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Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 10092

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Dr. Qiwu Sun

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Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Interests: soil degradation; soil microbial diversity; soil remediation; plant functional group; biochar
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Prof. Dr. Suyan Li

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The College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Interests: forest soil; soil remediation; forestry waste resource utilization
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Dr. Lingyu Hou

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Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Interests: soil microorganism; soil degradation; soil remediation; ecosystem services
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Dear Colleagues,

Forest (grassland) vegetation and its understory soil are always shifting as a result of global climate change, altering the function of forest ecosystem services.

The following issues need to be addressed urgently by forest and grass researchers and management departments:

How do different heterogeneous spatial forest (grassland) vegetations and soils respond to global change?
What are their strengths and driving mechanisms?
How can we manage forest vegetation and soil sources efficiently?
How can we improve the function of ecosystem services?

We welcome papers and reviews related but not limited to changes in forest and grass vegetation and soils in different areas, forest and grass vegetation and soil management, plant–soil–microorganism interactions, the resource utilization of forestry waste, etc. Moreover, studies investigating changes in forest and grass resources as a result of climate change and policies, together with characteristics of soil change and its driving mechanisms, will also be considered.

Dr. Qiwu Sun
Prof. Dr. Suyan Li
Dr. Lingyu Hou
Guest Editors

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Keywords

forest vegetation
soil degradation
ecosystem services
forest management
soil microorganisms

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Short-Term Effects of Heavy Thinning on Selected Soil Carbon Pools and Microbial Activity in a Young Aleppo Pine Forest

by Cristina Lull, Ricardo Gil-Ortiz, Inmaculada Bautista, Antonio del Campo and Antonio Lidón

Forests 2024, 15(4), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040658 - 04 Apr 2024

Viewed by 571

Abstract

Pinus halepensis Miller is a widespread tree species in the western Mediterranean basin, where very dense monospecific stands can be found, especially in natural regeneration after forest fires. Silvicultural thinning can reduce the competition of trees for natural resources and favour their development, although its effect depends on the habitat. The present study aims to know the effects on the soil at the physicochemical and microbiological levels after a heavy thinning in a young pine forest stand with a high stocking density. The stand is on a slope where the soil depth tends to decrease with altitude, and shows changes in its physicochemical properties between the upper and lower zones. Several soil carbon fractions (i.e., soil organic carbon (SOC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC)), microbial activity (basal soil respiration (BSR)) and enzyme activities (acid phosphatase (AP) and urease (UA)) were analysed at specific dates over a period of about five years after a heavy thinning. The changes in organic matter content were abrupt in the slope, conditioning the observed differences. It is highlighted that the SOC and WSOC contents in the mineral soil were 2.5- and 3.5-fold significantly higher, respectively, in the upper shallow zone compared to the lower deeper zone. This was also reflected in significantly higher levels of gravimetric water content (GWC) and MBC (both about 1.4-fold higher), with higher levels of BSR and UA, and 2.5-fold significantly higher levels of AP. As a result, most of the properties studied showed no significant differences between the thinning treatment and the untreated control. Results varying between dates, with a strong dependence on climate (soil temperature and humidity) of WSOC and UA. It can be concluded that the heavy thinning applied in this short-term case study favoured the growth conditions of the pine without negatively affecting the soil properties studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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19 pages, 3991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responses of Enzymatic and Microbiological Soil Properties to the Site Index and Age Gradients in Spanish Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arn ssp. salzmannii) Mediterranean Forests

by Francisco García-Saucedo, Francisco Antonio García-Morote, Marta Picazo, Consuelo Wic, Eva Rubio, Francisco Ramón López-Serrano and Manuela Andrés-Abellán

Forests 2024, 15(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010113 - 06 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

This research analyzes how enzymatic and microbiological soil properties relate to site index (SI) and forest maturity (stand age) in Pinus nigra (P. nigra) even-aged forests. The soil parameters selected for multivariate analysis were four enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, urease, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase), two microbiological properties (microbial biomass C and basal respiration), and five physicochemical parameters (TOC, N, P, pH, and soil water content). We used LiDAR, the digital elevation model, and the terrain model to obtain a result for the dominant height in each plot. The soil parameters were analyzed in the function of five site index classes (8, 11, 14, 17, and 20) and six age classes (50, 70, 90, 110, 170, and 210 years). Our findings emphasize that the dehydrogenase enzyme exhibited variations in response to both the site index and stand age. The activity of dehydrogenase positively correlated with sites characterized by a higher nutrient demand, particularly on young and poor-quality sites (lower SI), indicating activation. Therefore, dehydrogenase could serve as an index to elucidate both site quality and stand development in P. nigra stands, making it a potential indicator of forest ecosystem development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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24 pages, 3361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developmental Dynamics and Driving Factors of Understory Vegetation: A Case Study of Three Typical Plantations in the Loess Plateau of China

by Hengshuo Zhang, Xuehui Jiao, Tonggang Zha, Xizhi Lv, Yongxin Ni, Qiufen Zhang, Jianwei Wang and Li Ma

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2353; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122353 - 29 Nov 2023

Viewed by 841

Abstract

Understory vegetation is one of the most important links for improving forest biodiversity, and its restoration is conducive to sustainable forest development, energy flow, and nutrient cycling. However, little is known about the developmental dynamics and main driving factors of the long-time series coverage, biomass, diversity, and species composition of plantation understory vegetation. In a case study of three typical plantations, with a natural secondary forest as reference in the Loess Plateau of China, we collected understory vegetation from a Robinia pseudoacacia Linn. deciduous broad-leaved plantation, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. evergreen coniferous plantation, and mixed plantation with an age span of 10 to 50 years. (1) The understory plantation coverage and biomass results of stands with different ages showed the R. pseudoacacia plantation to be significantly higher than the P. tabulaeformis plantation, and the species diversity of the P. tabulaeformis plantation changed the most with the stand age. However, the growth resource imbalance, and drastic changes in the stands’ environment caused by excessive intraspecific competition in the early stage of the P. tabulaeformis plantation vegetation restoration, are the main reasons that make the species diversity of undergrowth vegetation of P. tabulaeformis plantation lower than that of other stand types. (2) The understory species composition of the plantations revealed their degree of community stability. Compared to the R. pseudoacacia plantation and P. tabulaeformis plantation, the mixed plantation had higher stability, and its species composition closely resembled a natural secondary forest. The community stability of the P. tabulaeformis plantation was the lowest because it had the lowest coverage, biomass, and species diversity of understory vegetation. However, the understory species composition of the three plantation types converged, which was due to atypical species contribution. (3) The dynamic changes of canopy and soil nutrients were the main driving factors affecting the R. pseudoacacia plantation understory vegetation species composition. Stand density and elevation limited the understory vegetation communities of P. tabulaeformis plantation restoration. Soil bulk density is the key factor affecting understory vegetation in mixed plantations, and this effect weakens with the stand age. In future studies, the focus should be on the converged action and further development trend of atypical species, choosing an appropriate recovery strategy (active or passive), and providing more possibilities for the intensive management of vegetation under different plantations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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14 pages, 2951 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends in Research on Soil Organic Nitrogen over the Past 20 Years

by Shiyou Chen, Chunqian Jiang, Hui Wang, Yanfeng Bai and Chunwu Jiang

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091883 - 16 Sep 2023

Viewed by 955

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), an indispensable mineral nutrient element for plant growth and development, is a major limiting source of productivity in many terrestrial ecosystems. Soil organic nitrogen (SON) is a crucial form of nitrogen (N) in the N cycle within terrestrial ecosystems, acting as either a “source” or a “sink” for environmental N release. In order to illustrate the research trends, evolution process and hotspots of SON, a bibliometric analysis was used to analyze 906 documents based on the ISI (Institute of Scientific Information) Web of Science (WoS) database. The results indicated that (1) the number of published papers on SON research showed a wavy growth from 2000 to 2022 and the research has entered a mature development period; China has been increasing its number of publications and has long been in the lead; (2) the most productive institutions and authors in this subject area are in the USA and China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences being the key institution performing such research; (3) in the sample, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Science of the Total Environment, and Biogeochemistry are the leading international journals that have played a key role in the evolution of the field and have laid a solid foundation for future research; (4) the characteristics and maintenance of SON in farmland and SON migration in small watersheds under forest conversion have become research hotspots. Through the in-depth analysis of SON research, this paper provides a better understanding of the development trends of SON over the past 20 years, which can also provide reference for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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15 pages, 2532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytoremediation Effect and Soil Microbial Community Characteristics of Jiulong Iron Tailings Area, Jiangxi

by Hou Lingyu, Wang Wenzheng, Song Liguo, Wang Qian, Liu Xiangrong, Zhang Yanlin and Sun Qiwu

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091849 - 11 Sep 2023

Viewed by 888

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to explore the remediation effect and mechanism of Wetland pine (Pinus elliottii), Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook), and Alder (Alnus cremastogyne Burkill) on heavy metal contaminated soil in the iron tailings of Jiulong Iron Tailings Area. At the same time, the specificity of plant rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial community structure and ecological function were analyzed based on macrogenomic sequencing. The results showed that the dominant microbial genera in J1 (control) was Acidobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The microbial genera with the highest percentage of relative abundance in J2, J3, J4, J5, and J6 (J2, Wetland Pine rhizosphere; J3, Wetland Pine non-rhizosphere; J4, Chinese fir rhizosphere; J5, Alder rhizosphere; J6, Alder non-rhizosphere) were Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. It was found that Proteobacteria promoted heavy metal solubilization, activated heavy metals, and converted their forms to improve plant uptake of heavy metals. This proves that the microorganisms of Proteobacteria are the key microbial genera in the study of regional heavy metal remediation. The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microorganisms can respond to the inducement of heavy metals. Here, we investigated the relationship between the abundance of soil microorganisms ARGs and heavy metal pollution in Jiulong Iron Tailings Area. There are significant differences in the quantity and category of ARGs in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil samples of the three tree species. The results of this study provide the foundation for the theory and practice of remediation of heavy metal contamination in soils of iron tailing areas in Jiulong Iron Tailings Area in similar stand conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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13 pages, 5973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of a Soil Quality Index to a Mediterranean Mountain with Post-Fire Treatments

by Manuela Andrés-Abellán, Marta I. Picazo-Córdoba, Francisco García-Saucedo, Consolación Wic-Baena, Francisco A. García-Morote, Eva Rubio-Caballero, Jose L. Moreno, Felipe Bastida, Carlos García and Francisco R. López-Serrano

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1745; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091745 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 872

Abstract

In Mediterranean areas, fire has increased soil degradation and erosion. For this reason, the application of soil quality indices can help to determine soil recovery and degradation levels. By using a multiparameter soil quality index fitted to undisturbed forest soils, we can show the right information on soil functionality. In this study, the objectives were to evaluate soil functionality after suffering a fire, to subsequently treat with various soil treatments (wood mulching), and then check a soil quality index (SQI) to assess the soil quality recovery in burned Pinus nigra stands. For this purpose, a burned area was selected in the Cuenca Mountain range (Spain) under a Mediterranean climate. Experimental plots were established in the study area, with three slope gradients and applying three methods of covering soil using: (1) wood chips; (2) piles of branches; and (3) trunks of contour-felled logs. The experiment was conducted for 4 years. Results showed that the properties of soil were enhanced under wood chips and logs as a surface-covering material, and in a short time (less of 3 years). In consequence, the values of the SQI index were higher after applying these two treatments, thus reflecting the effectiveness of the SQI for monitoring post-fire recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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15 pages, 3248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks and Interactions with Soil Metal Oxides in Different Climatic Zones

by Wenzhi Zhou, Suyan Li, Xiangyang Sun, Rongsong Zou, Libing He, Jiantao Yu, Guanyu Zhao, Zhe Chen, Xueting Bai and Jinshuo Zhang

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1572; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081572 - 01 Aug 2023

Viewed by 925

Abstract

Studying both soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storages in different climate zones and their relationship with climatic factors is of great significance for understanding soil fertility and predicting global climate change. Climate influences soil minerals, which are important for soil organic carbon (SOC) and N retention. However, there are few studies on SOC and soil total nitrogen (STN) storage in different climatic zones, and of the effects of soil oxidation minerals on SOC and STN storage. We measured the storage of SOC and STN and the content of oxidizable minerals in soils from different climatic regions, then obtained climate data from the China Meteorological Data Service Center, and finally investigated the effects of climate factors and soil oxides minerals on SOC and STN. The results showed that climatic factors (mean annual temperature—MAT, mean annual precipitation—MAP, and ≥10 °C mean annual cumulative temperature—MACT) had significant effects on SOC and STN content, and there was significant epistatic clustering of SOC and STN contents in different climatic zones. When MAT, MAP, and MACT increased, SOC and STN storage showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, and both SOC and STN storages were largest in the middle temperate zone. The content of soil metal oxides (Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, Na₂O, MgO, CaO, K₂O, and TiO₂) showed significant positive correlation with climatic factors (MAT, MAP, and MACT). The contents of Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, and TiO₂ showed significant negative correlation with SOC and STN contents. In summary, our results showed that, although soil metal oxides (SMO) have a protective effect on SOC and STN to some extent, they do not change the influence of climatic factors on SOC and STN storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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15 pages, 3717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Changing Restoration Years on Soil Nutrient Traits and Plant Community Diversity in a Phosphate Mining Area

by Cui Xu, Siping Kuang, Lu He, Chunxue Wang and Yanqun Zu

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1468; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071468 - 18 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1092

Abstract

The thinning vegetation and soil erosion problems left behind by extractive mining have caused serious environmental pollution, and vegetation restoration is one of the effective strategies to counter them. To study the effects of vegetation restoration on plant community species diversity, soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and the response of their plant community succession, four communities of different ages (1, 7, 10, 40) and one natural forest (>50 years) in the Kunyang phosphate mine were selected, and the analysis was carried out using the methods and protocols for plant community inventory. The species composition was recorded, and soil was collected from 0–60 cm in each community to determine the response of soil nutrients and plant diversity to the restoration process. The results show that the species richness of the community increases with the restoration year, the species composition at 40 years of restoration is similar to that of the natural forest, and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index in the tree layer at 40 years of restoration is greater than in the natural forest. Soil pH showed a decreasing trend with restoration year, and TP and AP increased with increasing time series. And the linear stepwise regression analysis showed that soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorous (TP), available phosphorous (AP), and restoration year were the main factors of plant diversity. Compared to restoration of 10 years, TP and AP at the restoration of 40 years increased to 11.9–20.0 g∙kg⁻¹ and 33.4–75.5 mg∙kg⁻¹. The SOC of the community reached a maximum at 40 years of restoration, 1.5, 2.8, and 2.4 times higher at 0–20 cm, 20–40, and 40–60 cm, respectively, than at 1 year. The organic carbon fraction increased with the restoration year in an ‘N’ pattern, and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) and unstable organic carbon fraction decreased at 10 years and 40 years of restoration. The SOC of natural forests decreased, but stable organic carbon increased. The soil pH, SOC, and organic carbon fraction of the communities decreased with increasing soil depth, while TP and AP increased with increasing soil depth at the later period of restoration. In general, with extended restoration years, 40 years plant of restoration in phosphate mines can be expected to allow for plant community succession to climax community, and the key influence on plant diversity are the phosphorus and stable carbon fractions. These results are expected to facilitate the future basis for vegetation succession and restore systems during mining area restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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17 pages, 3774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Metal Concentrations and Accumulation Characteristics of Dominant Woody Plants in Iron and Lead−Zinc Tailing Areas in Jiangxi, Southeast China

by Yanglong Li, Chaoqun Wang, Chaowu Yan, Shaowen Liu, Xiangteng Chen, Mansheng Zeng, Yuhong Dong and Ruzhen Jiao

Forests 2023, 14(4), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040846 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1570

Abstract

Phytoremediation using woody plants can effectively reduce heavy metal (HM) concentrations in soils. However, the remediation capacity of woody plants depends greatly on plant species and soil environmental conditions. In order to evaluate the HM remediation potential of woody plants from different tailing areas, the HM accumulation characteristics of roots, shoots, and leaves of 12 dominant native woody plants growing in iron and lead-zinc tailing areas were analyzed. The results showed that the concentrations of Cd, As, Ni, Mn, and Cr in most plants in the two tailing areas exceeded the level of normal plants. The distribution of different elements in plants was generally as follows: root > leaf > shoot for Pb and As; root > shoot > leaf for Cr; and leaf > shoot > root for Zn, Ni, and Mn. The distribution of Cu and Cd in plants varied with the type of HM pollution in the two tailing areas. There were significant (p < 0.05) negative correlations between available phosphorus in the soil and Pb, Cd, and Zn in the plant roots when the soil was heavily polluted with Pb, Cd, and As; similarly, there were significant (p < 0.01) negative correlations between readily available potassium in the soil and Pb, Zn, and Ni in plant roots. Based on the higher than average concentration of HMs in plants, and higher bioconcentration factors and translocation factors, some plants were considered woody plant species with phytoremediation. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) and indian azalea (Rhododendron simsii) had strong enrichment and translocation abilities for Cd, oriental white oak (Quercus glauca) and beautiful sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana) for Mn and paulownia (Paulownia fortunei) for Zn. The plants listed above can be used as potential species for phytoremediation in iron and lead-zinc tailing areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Vegetation and Soils: Interaction, Management and Alterations)

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