Kazimierz Januszek

Changes in forest soil properties and spruce stands characteristics after dolomite, magnesite and serpentinite fertilization

We have to deal with spruce dieback in recent years in Europe. Fertilization can be used to reduce susceptibility to forest dying through improving the chemical properties of soil. The aim of this study was to assess the condition of soil and spruce stand after dolomite, magnesite and serpentinite fertilization. The fertilization was used to sustain a stable condition and extended the life of spruce stands by several years which allows the reconstruction of the stand. The experimental plots were set up in the areas of two Carpathian nappes, differing in terms of lithological deposits, in Wisła and Ujsoły Forest Districts. Fertilization improves the chemical properties and enzymes activity of soil. The used fertilization variants did not cause inhibition of soil enzymatic activity. The effect of liming is visible mainly in the humus horizon, and in the deeper mineral soil, a significant change was not found. Heavy metals, mainly nickel introduced with serpentinite, did not inhibit the activity of enzymes. As a result of fertilization, the process of dying spruce was delayed. Three years after fertilization, a clear improvement in the chemistry of spruce needles was not recorded.

Usability of enzyme activity in estimation of forest soil quality

Abstract Taking into account the progressive degradation of soils it is important to assess their quality. Soil quality depends on a large number of physical, chemical, biological and biochemical properties. In the publications available, there are presented three approaches regarding the use of soil properties to estimate soil quality: (1) the use of individual properties, (2) the use of simple indexes and (3) the use of complex indexes derived from combinations of different properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility to use enzymes as indicators of forest soil quality. Experimental plots (43) were located in central Poland. The study was carried out in a number of diverse fresh forest sites. To assess the quality of forest soils dehydrogenase and urease activity and the degree of base saturation were used. One of the final conclusions point out that enzymatic activity indicates current site condition as well as the changes that occur in soil better than soil physical and chemical properties. In other words, in comparison to soil enzymatic activity, soil physico-chemical properties constitute a less sensitive indicator of soil changes.

Variability of enzymatic activity in forest Cambisols and Brunic Arenosols of Polish lowland areas

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase and urease) in trophically diverse Brunic Arenosols and Cambisols. Efforts to establish the relationship between enzymatic activity and physico-chemical properties of various subtypes of Brunic Arenosols and Cambisols were attempted. Another aim was to determine the effect of vegetation on the properties of soil surface levels. The study was conducted on 94 plots located in nature reserves and national parks in the Polish lowland area. Dehydrogenase activity and urease showed large variations in the subtypes of the distinguished Brunic Arenosols and Cambisols. Dehydrogenases and urease activity in surface layers of fresh humus of Cambisols and Brunic Arenosols was strongly associated with the plants. This is confirmed by the relationship between the enzymatic activity and the type of accumulated humus substances, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen and humus horizons reaction. Streszczenie Celem pracy było oznaczenie aktywności enzymatycznej (dehydrogenaz i ureazy) w zróżnicowanych troficznie glebach rdzawych i brunatnych. Starano się ustalić zależności pomiędzy aktywnością enzymatyczną a właściwościami fizykochemicznymi w poszczególnych podtypach gleb rdzawych i brunatnych. Kolejnym celem było określenie wpływu szaty roślinnej na właściwości powierzchniowych poziomów gleb. Badania przeprowadzono na 94 powierzchniach, zlokalizowanych w rezerwatach przyrody i parkach narodowych obszaru nizinnego Polski. Aktywność dehydrogenaz, j ak również ureazy wykazała duże zróżnicowanie w ramach wyróżnianych podtypów gleb rdzawych i brunatnych. Aktywność dehydrogenaz i ureazy w powierzchniowych poziomach próchnicznych świeżych gleb brunatnych i rdzawych wykazała silny związek z roślinnością. Potwierdza to powiązanie aktywności enzymatycznej z rodzajem akumulowanej substancji próchnicznej, stosunkiem węgla do azotu oraz odczynem poziomów próchnicznych.

Dehydrogenase activity of forest soils depends on the assay used

Abstract Dehydrogenases are exclusively intracellular enzymes, which play an important role in the initial stages of oxidation of soil organic matter. One of the most frequently used methods to estimate dehydrogenase activity in soil is based on the use of triphenyltetrazolium chloride as an artificial electron acceptor. The purpose of this study was to compare the activity of dehydrogenases of forest soils with varied physicochemical properties using different triphenyltetrazolium chloride assays. The determination was carried out using the original procedure by Casida et al., a modification of the procedure which involves the use of Ca(OH)2 instead of CaCO3, the Thalmann method, and the assay by Casida et al. without addition of buffer or any salt. Soil dehydrogenase activity depended on the assay used. Dehydrogenase determined by the Casida et al. method without addition of buffer or any salt correlated with the pH values of soils. The autoclaved strongly acidic samples of control soils showed high concentrations of triphenylformazan, probably due to chemical reduction of triphenyltetrazolium chloride. There is, therefore, a need for a sterilization method other than autoclaving, ie a process that results in significant changes in soil properties, thus helping to increase the chemical reduction of triphenyltetrazolium chloride.

lmpact of aluminium sulphate fertiliser on selected soil properties and the efficiency and quality of pine seedlings in the forest ground tree nursery

Abstract The alkalisation of soil is a common phenomenon in forest ground nurseries. Liming, inadequate fertilisation and the use of hard water for irrigation are the main reasons for this alkalisation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fertilisation with aluminium sulphate on soil pH, the activity of selected soil enzymes, efficiency as well as the growth parameters of pine seedlings. The study was conducted in a forest nursery, on a plot with soil pH 6.4 in water and 5.9 in 1M KCl. Such a pH is not conducive to the production of conifer seedlings, particularly pines. Two different doses of aluminium sulphate fertiliser were applied: 740 kg ha-1 and 1110 kg ha-1. Both doses significantly reduced the soil pH, whereas soil enzyme activity did not change. The lower dose had a positive impact on the growth parameters of pine seedlings, while the higher dose led to their deterioration. We observed statistically significant differences in average primary and lateral root lengths, number of short roots, and thickness of the neck root of seedlings. One- and 2-year-old seedlings did not show symptoms of nutrient deficiency and neither did concentrations of the investigated macronutrients and selected micronutrients in needles indicate such. After applying the higher fertiliser dose, we observed a favourable change in the composition of mycorrhizae. Out of the potential seedling pathogens we found Cylindrocarpon spp., Fusarium spp.,Phytophthora spp., Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani of which the most frequent were Fusarium oxysporom, Pythium spp. and R. solani. Their occurrence frequency differed between the treatments used in this experiment. This study confirms the positive effects of a low aluminium dose on the performance and growth parameters of pine seedlings. However, on the basis of the conducted experiments, it is difficult to say, whether this positive effect is due to a direct action of aluminium on the seedlings or rather an indirect effect caused by lowering the soil pH, which in tum impacts on mycorrhizae composition and hence pathogen development.

Effects of Serpentinite Fertilization with N, P, and K Fertilizers on Soil Properties and Needle Chemistry

ABSTRACT The aim of the present research was to study the long-term effect of serpentinite fertilization with additional nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizers on some physicochemical properties and the enzyme activity of acidic soils and needle chemistry in stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Experimental plots were located in spruce stands in the middle forest zone (900–950 m) on two nappes of the Carpathian flysch: Magura and Silesian. Serpentinite was introduced in autumn 2008 on all plots while the other fertilizers in spring 2009. The effect of fertilization was visible mainly in the humus horizon. No significant changes were found in the deeper mineral soil. The acidity and Al toxicity in the surface horizon were ameliorated through serpentinite fertilization. Five years after fertilization, no significant difference in the fertilization treatments was noted in the chemistry of the spruce needles.

Effects of serpentinite fertilizer on the chemical properties and enzyme activity of young spruce soils

Abstract The experimental plots used in the study were located in the middle forest zone (elevation: 900-950 m a.s.l.) on two nappes of the flysch Carpathians in southern Poland. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of serpentinite in combination with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers on selected chemical properties of the soil and activity of dehydrogenase and urease in the studied soils. All fertilizer treatments significantly enriched the tested soils in magnesium. The use of serpentinite as a fertilizer reduced the molar ratio of exchangeable calcium to magnesium, which facilitated the uptake of magnesium by tree roots due to competition between calcium and magnesium. After one year of fertilization on the Wisła experimental plot, the pH of the Ofh horizon increased, while the pH of the mineral horizons significantly decreased. Enrichment of serpentinite with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers stimulated the dehydrogenase activity in the studied organic horizon. The lack of a negative effect of the serpentinite fertilizer on enzyme activity in the spruce stand soil showed that the concentrations of the heavy metals added to the soil were not high enough to be toxic and indicated the feasibility of using this fertilizer in forestry.

Phosphatase activities of spruce stand soils after serpentinite fertilisation in combination with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the condition of soil after serpentine fertilisation by determining the activity of phosphatase and some physicochemical properties of soil. The study was conducted in southern Poland in the Wisła Forest District (49°8’12.92N 18°58’56.36E). The following variants: C - control - no fertiliser; S - ground serpentinite; SN - serpentinite + nitrogen; SP - ground serpentinite + P; SNP - ground serpentinite + NP; SNPK - ground serpentinite + NP (as above) + K. Fertilisation of serpentinite stimulates the activity of phosphatase in soil under spruce stands. The positive impact is reflected in the organic horizon. Less activity was noted in the humus-mineral horizon (AE) in all the fertiliser combinations three years after the fertilisation. Fertilisation of serpentinite improves the chemical properties - pH was increased, reduction of molar ratio of exchangeable calcium to magnesium form was noted.

Enzyme Activity in Forest Gleysols

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase and urease) in trophically diverse Gleysols. Efforts to establish the relationship between enzymatic activity and physico-chemical properties of various subtypes of Gleysols were attempted. Dehydrogenase activity was best correlated with carbon content and acidity among the studied properties of soils. Urease activity was correlated with the reaction pf soil. Enzyme activity differentiates subtypes of Gleysols, which are characterized by a different type of soil humus. The dehydrogenase activity was higher in gleysols with peat or muck of swamp habitats. The opposite trend was found in the urease activity. The urease activity was the highest in the gleysols without organic matter. The studies showed that enzymatic activity is closely related to the type of accumulated organic matter and at the same time with species variety of plant communities..