and Kinki districts in Japan. J For Res 16:405–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson I, Carnegie A, Henson M (2009) Growth, form and Quambalaria shoot blight tolerance of spotted gum in north-eastern new South Wales, Australia. Silvae Genetica 58:180

    Google Scholar 

  • Kähmen A, Wanek W, Buchmann N (2008) Foliar δ15N values characterize soil N cycling and reflect nitrate or ammonium preference of plants along a temperate grassland gradient. Oecologia 156:861–870

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kaye JP, Hart SC, Fulé PZ, Covington WW, Moore MM, Kaye MW (2005) Initial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluxes following ponderosa pine restoration treatments. Ecol Appl 15:1581–1593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinebecker T, Poelen MD, Smolders AJ, Lamers LP, Hölzel N (2013) Fast and inexpensive detection of total and extractable element concentrations in aquatic sediments using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS. PLoS One 8:e70517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lee DJ (2007) Achievements in forest tree genetic improvement in Australia and New Zealand 2: development of Corymbia species and hybrids for plantations in eastern Australia. Aust For 70:11–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Rao X, Lu P, Bai SH, Xu Z, Chen X, Blumfield TJ, Xie J (2015) Ecophysiological and foliar nitrogen concentration responses of understorey Acacia spp. and Eucalyptus sp. to prescribed burning. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:10254–10262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima M, Choi WJ, Chang SX (2012) White spruce foliar δ13C and δ15N indicate changed soil N availability by understory removal and N fertilization in a 13-year-old boreal plantation. Plant Soil 361:375–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell NG, Allen CD (2015) Darcy’s law predicts widespread forest mortality under climate warming. Nat Clim Chang 5:669–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell NG, Adams HD, Bailey JD, Hess M, Kolb TE (2006) Homeostatic maintenance of ponderosa pine gas exchange in response to stand density changes. Ecol Appl 16:1164–1182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell N, Pockman WT, Allen CD, Breshears DD, Cobb N, Kolb T, Plaut J, Sperry J, West A, Williams DG, Yepez EA (2008) Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought? New Phytol 178:719–739

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meir P, Levy PE, Grace J, Jarvis PG (2007) Photosynthetic parameters from two contrasting woody vegetation types in West Africa. Plant Ecol 192:277–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merilä P, Smolander A, Strömmer R (2002) Soil nitrogen transformations along a primary succession transect on the land-uplift coast in western Finland. Soil Biol Biochem 34:373–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore MM, Casey CA, Bakker JD, Springer JD, Fule PZ, Covington WW, Laughlin DC (2006) Herbaceous vegetation responses (1992–2004) to restoration treatments in a ponderosa pine forest. Rangel Ecol Manag 59:135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullaney J, Trueman SJ, Lucke T, Bai SH (2015) The effect of permeable pavements with an underlying base layer on the ecophysiological status of urban trees. Urban For Urban Green 14:686–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natelhoffer KJ, Fry B (1988) Controls on natural nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 abundances in forest soil organic matter. Soil Sci Soc Am J 52:1633–1640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsen P, Strand LT (2008) Thinning intensity effects on carbon and nitrogen stores and fluxes in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) karst.) stand after 33 years. For Ecol Manag 256:201–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nottingham AT, Turner BL, Stott AW, Tanner EV (2015) Nitrogen and phosphorus constrain labile and stable carbon turnover in lowland tropical forest soils. Soil Biol Biochem 80:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogaya R, Peñuelas J (2008) Changes in leaf δ13C and δ15N for three Mediterranean tree species in relation to soil water availability. Acta Oecol 34:331–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osunkoya OO, Bayliss D, Panetta FD, Vivian-Smith G (2010) Variation in ecophysiology and carbon economy of invasive and native woody vines of riparian zones in South-Eastern Queensland. Austral Ecology 35:636–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overby ST, Hart SC (2016) Short-term belowground responses to thinning and burning treatments in Southwestern ponderosa pine forests of the USA. Forests 7:45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul KI, Reeson A, Polglase P, Crossman N, Freudenberger D, Hawkins C (2013) Economic and employment implications of a carbon market for integrated farm forestry and biodiverse environmental plantings. Land Use Policy 30:496–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piotto D (2008) A meta-analysis comparing tree growth in monocultures and mixed plantations. For Ecol Manag 255:781–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu S, Bell RW, Hobbs RJ, McComb AJ (2012) Estimating nutrient budgets for prescribed thinning in a regrowth eucalyptus forest in south-West Australia. Forestry 85:51–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu S, Bell RW, Hobbs RJ, McComb AJ (2013) Overstorey and juvenile response to thinning and drought in a jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) forest of southwestern Australia. Plant Soil 365:291–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reverchon F, Flicker RC, Yang H, Yan G, Xu Z, Chen C, Bai SH, Zhang D (2014) Changes in δ15N in a soil–plant system under different biochar feedstocks and application rates. Biol Fertil Soils 50:275–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reverchon F, Bai SH, Liu X, Blumfield TJ (2015) Tree plantation systems influence nitrogen retention and the abundance of nitrogen functional genes in the Solomon Islands. Front Microbiol 6:1439. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01439

  • Santos PETD, Geraldi IO, Garcia JN (2004) Estimates of genetic parameters of wood traits for sawn timber production in Eucalyptus grandis. Genet Mol Biol 27:567–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skov KR, Kolb TE, Wallin KF (2004) Tree size and drought affect ponderosa pine physiological response to thinning and burning treatments. For Sci 50:81–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Spriggs AC, Stock WD, Dakora FD (2003) Influence of mycorrhizal associations on foliar δ15N values of legume and non-legume shrubs and trees in the fynbos of South Africa: implications for estimating N2 fixation using the 15N natural abundance method. Plant Soil 255:495–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang J, Qi Y, Xu M, Misson L, Goldstein AH (2005) Forest thinning and soil respiration in a ponderosa pine plantation in the sierra Nevada. Tree Physiol 25:57–66

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teste FP, Lieffers VJ, Strelkov SE (2012) Ectomycorrhizal community responses to intensive forest management: thinning alters impacts of fertilization. Plant Soil 360:333–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thibodeau L, Raymond P, Camiré C, Munson AD (2000) Impact of precommercial thinning in balsam fir stands on soil nitrogen dynamics, microbial biomass, decomposition, and foliar nutrition. Can J For Res 30:229–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walle IV, Van Camp N, Van de Casteele L, Verheyen K, Lemeur R (2007) Short-rotation forestry of birch, maple, poplar and willow in Flanders (Belgium) I—biomass production after 4 years of tree growth. Biomass Bioenergy 31:267–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong S-C, Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1979) Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity. Nature 282:424–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu ZH, Saffigna PG, Farquhar GD, Simpson JA, Haines RJ, Walker S, Osborne DO, Guinto D (2000) Carbon isotope discrimination and oxygen isotope composition in clones of the F-1 hybrid between slash pine and Caribbean pine in relation to tree growth, water-use efficiency and foliar nutrient concentration. Tree Physiol 20:1209–1217

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Z, Chen C, He J, Liu J (2009) Trends and challenges in soil research 2009: linking global climate change to local long-term forest productivity. J Soils Sediments 9:83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu CY, Bai SH, Hao Y, Rachaputi RC, Xu Z, Wallace HM (2015) Peanut shell biochar improves soil properties and peanut kernel quality on a red Ferrosol. J Soils Sediments 15:2220–2231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SY, Chauret G, Swift DE, Duchesne I (2006) Effects of precommercial thinning on tree growth and lumber quality in a jack pine stand in New Brunswick, Canada. Can J For Res 36:945–952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Webster J, Young DH, Fiddler GO (2016) Effect of thinning and soil treatments on Pinus ponderosa plantations: 15-year results. For Ecol Manag 368:123–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This study was funded by James Cook University and Griffith University Collaborative Scheme. The authors would like to acknowledge the owner of the Herberton site (Mr. Olivier Lambert) and the owner of the Esk site for providing the access to the experimental sites. The authors would like to acknowledge Private Forestry Service Queensland (PFSQ) for providing the long term growth data and access to the Esk site. We thank Mr. Geoffrey Lambert for his assistance in both laboratory and sample collection, Mr. Yan Zhao for his assistance in sample collection and Mr. Rene Diocares for stable isotope analyses. SHB was supported by Collaborative Research Network – University of the Sunshine Coast Research Futures project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Brisbane, Australia

    Shahla Hosseini Bai, Frédérique Reverchon & Timothy J Blumfield

  2. Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Brisbane, Australia

    Shahla Hosseini Bai

  3. College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, QLD, Cairns, Australia

    Raymond Dempsey & Lucas A. Cernusak

  4. Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Apartado Postal 63, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Frédérique Reverchon

  5. CEO - Private Forestry Service Queensland Australia, Brisbane, Australia

    Sean Ryan

Authors
  1. Shahla Hosseini Bai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raymond Dempsey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frédérique Reverchon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Timothy J Blumfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sean Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lucas A. Cernusak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shahla Hosseini Bai.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Simon Jeffery.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bai, S.H., Dempsey, R., Reverchon, F. et al. Effects of forest thinning on soil-plant carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Plant Soil 411, 437–449 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-3052-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-3052-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation