Skip to main content
Log in

Impact of natural disturbance, forest management and vegetation cover on topsoil biochemical characteristics of Tatra Mts. (Slovakia)

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Perturbations caused by windstorms usually lead to the harvesting and clearcutting of fallen trees and wood debris, especially in the areas of managed forest ecosystems. Induced shifts in soils due to management practices play a crucial role in the restoration and maintaining of key ecosystem services. This paper focuses on topsoil chemical properties in relation to vegetation type (trees, shrubs and herbs) evolving at windstorm damaged (in 2004) areas with former Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests in the Tatra Mts. region (Slovakia). We assessed the content of topsoil organic matter fractions (extractives, holocellulose (HC) and lignin (Lig)), carbon in microbial biomass (Cmic), soil organic matter (SOM) and the content of elements N, C, H and S. The study plots represent different types of post-windthrow disturbance history/regime: wooden debris extraction (EXT), wooden debris not extracted (NEX), wooden debris extraction followed by wildfire (FIR), affected by the windstorm in 2014 with the subsequent wooden debris extraction (REX) and unaffected (REF). Our results revealed significant differences among sites in the content of dichloromethane extractives (EXT vs. REX and FIR), acetone extractives (NEX vs. EXT, FIR and REF), ethanol extractives (FIR vs. EXT, NEX and REF), water extractives (FIR vs. REX, NEX) and Cmic (EXT vs. NEX, FIR and REF). The topsoil of Vaccinium myrtillus and Picea abies showed a higher ratio of C/N, N/Lig, and Lig/HC compared to Rubus idaeus, Avenella flexuosa, Calamagrostis villosa, and Larix decidua. The content of N, C, H and S varied between topsoil with shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus, Rubus idaeus) and grasses (Avenella flexuosa, Calamagrostis villosa). A positive correlation between soil organic matter (SOM) and polar extractives (r=0.81) and a negative correlation between SOM and HC (r=−0.83) was revealed. The carbon content in microbial biomass (Cmic) is positively correlated with acid soluble lignin (ASL) (r=0.85). We also identified a strong correlation between Klason lignin (KL) and the Lig/HC ratio (r=0.97).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by VEGA Grant No. 1/0614/17.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jana Gáfriková.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gáfriková, J., Zvarík, M., Hanajík, P. et al. Impact of natural disturbance, forest management and vegetation cover on topsoil biochemical characteristics of Tatra Mts. (Slovakia). J. Mt. Sci. 17, 1294–1309 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5685-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5685-3

Keywords

Navigation