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Effects of soil alteration on nitrogen and carbon cycling
Růžek, Michal ; Oulehle, Filip (advisor) ; Šantrůčková, Hana (referee) ; Stadmark, Johanna (referee)
Forest ecosystems are facing changing environmental conditions induced by anthropogenic pressures, including atmospheric deposition. Elevated sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) depositions have led to changes in forest soil conditions, inducing acidification and N eutrophication. However, the consequences of atmospheric deposition for the functioning of forest ecosystems may be tree species specific. To assess the effects of S and N inputs on soil functioning of two forest stands, a soil chemistry manipulation experiment took place in two adjacent forest stands - Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) - in the Ore Mts. Over six years, separated and combined additions of S and N compounds (50 kg ∙ha-1 ∙year-1 ) were added to experimental plots in both stands to mimic enhanced atmospheric deposition. The aim of this research was to compare and investigate the soil C and N stocks and fluxes, and their responses in relation to acid and N treatments. We found that under ambient conditions, the beech stand contained more C and N in both the forest floor and the mineral soil compared to the spruce stand. Nitrogen cycling in the beech stand was less tight, with periodical soil N leaching. The manipulated increase of soil acidity (decrease of soil solution pH) reduced the availability of...
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