Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Volánek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Valtera Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ladislav Holík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Kománek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Hana Burdová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic Author-Name: Josef Trögl Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic Author-Name: Diana Polanská Nebeská Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jitka Novotná Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Geological Survey, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavel Samec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: David Juřička Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Impacts of management and changed hydrology on soil microbial communities in a floodplain forest Abstract: Long-term human activities substantially altered floodplain regions of temperate Europe. Forest management and extensive changes in hydrology greatly affected natural floodplain soil properties, in which microbes play key roles. This study aims to assess the effects of human activities through a gradient of forest management intensity on soil microbial community (SMC), its biomass, activity, and structure. Soil chemical and physical-chemical properties were used to explain the general associations and within-site variation using principal component analysis (PCA), linear regression (LR) and linear mixed-effect regression (LMER) models. It was found that forest management application, regardless of its intensity, led to significant microbial biomass reduction. PCA revealed that microbial biomass, expressed as a sum of phospholipid fatty acids along with recalcitrant carbon fraction (ROC) best explained the variability in data. LR and LMER highlighted that bacteria are affected by floodplain forest management more than fungi, and that bacterial response to pH was highly diversified. Also, pH was identified as the best predictor of SMC structure and activity but not of its size. The study calls for further investigation in SMC interactions with ROC, soil-available Fe and Mn, and the role of redox-active metals in soil organic carbon degradation. Keywords: enzyme activity, forest management, groundwater mineralisation, microbial community structure, soil microbial biomass Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 574-592 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/44/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/44/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202411-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:11:id:44-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aneta Kohútová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan Štykar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Soil temperature dynamics in the forest shelterbelt and in the field Abstract: This study compares soil temperature data collected between 2019 and 2022 in Hrušky, South Moravia, Czech Republic. Soil temperature was measured at five depths (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) in the forest shelterbelt (windbreak) and at three distances from it to investigate the impact of the shelterbelt on the climatic conditions of adjacent field plots. In particular, monthly averages, calculated from average daily temperatures, were employed to characterise the temperature course. These are calculated as averages of measured temperatures at 15-minute intervals. Absolute and relative differences and, where appropriate, base indices, were calculated to facilitate the comparison of individual measurement points (sites) and soil depths. The soil temperature values and their dynamics during the year differ between the measurement point in the forest shelterbelt (90-0) and those in the field. Additionally, the field measurement points exhibit some degree of variation, with the more distant field measurement point (180-90) displaying distinct characteristics from the closer field measurement points (90-45, 90-90). During the winter months (December, January, February), the temperature increases with soil depth, being highest within the windbreak. In spring (February and March), the temperature at different soil depths starts to equalise; however, in April, the temperature decreases with soil depth. Throughout the summer, the measurement station within the windbreak has lower temperatures than in the field, where the soil shows higher temperatures at all depths compared to the windbreak measurement station. In August, the temperature differences in depth begin to equalise again. In September, the temperature trend reverses, and from October, the temperatures increase with soil depth, especially in the lower layers of the soil. The temperature trend in November has a more or less winter character. Soil temperatures in the forest shelterbelt are lower in the summer months and higher in the winter months than in the field. The protective effect of the windbreak is more pronounced at measurement stations closer to the belt, as the temperatures at the farthest field measurement station are higher in summer and lower in winter compared to the closer field measurement stations. Keywords: agriculture landscape, field microclimate, windbreaks Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 545-559 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/52/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/52/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202411-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:11:id:52-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Younes Rostamikia Author-Workplace-Name: Natural Resources Department, Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Ardabil, Iran Author-Name: Mohammad Matinizadeh Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: Sohrab Mohtaram Anbaran Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Title: Influence of scattered Greek juniper trees on soil properties in semi-arid woodlands in the northwest of Iran Abstract: Scattered Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) trees have ecological values, such as soil protection and soil erosion reduction in the Irano-Turanian region; however, intensive exploitation puts their habitats at risk. Therefore, knowing the soil characteristics of these habitats plays an important role in their management. The aim of this study was to investigate the soil quality of semi-arid woodlands dominated by a pure Juniperus excelsa community. At three sites in the Irano-Turanian region, soil samples were randomly taken from a depth of 0-20 cm in the eastern direction under the crowns of Greek juniper trees and from bare soil. The evaluated physical properties included bulk density (Bd), moisture, sand percentage, silt percentage and clay. Chemical properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and nutrient concentrations of bare soil compared to the below-crown soil. Additionally, we investigated basal respiration (BR) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to evaluate the influence of Greek juniper trees on soil microbial activity. The bulk density value in samples taken under crowns was significantly lower by 42% compared to bare soil; however, significantly higher soil moisture (+39.8%) was obtained under tree crowns. Although clay and sand content under tree crowns was significantly higher than that of bare soil, sand content under tree crowns was significantly lower than in bare soil. According to our findings, soil pH under tree crowns and in bare soil was 7.13, which increased to 7.67 in bare soil. Soil EC (+15%), SOC (+76%), and TN (+29%) were significantly higher under tree crowns. The concentrations of magnesium and sodium were similar between bare and below-crown soils, but significantly higher phosphorus (+46%), potassium (+41%), calcium (+31.1%), iron (43.3), and zinc (+56.6%) were observed under Greek juniper crowns. Soil microbial activity was higher under tree crowns compared to bare soil, as evidenced by significantly increased BR (+49.1%) and MBC (+43.5%). Our findings indicate that scattered Greek juniper trees can improve soil properties, and their destruction leads to a significant decrease in soil quality. Generally, planting Greek juniper seedlings in degraded areas can help restore the soil quality. Keywords: Juniperus excelsa, organic matter, soil quality, tree crown Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 560-573 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/60/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/60/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202411-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:11:id:60-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ján Židó Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Author-Name: Milan Kašiar Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Author-Name: Marián Homolák Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Author-Name: Erika Gömöryová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Title: The effect of mechanical site preparation on sandy soil properties in Scots pine plantations Abstract: Sandy soils represent an extreme environment for tree growth. Traditionally, site preparation before planting involves removing logging residues (LRR) and ploughing. An alternative method is incorporating logging residues (LRI) into the topsoil which may enhance tree regeneration and seedling growth. The aim of this study was to assess whether and how different site preparation techniques affect soil physico-chemical and microbial properties over the long term. The study was performed in the Záhorská nížina lowland (Slovakia) in September 2020. Soil samples were taken in two 25-year-old Pinus sylvestris (L.) plantations along five soil profiles in each stand, down to a depth of 30 cm. Results showed a significant increase in carbon and nitrogen concentration and soil moisture in the LRI plot. However, soil pH and phosphorus content significantly decreased. No significant differences were observed in calcium, magnesium, and potassium concentrations between the differently treated plots. The LRI plot also exhibited a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon, N-mineralisation, and catalase activity. The results indicate that different mechanical site preparation methods may impact soil properties over the long term, likely through improved seedling survival and tree growth. Keywords: logging residues, microbial properties, physico-chemical properties, Pinus sylvestris (L.), soil preparation Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 593-601 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/54/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/54/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202411-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:11:id:54-2024-JFS