Anna Klamerus-Iwan

Assessment of forest soil contamination in Krakow surroundings in relation to the type of stand

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of soil pollution in different forest types around Krakow, using biochemical, chemical and magnetic methods. In assessing the degree of soil contamination, the impact of the forest species composition by comparing the surfaces of broadleaf and coniferous forest stands was taken into account. Enzymatic activity was related to other measures of pollution, i.e., heavy metal concentration, content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and level of magnetic susceptibility. The study was conducted in southern Poland. Krakow was the central point around which the test surfaces were designated. In soil samples pH, soil texture and organic carbon, nitrogen, base cation contents, dehydrogenase and urease activities were determined. Additionally, heavy metal concentration, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content and magnetic susceptibility were recorded. The obtained results confirm the high diversity of forest soil pollution around Krakow agglomeration. Significant differences in both the content of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and values of the magnetic susceptibility were observed in the soils of forest complexes located in different directions away from Krakow and at various distances from Krakow. The level of contamination is related to the historical and current deposition of industrial and urban dusts from Krakow and Silesia. The type of stand had a considerable influence on the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A higher content of aromatic hydrocarbons was observed in the soils of deciduous stands. A high level of magnetic susceptibility was observed in the soils of coniferous stands. The differences in enzymatic activity between the research plots result from different contents of PAHs and different amount of soil organic matter resulting from the species composition.

Wettability and interception in relationship with the seasonal changes on the Fagus sylvatica leaf surface

Abstract Interception is the amount of water held on the canopy at the end of a rainfall event. Rainfall interception and contact angle of raindrops on the surface of plants has a significant meaning in ecohydrology. Leaves are the plant organs in which during development, changes in the composition of the epicuticular wax can be observed. These differences can be explained by phenological changes. In the present study, there was a hypothesis that seasonal phenological changes of leaf surface can highly affect the amount of rainwater retained by plants (interception) and the angle of contact between the droplets and leaf’s surface. This above-mentioned hypothesis was assessed based on the designed measurement series, combining: 1) direct leaves spraying in various stages of growth with water at a constant temperature 2) images obtained by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to analyse changes in the structure of the epicuticular wax 3) photographic methods, images acquired in the light box 4) measurement and analysis of the angle of contact by using simulated raindrops. The leaves of Fagus sylvatica L. were analysed. Samples were taken in the Niepołomice Forest District (southern Poland) from well-developed crown trees. The result of the experiments conducted makes a database of changes in wettability of raindrops on beech leaves throughout the whole vegetative season. The internal slope of drops ranged from 110°–150° in April up to 20°–40° at the beginning of November. Based on the obtained results, we can classify the degrees of leaf wettability and interception under the influence of morphological changes occurring during the vegetative season.

Changes to the water repellency and storage of different species of deadwood based on decomposition rate in a temperate climate: Changes of properties with decomposition rate of deadwood

Department of Forest Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Kraków, Poland Departament of Applied Mechanical, Faculty of Mechanical, University of Technology, Cracow, Poland Correspondence Ewa Błońska, Department of Forest Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31‐425 Krakow, Poland. Email: eblonska@ar.krakow.pl Funding information National Science Centre, Poland, Grant/Award Number: DEC‐2016/21/D/NZ9/01333

What Characteristics of Soil Fertility Can Improve in Mixed Stands of Scots Pine and European Beech Compared with Monospecific Stands

ABSTRACT According to the current trends in forest management, endeavors are made to adjust the species composition to the site conditions and to increase the biodiversity. Changes in the species composition of forest stands lead to modifications of soil properties and nutrients cycle. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of monocultures (beech and pine) and mixed-species stands (pine-beech) on soil properties, particularly accumulation of soil organic carbon. We aim to demonstrate how different vegetation types influence soil properties in surface horizons of soil. The study sites are located in Germany and Poland under different tree stands Pinus sylvestris L., Fagus sylvatica L., and mixed-species stand. Contents of organic carbon and nitrogen, pH, and soil texture were analyzed. The studies conducted confirmed the positive effect of beech and mixed-species stands on acidification of surface soil horizons. We ordered the stands tested according to acidification effect on soils: pine stand > mixed stand > beech stand, which is consistent with previous studies. The most beneficial impact on the accumulation of organic carbon was observed in mixed-species stands in which beech and pine were found. Lower carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios confirm the high rate of organic matter decomposition and lower C/N ratio was reported in soil under beech stand in comparison to pine stands.