Functioning and Management of European Beech Ecosystems (eBook)

71224_1_En_FM1_OnlinePDF 2
Preface 7
Contents 7
Contributors 18
Contributors 7
71224_1_En_Introduction_OnlinePDF 23
0: Introduction 23
References 26
71224_1_En_1_Part_OnlinePDF 27
Part A: Description of Long-term Observation Sites 27
71224_1_En_1_Chapter_OnlinePDF 28
1: General Description of Study Sites 28
References 32
71224_1_En_2_Chapter_OnlinePDF 33
2: Climatic Condition at Three Beech Forest Sites in Central Germany 33
2.1 Climate of Germany 33
2.2 Experimental Sites 36
2.2.1 Climatic Variables 36
2.3 Climatic Conditions at Beech Sites 37
2.3.1 Solar Radiation 37
2.3.2 Air Temperature 38
2.3.3 Precipitation 40
2.3.4 Variations of Air Temperature and Precipitation During the Observation Period 42
2.3.5 Soil Temperature 44
2.4 Comparison with Other Climatic Regions 47
2.5 Conclusions 50
Acknowledgements 51
References 51
71224_1_En_3_Chapter_OnlinePDF 53
Chapter 3: Soil Properties 53
3.1 Introduction 53
3.2 Parent Material, Mineral Composition, Soil Texture 53
3.3 Soil Types, Soil pH, and Buffer Systems of Soils 56
3.4 Cation Exchange Capacity, and Exchangeable Cations 57
3.5 Nutrient Status of Soils and Organic Layer Types 60
3.6 Additional Study Plots at the Solling Site 61
3.7 Conclusions 66
References 66
71224_1_En_4_Chapter_OnlinePDF 68
Chapter 4: Changes in C and N Contents of Soils Under Beech Forests over a Period of 35 Years 68
4.1 Introduction 68
4.2 Content and Distribution of C and Nin Soils from Three Beech Sites 69
4.3 Long-term Periodic Measurements of C and N Contents in the Soil at Solling Site 73
4.4 Human Impacts and Management Issues at Solling 76
4.5 Summary 80
References 81
71224_1_En_5_Chapter_OnlinePDF 83
5: Vegetation 83
5.1 Introduction 83
5.2 Vegetation Structure and Phyto-sociological Classification 84
5.2.1 Solling 84
5.2.2 Zierenberg 86
5.2.3 Göttinger Wald 89
5.3 Vegetation Ecology of the Beech Forest Ecosystems: Impact of Site Conditions 92
5.4 Vegetation Dynamics 95
5.4.1 Solling 95
5.4.2 Zierenberg 96
5.4.3 Göttinger Wald 96
5.5 Conclusion 99
Acknowledgments 99
References 100
71224_1_En_6_Chapter_OnlinePDF 105
6: Microbial Biomass 105
6.1 Introduction 105
6.2 Microbial Carbon and Nitrogen 106
6.3 Metabolic Quotient and Cmic-to-Corg Relationship 107
6.4 Conclusions and Indications of Human Impacts 109
References 110
71224_1_En_7_Chapter_OnlinePDF 111
Chapter 7: Soil Fauna 111
7.1 Introduction 111
7.2 Fauna 112
7.3 Macro-Gradient from Base-Rich to Acid Beech Forests 112
7.4 Meso-Gradient from Basalt to Limestone at the Zierenberg Site 117
7.5 Conclusions 118
Acknowledgements 119
References 119
71224_1_En_2_Part_OnlinePDF 121
Part B: Ecosystem Processes 121
71224_1_En_8_Chapter_OnlinePDF 122
8: Tree Growth, Biomass, and Elements in Tree Components of Three Beech Sites 122
8.1 Introduction 122
8.2 Sites and Methods of Data Collection 124
8.2.1 Stem Growth 124
8.2.2 Biomass Measurements of Different Tree Componentson Two Sites 126
8.2.2.1 Solling Site 126
8.2.2.2 Göttinger Wald Site 127
8.2.3 Biomass Modelling at Different Experimental Sites 127
8.2.4 Nutrient Concentration of Various Tree Components 128
8.3 Stand Growth 128
8.3.1 Solling Site 128
8.3.2 Göttinger Wald Site 130
8.3.3 Zierenberg Site 130
8.4 Comparison of Stand Growth at the Three Experimental Sites 131
8.5 Biomass of Harvested Trees and Annual Biomass Increments 133
8.6 Nutrients in Various Tree Components 138
8.7 Stand Harvesting and Nutrient Export 147
8.8 Summary 149
Acknowledgements 149
References 150
71224_1_En_9_Chapter_OnlinePDF 154
Chapter 9: Fine Root Biomass, Turnover and Litter Production 154
9.1 Introduction 154
9.3 Fine Root Production and Turnover 159
9.4 Element Recycling with Litter of Fine Root 164
9.5 Summary 165
Acknowledgement 168
References 168
71224_1_En_10_Chapter_OnlinePDF 171
Chapter 10: Phytomass, Litter and Net Primary Production of Herbaceous Layer 171
10.1 Introduction 171
10.2 Definitions and Methods 172
10.2.1 Biomass and NPP Estimates using Harvesting Methods 172
10.2.2 Aboveground Phytomass Estimates by Dimension Analysis 173
10.3 Phytomass Estimates 177
10.3.1 Total Biomass Estimated from Harvest Studies 177
10.3.2 Aboveground Phytomass Estimated by Plant Dimension Analysis 181
10.3.3 Comparison of Methods of Biomass Assessment 181
10.4 Phenological Patterns of Annual Development of Herbaceous Biomass 183
10.5 Annual Production of Biomass and Litterfall of the Herbaceous Layer 185
10.6 N-storage, Dynamic and Internal N-Cycling 187
10.7 Annual Changes in N-Contents 188
10.8 C/N Ratios 190
10.9 Ground Vegetation as a Part of Internal N-Cycling in Beech Stands 191
10.10 Conclusion 192
Acknowledgments 193
References 193
71224_1_En_11_Chapter_OnlinePDF 198
Chapter 11: Biomass and Element Content of Foliage and Aboveground Litterfall on the Three Long-Term Experimental Beech Sites: 198
11.1 Introduction 198
11.2 Site Description and Collection and Measurements of Aboveground Litterfall Components and Green Foliage 200
11.3 Components and Annual Patterns of Aboveground Litterfall 202
11.4 Amount of Nutrients in Litterfall 204
11.5 Nutrient Concentrations in the Total Litterfall and Leaf Litter Components of the Different Sites 207
11.6 Foliar Chemistry 208
11.7 Nutrients and Heavy Metals in Green Foliage and Litterfall in Relation to Atmospheric Inputs 213
11.8 Autumn Withdrawal of Nutrients at the Time of Leaf Senescence 215
11.9 Conclusions 218
References 219
71224_1_En_12_Chapter_OnlinePDF 221
12: The Role of Soil Fauna for Decomposition of Plant Residues 221
12.1 Introduction 221
12.2 Influence of Soil Fauna on Decomposition of Canopy Leaf Litter 224
12.3 Influence of Soil Fauna on Decomposition of Herb Litter 225
12.4 Decomposition of Roots and Woody Material 227
12.5 Faunal Control of Litter Decay 227
12.5.1 Microfauna, Mesofauna, and Macrofauna 228
12.5.2 Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralisation 230
12.5.3 Acid Rain and Liming 232
12.6 The Decomposer Web 233
12.6.1 Important Interactions Between Decomposer Groups 234
12.6.2 Bottom-up and Top-down Effects 235
12.7 Earthworms as Ecosystem Engineers 237
12.7.1 Food Ingestion, Gut Passage, Production of Casts and Mucus 238
12.7.2 Bioturbation 238
12.7.3 Earthworm Burrows and Middens 239
12.7.4 Earthworms in the Rhizosphere 240
12.8 Conclusions 240
Acknowledgement 241
References 241
71224_1_En_13_Chapter_OnlinePDF 245
13: Nitrogen and Carbon Transformations 245
13.1 Introduction 245
13.2 Experimental Details 246
13.3 Nitrogen Mineralisation in Soil Cores 247
13.3.1 Depthwise Distributions of Net N-Mineralisation 251
13.3.2 Temperature Sensitivity of Net N-Mineralisation 252
13.4 Carbon Mineralisation 253
13.4.1 Depthwise Distributions of Net C-Mineralisation 254
13.4.2 Temperature Sensitivity of Net C-Mineralisation 255
13.5 Relationship Between N-Mineralisation and C-Mineralisation 255
13.6 Nitrification 257
13.6.1 Autotrophic Versus Heterotrophic Nitrification 260
13.6.2 Effects of Temperature and Water Stress on Nitrification 261
13.7 Conclusions and Indications of Human Impacts 262
References 263
71224_1_En_14_Chapter_OnlinePDF 266
14: Fate, Transport, and Retention of Applied15N Labelled Nitrogen in Forest Soils 266
14.1 Introduction 266
14.2 Experimental Details 267
14.3 Transport and Leaching Losses of Added15N Labelled Nitrogen 268
14.4 Retention of Applied Ammonium and 15N Balance of Forest Soils 271
14.5 Retention of Added Nitrate and 15N Balances of Forest Soils 273
14.6 Temperature Effects on Transformation of Ammonium Applied to the Surface Organic Layer and to Mineral Soil Layers of the 274
14.7 Conclusions 275
References 275
71224_1_En_15_Chapter_OnlinePDF 277
15: Atmospheric Deposition and Canopy Interactions 277
15.1 Introduction 277
15.2 Precipitation Chemistry 281
15.3 Element Fluxes 285
15.4 Canopy Rain Interactions 291
15.5 Discussion 296
15.6 Conclusions 298
Annex Tables 298
References 311
71224_1_En_16_Chapter_OnlinePDF 315
16: Changes in Soil Solution Chemistry, Seepage Losses, and Input-Output Budgets at Three Beech Forests in Response to Atmos 315
16.1 Introduction 315
16.2 Soil Solution Collection and Statistical Analysis 316
16.3 Modelling of Water Fluxes 317
16.4 Calculation of Input-Output Balances of Various Elements and Acid Production 318
16.5 Solution Composition From Soils of Different Buffer Systems 320
16.6 Temporal Trends in Soil Solution Chemistry 323
16.7 Hydrologic Regime 328
16.8 Element Seepage Losses 331
16.9 Element Budgets 331
16.9.1 Solling Site 333
16.9.2 Göttinger Wald Site 337
16.9.3 Zierenberg Site 338
16.10 Acid Loading: Atmospheric Depositions and System-Internal H Production 339
16.11 Final Discussion 341
16.11.1 Response of Acid-Base Soil Properties to Decreasing Atmospheric Deposition 341
16.11.2 Response of N and C Budgets of Soils to Decreasing Atmospheric Depositions 342
16.12 Conclusions 344
References 344
71224_1_En_17_Chapter_OnlinePDF 349
17: Soil Respiration 349
17.1 Introduction 349
17.2 Soil Chamber Design Affects Soil Respiration Measurements 350
17.3 Temporal Variation of Soil Respiration 352
17.4 Spatial Variation of Soil Respiration 354
17.5 Soil Respiration in Temperate Beech Forests 355
17.6 Autotrophic Respiration 356
17.7 Effects of Additional N-inputs and Liming on Soil Respiration 359
17.8 Summary and Implications for Management Options 360
References 361
71224_1_En_18_Chapter_OnlinePDF 364
18: N2O Emission from Temperate Beech Forest Soils 364
18.1 Introduction 364
18.2 Method 365
18.3 Temporal Variation of N2O Emission 365
18.4 Spatial Variation of N2O Emissions 367
18.5 Landscape Control on N2O Emissions 367
18.6 Relationship Between Temperature and N2O Emission 371
18.7 Implications of Forest Management for N2O Emissions 372
18.8 Conclusions 375
References 376
71224_1_En_19_Chapter_OnlinePDF 379
19: Methane Uptake by Temperate Forest Soils 379
19.1 Introduction 379
19.2 Moisture and Temperature Effects 380
19.3 Site Factors Determine Methane Uptake 383
19.4 Effects of Liming and Forest Harvesting 387
19.5 Effects of Nitrogen Input 389
19.6 Conclusions and Indications of Human Impacts 392
References 393
71224_1_En_3_Part_OnlinePDF 396
Part C: Forest Management and Regional Scale Issues Concerning C and N 396
71224_1_En_20_Chapter_OnlinePDF 397
20: Microbial Biomass in Broad-Leaved Forest Soils• 397
20.1 Introduction 397
20.2 Regional Distribution of Microbial Carbon of Broad-Leaved Forest Soils in Lower Saxony 397
20.2.1 The Significance of the Cmic-to-Corg Relationship and the Specific Respiration Rate, qCO2 400
20.2.1.1 Beech Monocultures Versus Beech-Oak Stands 403
20.3 Microbial Communities as Affected by Soil pH 405
20.3.1 pH Dependent Changes of the Cmic- to- Corg Relationship, qCO2 and the Fungal-Bacterial Ratio of Broad-Leaved Fore 405
20.4 Conclusion and Management Implications 408
Acknowledgements 409
References 409
71224_1_En_21_Chapter_OnlinePDF 412
21: Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Forest Soils of Germany 412
21.1 Introduction 412
21.2 Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Temperate Forest Soils 414
21.3 Environmental Controls on C- and N-Sequestration 416
21.4 Soil Control on C- and N-Sequestration 420
21.5 Environmental and Anthropogenic Control on C- and N-sequestration in Surface Organic Horizons 424
21.6 Conclusions 427
Acknowledgements 428
References 428
71224_1_En_22_Chapter_OnlinePDF 432
22: Management Options for European Beech Forests in Relation to Changes in C- and N-Status as Described by the Three Study Sit 432
22.1 An Introduction to European Beech 432
22.1.1 Geographic Range and Current Distribution 432
22.1.2 Environmental Amplitude 434
22.1.3 Growth 436
22.1.4 Crown Damages and Tree Mortality 438
22.1.5 Wood Quality 438
22.2 Common Forest Management Practices for European Beech 439
22.2.1 Regeneration 439
22.2.2 Soil Scarification 444
22.2.3 Liming 444
22.2.4 Thinning 445
22.3 Specific Silvicultural Characteristics and Treatments of the Three Beech Ecosystems 445
22.3.1 Solling 446
22.3.2 Göttinger Wald 447
22.3.3 Zierenberg 448
22.4 Naturalness of the Forest Management Practices 449
22.5 Effects of Forest Management Practices on C- and N-Dynamics 451
22.6 Conclusions 456
References 457
71224_1_En_4_Part_OnlinePDF 464
Part D: Synthesis 464
71224_1_En_23_Chapter_OnlinePDF 465
Chapter 23: Stand, Soil and Nutrient Factors Determining the Functioning and Management of Beech Forest Ecosystems: A Synopsis 465
23.1 Background and Issues 465
23.2 Productivity, C Stocks, C Balances, and Their Relations to Soil Chemical State of Three Beech Ecosystems 466
23.3 N Stocks and N Balances at Three Beech ecosystems 469
23.4 Nutrient Status and Productivity of European Beech Ecosystems in a Changing Environment 472
23.5 N-Status and Its Significance for European Forest Ecosystems 475
23.5.1 Forests of the Accumulation Type 477
23.5.2 Forests of the Degradation Type 480
23.5.3 Forests of the (quasi-) Steady State Type 481
23.6 Dynamics of C and N Sequestration in European Forests 482
23.7 Bioturbation as a Central Process of C and N Dynamics: Role of Soil Biota 485
23.8 Forest Management Strategies: Future Perspectives 488
23.9 Conclusions 490
Acknowledgment 493
References 493
71224_1_En_BM2_Chapter_OnlinePDF 497
Index 497