Search results for "Plant litter"
showing 10 items of 41 documents
Consequence of litter removal on pedogenesis: A case study in Bachs and Irchel (Switzerland)
2016
In forests, soils contain at least twice as much carbon than plants that mostly grow in the upper layers. Litter at the interface between soils and the atmosphere regulates a variety of biogeochemical cycles, which are important for both plants and soils and have possible implications for other environmental components. We have compared leachates collected during an incubation experiment on: a) beech and oak leaves; b) organic subhorizons OLn, OLv, OF, and mineral A horizon; c) treated with litter removal (and untreated) plots, to assess the changes in the chemical composition of the litter layers and leachates during weathering and their influence on the underlying horizons. . Two differen…
Plant litter decomposition and microbial characteristics in volcanic soils (Mt Etna, Sicily) at different stages of development
2006
Soils at different developmental stages were sampled from eight sites on the slopes of Mt Etna, Sicily (Italy) and characterized for total C, microbial biomass and microbial respiration. The values of these parameters were greatest for the most developed soils, but differences in recent management and site characteristics limited analysis of trends with soil development across the eight sites. The decomposition kinetics of both intact leaf litter and the water-insoluble fraction of leaf litter from three common species on Etna [Etnean broom (Genista aetnensis), European chestnut (Castanea sativa), and Corsican pine (Pinus nigra)] were determined in four of the soils (the two with the smalle…
Fungal planet description sheets : 1042-1111
2020
Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natale…
Impact of changing forest management on soil organic matter in low mountain acid media
2002
The impacts of changes in vegetation cover from native deciduous forest to Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) and of human activity on soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics were studied in two low mountain areas of east-central France. No striking difference in soil type (Dystric Cambisol) was found between the two sites. Humus-rich horizons were of the “Dysmull” and “Moder” types, regardless of the nature of the bedrock. Contrary to a common affirmation concerning other coniferous species, Douglas fir had no negative effect on soil pH and humification degree of SOM, with respect to the native beech vegetation. Pruning and partial clearing slightly improved humification, espect…
Short-term response of the Ca cycle of a montane forest in Ecuador to low experimental CaCl2 additions
2013
The tropical montane forests of the E Andean cordillera in Ecuador receive episodic Sahara-dust inputs particularly increasing Ca deposition. We added CaCl2 to isolate the effect of Ca deposition by Sahara dust to tropical montane forest from the simultaneously occurring pH effect. We examined components of the Ca cycle at four control plots and four plots with added Ca (2 x 5kg ha(-1) Ca annually as CaCl2) in a random arrangement. Between August 2007 and December 2009 (four applications of Ca), we determined Ca concentrations and fluxes in litter leachate, mineral soil solution (0.15 and 0.30 m depths), throughfall, and fine litterfall and Al concentrations and speciation in soil solutions…
Recovery of macroinvertebrate communities from stream habitat restoration
1998
1. Many streams channelized for timber floating in Finland are now being restored to their original condition. The most frequently used restoration structures are boulder dams, flow deflectors, excavations and channel enlargements. By increasing substrate heterogeneity and leaf litter retention, restoration may enhance the formation of detritivore-dominated macroinvertebrate assemblages. In this study, macroinvertebrate communities in streams with differing recovery periods (from 0 to 16 years) from restoration, were compared with those in channelized and near-pristine streams. 2. Water depth and current velocity were lower, and relative bed roughness higher in restored than in dredged chan…
Unravelling the importance of forest age stand and forest structure driving microbiological soil properties, enzymatic activities and soil nutrients …
2016
This study aimed to investigate the effects that stand age and forest structure have on microbiological soil properties, enzymatic activities and nutrient content. Thirty forest compartments were randomly selected at the Palancares y Agregados managed forest area (Spain), supporting forest stands of five ages; from 100 to 80years old to compartments with trees that were 19-1years old. Forest area ranging from 80 to 120years old and without forest intervention was selected as the control. We measured different soil enzymatic activities, soil respiration and nutrient content (P, K, Na, Mg, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ca) in the top cm of 10 mineral soils in each compartment. Results sh…
Chloroanisoles in soils and earthworms
1993
One important group of metabolites of chlorophenols in Finnish soils is their methylation products, i.e. chloroanisoles. Bioaccumulation of chloroanisoles into the biomass of earthworms was studied both in laboratory and by taking earthworm samples from contaminated soils. Concentrations of these compounds in the soils were also analysed. In the laboratory experiment, concentrations of 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole (2346-TeCA) and pentachloroanisole (PeCA) were high in earthworms 1 week after introduction (approx. 50 μ/g fat). Later on, the concentrations decreased to a low level at a considerable rate, bcth in soil and in earthworms. The higher the concentration of chloroanisoles in the soil …
Modelling Inoculum Availability ofPlurivorosphaerella nawaein Persimmon Leaf Litter with Bayesian Beta Regression
2019
AbstractCircular leaf spot (CLS), caused byPlurivorosphaerella nawae, is a serious disease of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) inducing necrotic lesions on leaves, defoliation and fruit drop. Under Mediter-ranean conditions,P. nawaeforms pseudothecia in the leaf litter during winter and ascospores are released in spring infecting susceptible leaves. Persimmon growers are advised to apply fungicides for CLS control during the period of inoculum availability, which was defined based on ascospore counts under the microscope. A model of inoculum availability ofP. nawaewas developed and evaluated as an alternative to ascospore counts. Leaf litter samples were collected weekly in L’Alcúdia from 2010 to…
Habitat patchiness affects decomposition and faunal diversity: a microcosm experiment on forest floor.
1998
Environmental heterogeneity has been intensively studied, but little is known about relationships between habitat patchiness and soil processes. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) the impact of patchiness of the litter layer on the decomposer community and litter decomposition rate, and (2) whether the impact of soil fauna on the rates of processes differs in relation to patchiness. An experiment was carried out in microcosms with coniferous forest humus and four kinds of litter with different C:N ratios or stages of decomposition, either separately (i.e. in patches) or mixed with each other. Microarthropod species diversity was better maintained in the patchy systems. In the abse…