Litter fall quality and soil labile organic matter fractions in reclaimed forest areas of Caspian region

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. Email: Khaghverdi@yahoo.com, Katayoun.haghverdi@kiau.ac.ir Tel: +989122107422

2 Phd student of Forestry, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources of Someh-Sara, Guilan University. Email: faeze_tarighat69@yahoo.com. Tel. +989359781018

3 Assistant professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU). Emails: yahya.kooch@yahoo.com & yahya.kooch@modares.ac.ir. Tel. +98 9112932313

Abstract

Abstract
Background and objectives: Decrease in natural forests area in north of our country due to various factors has caused the importance of reclaimed forest in this area which is carried out with the aim of developing forest surface and wood production. Therefore, study the nature of plantations can play an important and effective role in creating forests with better quality and quantity in the future. The forest plantation stands can effect on different litter and soil indicators. Various researches showed different types of broadleaves and needleleaves trees that are widely used in forestry have very different characteristics in the quality of the soil organic inputs. However, the role of Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus castaneifolia, Picea Abies and Pinus nigra species on litter and soil characteristics from the perspective of the quality indices and labile organic matter fractions, have not been studied. The purpose of this research was to study the litter quality and labile organic matter fractions in the forested areas of the Hyrcanian region, which is affected by the effect of Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus castaneifolia, Picea Abies and Pinus nigra on the characteristics of organic and mineral layer of soil.
Materials and methods: For this purpose, 40-years-old afforestation stands including Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus castaneifolia, Picea Abies and Pinus nigra species were selected and 8 litter and soil (25×25×15cm) samples were collected under each of stands. Collected samples of litter and soil were transferred to the laboratory for analysis, and the physical, chemical and labile components of soil organic matter were investigated.
Results: of the most litter nitrogen content (1.37%) and the least of litter carbon content (40.51%), C/N ratio (33.10) and litter thickness (8.05%) were found under Fraxinus excelsior. Soil physical and chemical properties (except for bulk density, silt and clay contents) were significantly differencesbetween tree species. Results showed that the soil under Pinus nigra had the highest values of particulate organic C (4.52 g/kg) and dissolved organic C (125.36 mg/kg). Greater amounts of particulate organic N (0.36 g/kg) and dissolved organic N (28/66 mg/kg) were belonged to Fraxinus excelsior soil. Soil N mineralization was significantly higher under Fraxinus excelsior (39.97 mg/kg) and Quercus castaneifolia (35.40 mg/kg) than in Picea Abies (26.85 mg/kg) and Pinus nigra (19.53 mg/kg).
Conclusion: The findings of this research are indicating that the characters related to C are enhanced by needle-leaved trees, while broad-leaved stands improved the features related to N content. Result showed broadleaved species increased soil fertility regarding to better quality of litter.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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