Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (<i>Alnus incana</i> (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups

Oļģerts Nikodemus; Dārta Kaupe; Imants Kukuļs; Guntis Brūmelis; Raimonds Kasparinskis; Iluta Dauškane; Agita Treimane

doi:10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0

Forest Ecosystems 2020, 7(3): 38 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0

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Open Access | Issue | Published: 19 June 2020

Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Oļģerts Nikodemus^¹

(

), Dārta Kaupe^¹, Imants Kukuļs^¹, Guntis Brūmelis^², Raimonds Kasparinskis^¹, Iluta Dauškane^², Agita Treimane^²

Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga LV-1004, Latvia

Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga LV-1004, Latvia

Keywords:

Afforestation, Soil properties, Grey alder, Umbrisols, Arenosols, Topsoil

Cite this article:

Nikodemus O, Kaupe D, Kukuļs I, et al. Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups. Forest Ecosystems, 2020, 7(3): 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00253-0

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Background

Natural afforestation of former agricultural lands with alder species is common in Europe. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by actinomycetes associated with alder species has been widely used for improvement of soil properties of abandoned agricultural lands, but relatively little is known of the interactions of these processes with soil type and chemical composition. We conducted a space-for time study with soil sampling under and outside grey alder tree canopies on two different soil groups to explore effects of colonisation of former agricultural lands by alder on soil properties.

Results

The results were analysed using analysis of variance. During the first 25 years after afforestation of former agricultural lands there was a significant increase in content of C_tot, N_tot, K⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺ and available P in the topsoil (0–10 cm and 11–20 cm) of Dystric Arenosols soils, which are deficient in organic matter. Such trends were not evident in organic matter rich Endostagnic Umbrisols soils, in which exchangeable K⁺ concentration decreased and exchangeable Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ concentration increased.

Conclusions

The results show that the effects of grey alder on soil chemical properties depend on initial soil properties. The invasion of agricultural land by grey alder leads to spatial variability of soil chemical properties creating a mosaic pattern.

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About this article

Effects of afforestation of agricultural land with grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on soil chemical properties, comparing two contrasting soil groups

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Oļģerts Nikodemus^¹

(

), Dārta Kaupe^¹, Imants Kukuļs^¹, Guntis Brūmelis^², Raimonds Kasparinskis^¹, Iluta Dauškane^², Agita Treimane^²

Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga LV-1004, Latvia

Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga LV-1004, Latvia

Abstract

Background

Results

Conclusions

Keywords: Afforestation, Soil properties, Grey alder, Umbrisols, Arenosols, Topsoil

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Received: 20 December 2019

Accepted: 09 June 2020

Published: 19 June 2020

Issue date: September 2020

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