<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This paper deals with the evaluation of the effect of afforestation of previously arable land to soil characteristics changes. One of the main aims was to evaluate the effects of each forest species on the soil structure quality after afforestation. Soil samples were taken at two climatically distinct subregions within the Czech Republic. Based on the different site conditions, two study sites were chosen at each locality for a total of four research sites. Detailed soil survey and basic forest stand inventories were conducted at all four sites. The first locality was established in the Rychnov nad Kněžnou district in the Protected Landscape Area of the Orlické mountains (soil type a Haplic Cambisol). The second locality was established in the Prague-East district (soil type a Haplic Cambisol and a Haplic Stagnosol). Afforestation had a positive influence on the soil physical characteristics which are important for the maintenance of soil stability. Forest cover has a major influence on increasing the soil porosity, by decreasing the reduced bulk density and increasing capillary and gravitational pores, which is crucial. Afforestation was also found to be positively related to increases in soil organic matter content in different forms, both stable and unstable, and tendency of considerable soil organic matter accumulation not only in the layer of surface humus but also in the entire soil profiles of the research sites. The main contributor to soil improvement after afforestation is the formation of stable soil aggregates. This is typical also for spruce and pine cover.</p></abstract>

This paper deals with the evaluation of the effect of afforestation of previously arable land to soil characteristics changes. One of the main aims was to evaluate the effects of each forest species on the soil structure quality after afforestation. Soil samples were taken at two climatically distinct subregions within the Czech Republic. Based on the different site conditions, two study sites were chosen at each locality for a total of four research sites. Detailed soil survey and basic forest stand inventories were conducted at all four sites. The first locality was established in the Rychnov nad Kněžnou district in the Protected Landscape Area of the Orlické mountains (soil type a Haplic Cambisol). The second locality was established in the Prague-East district (soil type a Haplic Cambisol and a Haplic Stagnosol). Afforestation had a positive influence on the soil physical characteristics which are important for the maintenance of soil stability. Forest cover has a major influence on increasing the soil porosity, by decreasing the reduced bulk density and increasing capillary and gravitational pores, which is crucial. Afforestation was also found to be positively related to increases in soil organic matter content in different forms, both stable and unstable, and tendency of considerable soil organic matter accumulation not only in the layer of surface humus but also in the entire soil profiles of the research sites. The main contributor to soil improvement after afforestation is the formation of stable soil aggregates. This is typical also for spruce and pine cover.

Effect of afforestation of agricultural soils and tree species composition on soil physical characteristics changes

Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, Žabovřeská 250, 156 27 Prague 5 – Zbraslav, Czech Republic

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic

Ekológia (Bratislava)

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This paper deals with the evaluation of the effect of afforestation of previously arable land to soil characteristics changes. One of the main aims was to...

Effect of afforestation of agricultural soils and tree species composition on soil physical characteristics changes

Publié en ligne: 12 avr. 2014

Pages: 67 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2014-0008

Mots clés
afforestation, former agricultural lands, soil, physical characteristics, Czech Republic

© by Vilém Podrázský

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Effect of afforestation of agricultural soils and tree species composition on soil physical characteristics changes

Publié en ligne: 12 avr. 2014

Pages: 67 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2014-0008

Mots clésafforestation, former agricultural lands, soil, physical characteristics, Czech Republic

© by Vilém Podrázský

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Mots clés
afforestation, former agricultural lands, soil, physical characteristics, Czech Republic