CHANGES IN SOIL TEXTURE UNDER DEADWOOD IN BROAD-LEAVED FORESTS

Khanina L., Bobrovsky M.

RJEE Vol. 9 (4). 2024 | DOI: 10.21685/2500-0578-2024-4-1
Abstract | PDF (Eng) | Additional files

Receipt date 15.07.2024 | Publication date 26.12.2024

CHANGES IN SOIL TEXTURE UNDER DEADWOOD IN BROAD-LEAVED FORESTS

L.G. Khanina¹, M.V. Bobrovsky²¹ Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology of RAS – branch of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
² Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science of RAS, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia

Abstract. Deadwood plays a key role in maintaining biodiveristy and ecological functions of forest ecosystems. The study evaluates the effect of 34 downed logs on soil texture of Podzols, Retisols, and Phaozems in broadleaved forests after single and mass windthrows. Paired t-test showed significant changes in the texture of soils under overlying logs compared to nearby plots: under deadwood the proportion of sand significantly decreased while the proportion of silt and clay fractions significantly increased. The study showed essential changes in particle size distribution in the upper horizon of different soil types in forests with coarse woody debris. This result should be considered for evaluating the potential of the soil buffer properties, including the carbon sequestration capacity of forest soil.

Keywords: particle size analysis, particle size distribution, texture classes, texture triangle, coarse woody debris, fallen trunks, overlying logs, Kaluzhskie Zaseki Reserve, windthrow

Financing: the work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 24-24-00340.

Acknowledgements: the authors thank the administration of the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve for the assistance in the organization of field work and I.V. Zhmailov for his help in the collection of field data. The laboratory analysis of soil particle size was performed in the Center of the Shared Use in the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”.

For citation: Khanina L.G., Bobrovsky M.V. Changes in soil texture under deadwood in broad-leaved forests. Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology. 2024;9(4). (In Russ.). Available from: https://doi.org/10.21685/2500-0578-2024-4-1