The effect of mechanical site preparation on sandy soil properties in Scots pine plantations

Ján Židó, Milan Kašiar, Marián Homolák and Erika Gömöryová
Additional contact information
Ján Židó: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
Milan Kašiar: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
Marián Homolák: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
Erika Gömöryová: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia

Journal of Forest Science, 2024, vol. 70, issue 11, 593-601

Abstract: Sandy soils represent an extreme environment for tree growth. Traditionally, site preparation before planting involves removing logging residues (LRR) and ploughing. An alternative method is incorporating logging residues (LRI) into the topsoil which may enhance tree regeneration and seedling growth. The aim of this study was to assess whether and how different site preparation techniques affect soil physico-chemical and microbial properties over the long term. The study was performed in the Záhorská nížina lowland (Slovakia) in September 2020. Soil samples were taken in two 25-year-old Pinus sylvestris (L.) plantations along five soil profiles in each stand, down to a depth of 30 cm. Results showed a significant increase in carbon and nitrogen concentration and soil moisture in the LRI plot. However, soil pH and phosphorus content significantly decreased. No significant differences were observed in calcium, magnesium, and potassium concentrations between the differently treated plots. The LRI plot also exhibited a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon, N-mineralisation, and catalase activity. The results indicate that different mechanical site preparation methods may impact soil properties over the long term, likely through improved seedling survival and tree growth.

Keywords: logging residues; microbial properties; physico-chemical properties; Pinus sylvestris (L.); soil preparation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/54/2024-JFS.html (text/html)
http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/54/2024-JFS.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:11:id:54-2024-jfs

DOI: 10.17221/54/2024-JFS

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Forest Science is currently edited by Mgr. Ilona Procházková

More articles in Journal of Forest Science from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().