The aim of the study was enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of the method developed by Dyrness [1965] for the visual assessment of soil damage caused by wood extraction. The results achieved with the computer-aided and traditional version of the method were compared and used as a basis of the optimal wood extraction method. The computer processing of digital photographs involved the use of CorelDRAW 11, AutoCAD R14 and Solid Edge V17 computer programmes. The proposed procedure providing support to the visual assessment of soil damage produces more reliable results. According to the performed assessment, the double horse skidding, resulting in the smallest disturbance area and causing the smallest soil compaction, proved to be most environment-friendly wood extraction method.
Tree species differ in litter quality and belowground biomass, thereby exerting species-specific impact on soil properties and microbial biomass. A study was conducted to find out the comparative effects of Podocarpus falcatus and Croton macrostachys on basic soil characteristics and microbial biomass, in the Munessa forest, Ethiopia. Four experimental plots under the canopies the respected tree species (two from each) were established for sample collection. From these plots, soil samples were collected from a depth 0-10 cm and 10-25 cm. The results showed that, from the depth 0-10 cm, concentration of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) was larger under C. macrostachys and from the depth 10-25 cm these values were greater under P. falcatus. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in cation exchange capacity being larger under C. macrostachys. There were no differences in microbial composition between the plots. However, the total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) concentration as an entry for microbial biomass determination tended to be significantly larger in soil under Podocarpus plots (382.7 ± 60.9 nmol PLFA g⁻¹ dry soil) vs. 262.2 ± 32.8 nmol PLFA g⁻¹ dry soil (Croton plots). The varying impacts of tree species on soil characteristics and microbial biomass may be partly explained by differences in functional traits related to life-history strategy of the respected species.
Even though massive winds are significant disturbing factors for forest ecosystems, studies assessing topsoil properties in relation to wind-induced changes in forest floor and, specifically, works dealing with soil water repellency are lacking. On the other hand, the majority of works aimed at the wettability of soil have been carried out on soils from arid or semiarid climatic regions. Besides that, much less attention has been dedicated to soil water repellency in boreal-temperate regions and mountainous areas in particular. Here we report on water repellency of topsoil in mountainous region of the High Tatras of northern Slovakia (central Europe), where katabatic windstorm have blown down app. 12,500 hectares of forest canopy. Different management practices applied on windblown areas together with fire impact have resulted in four types of sites in the area: harvested, reference, left on self-recovery and struck by wild-fire. In order to cover the diversity of topsoil conditions, samples were taken at four representative sites. Results of WDPT and MED measurements show that a great portion of samples exhibited considerable degree of water repellency. It was found that there are significant differences in actual water repellency and field water contents between particular groups of samples taken at individual sites. Results of multiple regression analysis showed that water repellence of topsoil material is significantly controlled by water and organic carbon contents. Besides, for fire-unaffected soils it was found that the degree of water repellence is closely related to detected values of soil reaction as well. Explained portions of WDPT and MED variances ranged from 45 up to 72%.
We studied the relationship between tree-species diversity and the above-ground biomass on an example of two natural Polish forest with different altitiudinal range, plant species pool, vegetation and climatic conditions. The study sought to determine whether: (1) above-ground biomass in natural forests correlates with tree-species diversity irrespective of the kind of forest (montane or lowland), and (2) the relationship in question is negative, (3) the above-ground biomass is greater in montane forests than in lowland ones. Natural forests present in 1º Polish Gorce Mountains (montane forest) alongside comparable data for the 2º world-renowned lowland forest that is present in the Białowieża National Park. Data were collected within 558 sample plots (á 200-square-metre). The diameter at breast height of all trees with girths of or exceeding 12 cm was measured. To compute above-ground biomass we calculated dry masses for each tree on the basis of values for dbh and height, next we summed these values for all species present within each plot. The number of tree species on a plot ranged from only one (mainly in spruce stands) to six (in mixed deciduous lowland forest stands). The above-ground accumulated biomass ranged from 6 to 1155 (average 251±13) t ha–1 within the lowland forest, and from 2 to 849 (average 242±8) t ha–1 within the montane forest. We concluded that there was a humped-back shaped relationship between tree-species diversity and above-ground biomass in both lowland and montane natural forests.
Mountain forests are facing substantial changes. The need to adapt forest management to climate change is overlaid by the consequences of demographic changes that alter the form of land use profoundly. The European policy is aware of the challenges and supports mountain regions by the Regulation for Rural Developments and other strategies. Regional efforts of the Forest Authorities account for the changing ownership structure in order to ensure sustainable forest management and the provision of the dependent ecosystem services.
The aim of this study is the analysis of relative humidity in timber forest and open area at Kopciowa, near Krynica Zdrój in Beskid Sądecki Mountains. The data comes from psychrometric measurements from 1971-1982, which were collected at the Phytoclimatic Research Station of the Department of Forest Climatology. The lowest values of relative humidity were spring, on average 80% on open area and 85% in timber forest. The highest values were autumn, properly 91% on open area and 94% under forest canopy. In all time periods fluctuations of relative humidity they were small in forest. In individual seasons of year and in vegetation period also, the relative humidity was greatest in forest. The biggest differences, on benefit of forest stand, were in spring months (April, May), the smallest differences were in November and December, and they were on average 4%. The differences of relative humidity for decade periods were between 8 and 15%, in pentad periods from 15 to 30% and in individual days they achieved 50% even.
The species richness pattern exhibits a strong altitudinal dependence which may be altered under the influence of land use-related disturbances. The Beskid Niski Mountains are part of the northern Carpathian Mountains – an area that saw a large-scale relocation of certain ethnic groups after World War II. The subsequent rapid decline in the human population level was the main factor shaping the environment in this area, and contributed to a rapid increase in the forest area, also introducing changes in its functioning. The increase in the forest area was not evenly distributed, showing the largest values at higher locations. The present study is focused on changes in the species richness of the Carpathian fir forests along the altitudinal gradient, in relation to socio-economical transformations. The changes indicated an overall decrease in species richness, especially at higher locations. The main reason for these changes seemed to be forest management-related, causing an increase in the share of blackberry, fern and grass species, as well as the disappearance of species diagnostic of the ancient forests, which led to homogenization of vegetation. The increase in the mountain forest area has proven to be insufficient to secure the species richness of forests.
This study concerns the observations and measurements of snow-cover carried out during the period from 1970 to 1997 in the open area and in the fir-spruce forest at the Station of Phytoclimatic Research at Kopciowa in the Beskid Sądecki Mountains. It was found that the average duration of a stable and compact snow-cover is 118 days in the open area and 126 days in the forest. On the average snow appears on 13 November in the open area, and 7 days later in the forest. It disappears on 23 March from the open area, and nearly 3 weeks later from the forest. In the first half of the winter season the average depth of snow-cover in the forest is only a little smaller than in the open area, and it is characterized by a slightly greater variation. While from mid-February the snow-cover in the open area is thinner, and is much more variable than in the forest.
This research regards the forests of Krynica surroundings (Western Carpathians). The object of the studies is to analyze the vegetal cover species in the undergrowth of deciduous mountain forest and mixed mountain forest, and to find floristic differences between these two types of forest environment. This subject was taken up because species indicating the type of environment in the Carpathian Region are useless in identifying the type of forest environments in Gorce and Beskid Sądecki Mountains. In the research, data from 50 model surfaces was used. In the studies the diagnostic value of indicator species, up to now used for forest environment identification, was judged according to their response for change in soil generosity of upper soil horizons. The types of soil found on model surfaces were divided into four groups, characterized by similar chemism of upper soil horizons (Fig. 1). Chemism of soil types in those groups is presented in Figure 2. The frequency of occurrence of different herb species depending on soil generosity is shown in Table 2. Specics of plants growing on soil of lesser generosity and receding as soil generosity increases, and those which became more frequent as the soil generosity increases, are useful to identify deciduous mountain forest and mixed mountain forest environments. Other species глге nearly useless for environment identification. It was also discovered, that species which became more frequent as soil generosity increases are joined by a significant correlation of coexistence (Fig. 3). Last phase of research defines forms of vegetal cover in forest undergrowth useful for differentiating between the two types of forest environment. Such forms are described by occurence of groups of plant species (lab. 3). It was found that the mixed mountain forest, growing on soil with upper horizons of low generosity, differs from the deciduous mountain forest by occurrence of plant species of Vaccinium group and lack, of Mercurialis group species. Typical mixed mountain forest, where upper soil horizons are of middle generosity, is similar to deciduous mountain forest because of presence of Mercurialis group species, but differs by occurrence of Vaccinium group species. The mixed mountain forest with upper soil horizons of high generosity docs not differ by floristic composition from the deciduous mountain forest. Soil generosity and productivity of both environments is caused by lower soil horizons.
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