Changes in Topsoil Properties after Centennial Scots Pine Afforestation in a European Beech Forest (NE Spain)

Girona Garcia, A. ; Badía Villas, D. ; Martí Dalmau, C.

Resumen: In this work, we studied the effects of centenary Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) afforestation on topsoil properties conducted in a deforested area that was previously occupied by a natural European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest. Organic layers and topsoil Ah mineral horizons (0–10 cm) were sampled in the Scots pine and European beech forests of Moncayo Natural Park (north-eastern Spain). The physical (stoniness, aggregate stability, and water repellency persistence and intensity), chemical (total organic C, total N, C/N, pH, and exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Al3+, and Fe3+), and physicochemical (cation exchange capacity) properties of soil were analyzed. Total organic C and N were also obtained for litter samples. The studied topsoils shared a series of common properties, such as a high stoniness and aggregate stability, very low base content, high cation exchange capacity, and extreme acidity. Soils that developed under the pinewood showed a higher soil water repellency intensity. However, K+ content was significantly higher in the beechwood soil. In both forest types, total organic C and N were similar in topsoil and litter (Hemimoder type), although C and N were pooled in different O-layers. Results indicate that pine afforestation in a deforested area was an adequate measure for soil protection since it did not show significant differences in the long term (ca. 100 years) compared to the nearby natural beech stands.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/f9060343

Año: 2018

Publicado en: Forests 9, 6 (2018), 343
ISSN: 1999-4907

Factor impacto JCR: 2.116 (2018)

Categ. JCR: FORESTRY rank: 17 / 67 = 0.254 (2018) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.734 - Forestry (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/BES-2014-068072
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/CGL2013-43440-R

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)