<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The use of Douglas fir (DF) is on the increase in the Czech Republic. This tree species shows a good production and also a beneficial impact on soil to some extent. We studied both amount and properties of litterfall in 18 to 20-year-old stands with DF in 2011. Two experimental plots were DF-dominated and one showed ca. 20 – 30% share of Scots pine (SP) at the beginning of observation. The experiments consisted of two treatments such as unthinned control and 50 – 62% trees’ density reduction accounting for 43 – 59% basal area reduction. Litterfall was collected using litter traps of 0.25 m2 area in 3 – 4 traps per treatment. Forest floor L and F were taken in 2011 and 2018 to investigate the development of their amount after thinning. Both whole-period sum and mean annual litterfall were reduced after thinning compared to controls. The mean annual litterfall totaled ca. 3 t ha−1 in 20-year-old DF–dominated stands. This amount represents an annual nutrient return of 30 – 40 kg N, 1 – 3 kg P, 3 – 5 kg K, 12 – 30 kg Ca and 1 – 2 kg Mg per one hectare. The reduction of the annual litterfall was more pronounced in DF–dominated stands. All thinned plots showed increased decomposition rates reflected in lower total L+F amounts in both DF–dominated plots whereas unthinned plots accumulated more L+F at the end. The mixed DF–SP plot showed reduced L and increased F layer amounts in both unthinned and thinned treatments with only minor change to L+F sum between 2011 and 2018.</abstract>

The use of Douglas fir (DF) is on the increase in the Czech Republic. This tree species shows a good production and also a beneficial impact on soil to some extent. We studied both amount and properties of litterfall in 18 to 20-year-old stands with DF in 2011. Two experimental plots were DF-dominated and one showed ca. 20 – 30% share of Scots pine (SP) at the beginning of observation. The experiments consisted of two treatments such as unthinned control and 50 – 62% trees’ density reduction accounting for 43 – 59% basal area reduction. Litterfall was collected using litter traps of 0.25 m2 area in 3 – 4 traps per treatment. Forest floor L and F were taken in 2011 and 2018 to investigate the development of their amount after thinning. Both whole-period sum and mean annual litterfall were reduced after thinning compared to controls. The mean annual litterfall totaled ca. 3 t ha−1 in 20-year-old DF–dominated stands. This amount represents an annual nutrient return of 30 – 40 kg N, 1 – 3 kg P, 3 – 5 kg K, 12 – 30 kg Ca and 1 – 2 kg Mg per one hectare. The reduction of the annual litterfall was more pronounced in DF–dominated stands. All thinned plots showed increased decomposition rates reflected in lower total L+F amounts in both DF–dominated plots whereas unthinned plots accumulated more L+F at the end. The mixed DF–SP plot showed reduced L and increased F layer amounts in both unthinned and thinned treatments with only minor change to L+F sum between 2011 and 2018.

Litterfall nutrient return in thinned young stands with Douglas fir

Forestry and Game Management Research Institute

Central European Forestry Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Litterfall nutrient return in thinned young stands with Douglas fir"}

The use of Douglas fir (DF) is on the increase in the Czech Republic. This tree species shows a good production and also a beneficial impact on soil to some...

Litterfall nutrient return in thinned young stands with Douglas fir

Published Online: Jun 29, 2020

Page range: 78 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2020-0006

Keywords
litterfall, forest floor, thinning, nutrients, Douglas fir

© 2020 Jiří Novák et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Litterfall nutrient return in thinned young stands with Douglas fir

Published Online: Jun 29, 2020

Page range: 78 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2020-0006

Keywordslitterfall, forest floor, thinning, nutrients, Douglas fir

© 2020 Jiří Novák et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
litterfall, forest floor, thinning, nutrients, Douglas fir