Sirpa Piirainen

Effects of forest clear-cutting on the carbon and nitrogen fluxes through podzolic soil horizons

Effects of clear-cutting on the dissolved fluxes of organic C (DOC), organic N (DON), NO3− and NH4+ through surface soil horizons were studied in a Norway spruce dominated mixed boreal forest in eastern Finland. Bulk deposition, total throughfall and soil water from below the organic (including understorey vegetation and, after clear-cutting, also logging residues), eluvial and illuvial horizons were sampled weekly from 1993 to 1999. Clear-cutting was carried out in September 1996. The removal of the tree canopy decreased the deposition of DOC and DON to the forest floor and increased that of NH4+ and NO3− but did not affect the deposition of total N (DTN, <3 kg ha−1 a−1). The leaching of DOC and DON from the organic horizon increased over twofold after clear-cutting (fluxes were on an average 168 kg C and 3.3 kg N ha−1 a−1), but the increased outputs were effectively retained in the surface mineral soil horizons. Inorganic N deposition was mainly retained by the logging residues and organic horizon indicating microbial immobilization. Increased NO3− formation reflected as elevated concentrations in the percolate from below the mineral soil horizons were observed especially in the third year after clear-cutting. However, the changes were small and the increased leaching of DTN from below the illuvial horizon remained small (<0.4 kg ha−1 a−1) and mainly DON. Effects of clear-cutting on the transport of C and N to surface waters will probably be negligible.

Trends in hydrometeorological conditions and stream water organic carbon in boreal forested catchments

Temporal trends in stream water total organic carbon (TOC) concentration and export were studied in 8 forested headwater catchments situated in eastern Finland. The Seasonal Kendall test was conducted to identify the trends and a mixed model regression analysis was used to describe how catchment characteristics and hydrometeorological variables (e.g. precipitation, air and stream water temperatures, and atmospheric deposition) related to the variation in the concentration and export of stream water TOC. The 8 catchments varied in size from 29 to 494 ha and in the proportion of peatland they contained, from 8 to 70%. Runoff and TOC concentration were monitored for 15-29 years (1979-2006). Trends and variation in TOC levels were analysed from annual and seasonal time series. Mean annual TOC concentration increased significantly in seven of the eight catchments. The trends were the strongest in spring and most apparent during the last decade of the study period. The slopes of the trends were generally smaller than the variation in TOC concentration between years and seasons and between catchments. The annual TOC export showed no clear trends and values were largely determined by the temporal variability in runoff. Annual runoff showed a decreasing trend in two of the eight catchments. Mean annual air and stream water temperatures showed increasing trends, most clearly seen in the summer and autumn series. According to our modeling results, stream water temperature, precipitation and peatland percentage were the most important variables explaining annual and most seasonal TOC concentrations. The atmospheric deposition of SO4, NH4, and NO3 decreased significantly over the study period, but no significant link with TOC concentration was found. Precipitation was the main hydrometeorological driver of the TOC export. We concluded that stream water TOC concentrations and exports are mainly driven by catchment characteristics and hydrometeorological factors rather than trends in atmospheric acid deposition.

Canopy and Soil Retention of Nitrogen Deposition in a Mixed Boreal Forest in Eastern Finland

Nitrogen deposition, leaching, and retention were monitored in a mature spruce (Picea abies Karsten) dominated mixed boreal forest in eastern Finland. Bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, and percolation through the podzolic soil profile were monitored from 1993 to 1996. Mean annual bulk deposition of total N was 3.83 kg ha-1, of which 33% was NH4+, 26% was NO3- , and 41% was organic N. Throughfall+stemflow flux of total N was 2.93 kg ha-1 yr-1. Sixty-four % of NH4+ and 38% of NO3- in bulk precipitation was retained by tre three canopy. Organic N was released (0.27 kg ha-1 yr-1) from the tree canopy. Nitrate-N was retained and organic N was leached as the water passed through the ground vegetation and soil O-horizon. Ammonium-N and organic N were retained mainly in the E-horizon. The output of total N from the E-horizon was only 5% of the total N deposition in the forest stand during the study period and it was mainly as organic N. The output of inorganic N forms from under B-horizon was seasonal and occurred mainly at spring snowmelt.

Release of mineral nutrients and heavy metals from wood and peat ash fertilizers: Field studies in Finnish forest soils

Two field trials were conducted to study the rate of release of nutrients and heavy metals from wood and peat ash fertilizers in forest soils. In the first experiment, ash particle residues were extracted from peat and mineral soils 3 and 5 years after spreading and analysed for changes in element concentrations. Dissolution of different ash fertilizer products was also estimated by measuring the changes over time in the recovery of added nutrients and heavy metals in the surface of two peat soils. The results showed that potassium (K), sodium (Na), boron and sulfur are easily released from wood ash, whereas heavy metals are highly insoluble in all types of ash fertilizer products. Granulated ash fertilizers were less soluble than powdered fertilizers and the products stabilized by self-hardening. Minor differences occurred in ash fertilizer dissolution between peat and mineral soils and soils of different fertility. The most significant difference between wood and peat ash concerning their dissolution was the low solubility of K and Na in peat ash. Given the very slow dissolution of ash fertilizers, long-term studies are needed to understand fully the effect of ash fertilization on nutrient and heavy metal cycling in forest ecosystems.

Organic and inorganic carbon concentrations and fluxes from managed and unmanaged boreal first-order catchments.

Seasonal and between stream variation (catchment dependent variation) in losses of organic and inorganic carbon via downstream transport and outgassing of CO(2) into the atmosphere were studied in 11 small boreal catchments situated in close proximity to each other. Of these catchments four were undrained peatland rich catchments, four drained peatland rich catchments and three managed mineral soil-dominated catchments. Downstream export of total inorganic carbon (TIC) varied between 870 and 1400kgkm(-2)a(-1) and was rather consistent between the catchments, except in the case of the mineral soil-dominated catchment Kangaslampi, where export was only 420kgkm(-2)a(-1). The export of total organic carbon (TOC) varied between 2300 and 14,800kgkm(-2)a(-1) and was highest in peatland rich catchments. Peatland drainage decreased TIC and TOC concentrations in the long term, but did not affect lateral carbon export due to increased runoff from the catchments. Partial pressure of CO(2) in streams was the highest in undrained peatland rich catchments, but the outgassing of CO(2) into the atmosphere was also high from drained peatlands due to the higher discharge rate and long ditch networks. In mineral soil-dominated catchments both downstream export of carbon and emission into the atmosphere were low. TOC exports were compared in two climatically different years (2003 and 2007). The results indicate that climate change might alter the timing of the TOC export from the catchments, the importance of the spring ice melt diminishing and both snow cover and snow free period export increasing.

Iron concentrations are increasing in surface waters from forested headwater catchments in Eastern Finland

Observations of increased water colour have been made in lakes and rivers all across the northern mid-latitudes of Europe and North America, particularly during the last 10-20 yr. This water browning or brownification has been attributed to the increased organic carbon concentrations due to climate change and decreased acid atmospheric deposition. Given that iron (Fe) may also increase water colour, the contribution of Fe to water brownification has received small attention. Our aim was to study the temporal trends of Fe in forested headwater catchments in eastern Finland, where an increasing air temperature and total organic carbon (TOC) trend had been observed in an earlier study. We found a statistically significant increasing trend also in stream water Fe concentrations and a strong correlation between the trends of TOC and Fe. The average increase in TOC and Fe concentrations between 1995 and 2006 was 0.5 mg l(-1) yr(-1) (2.5%), and 34.6 μ gl(-1) yr(-1) (3.5%), respectively. These results indicate that the increased water colour or brownification in Northern Europe may not only be due to increased concentrations of organic matter but also increased concentrations of Fe. The change in precipitation and temperature conditions, particularly during late autumn and early winter periods, appeared to be the main environmental factor behind increasing Fe trends. The strong correlation between the trends of Fe and TOC indicated that the increased Fe-organic matter complexation is the mechanism behind increasing Fe trends, but further research is needed to assess the chemical forms of increased Fe that coupled with increased TOC concentrations would enhance water brownification.

DEPOSITION AND LEACHING OF SULPHATE AND BASE CATIONS IN A MIXED BOREAL FOREST IN EASTERN FINLAND

Monthly fluxes of sulphate (SO42-) and base cations(Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) were studied from 1993 to 1996 as precipitation passed through forest vegetation and surfacesoil layers in an area receiving low and declining levels of atmospheric sulphate pollution. The canopy was dominated by mature Norway spruce (Picea abies Karsten) and the soilwas a podzol developed on glacial till material. The mean annual bulk deposition of SO42- collected in the open was 136 molc ha-1 and that of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ was 44, 11 and 25 molc ha-1, respectively. The annual total throughfall deposition of SO42- was 318 molc ha-1 and that of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ was 151, 64 and 181 molcha-1, respectively. Sulphate was the dominant anion accompanying the base cations leached from the canopy. More than half (58%) of the annual total throughfall deposition ofSO42- was retained by the O-horizon and only 15% leached from below the B-horizon. The annual leaching of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ from below the B-horizon was14, 25 and 9% of the annual total throughfall deposition, respectively. The transport of base cations through the soil was predominantely countered by SO42- anions.

Stream water hydrochemistry as an indicator of carbon flow paths in Finnish peatland catchments during a spring snowmelt event

Extreme hydrological events are known to contribute significantly to total annual carbon export, the largest of which in Arctic and boreal catchments is spring snowmelt. Whilst previous work has quantified the export of carbon during snowmelt, the source of the carbon remains unclear. Here we use cation hydrochemistry to trace the primary flowpaths which govern the export of carbon during the snowmelt period; specifically we aim to examine the importance of snowpack meltwater to catchment carbon export. The study was carried out in two forested peatland (drained and undrained) catchments in Eastern Finland. Both catchments were characterised by base-poor stream water chemistry, with cation concentrations generally decreasing in response to increasing discharge. Streamflow during the snowmelt period was best described as a mixture of three sources: pre-event water, snowpack meltwater and a third dilute component we attribute to the upper snow layer which was chemically similar to recent precipitation. Over the study period, pre-event water contributed 32% and 43% of the total stream runoff in Välipuro (undrained) and Suopuro (drained), respectively. The results also suggest a greater near-surface throughflow component in Suopuro, the drained catchment, prior to snowmelt. CO(2) and DOC concentrations correlated positively with cation concentrations in both catchments indicating a common, peat/groundwater flowpath. CH(4) concentrations were significantly higher in the drained catchment and appeared to be transported in near-surface throughflow. Meltwater from the snowpack represented an important source of stream water CO(2) in both catchments, contributing up to 49% of total downstream CO(2) export during the study period. We conclude that the snowpack represents a potentially important, and often overlooked, transient carbon store in boreal snow-covered catchments.

Nitrogen and Carbon Dynamics and the Role of Enchytraeid Worms in Decomposition of L, F and H Layers of Boreal Mor

Decomposition of organic material releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and ammonium (NH4–N) into soil water. Each of the decomposition products contributes differently to overall export of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to water courses. Our aim was to study the quantity and composition of the released C and N as affected by the organic material and soil fauna, represented by enchytraeid worms. We measured the release rate of carbon dioxide, and calculated the release rates for DOC and dissolved N in soil from repeated measurements of DOC and N pools during laboratory incubation of litter (L), fermented (F) and humus (H) layers of boreal forest mor. The intermediate decomposition products, DOC and DON, were characterised according to the molecule size. The release rate of the decomposition products was higher for fresh than for old organic material. The majority of N and C were released as NH4–N and CO2, respectively. The amount of extractable organic N in soil decreased by time but DON increased. Enchytraeids stimulated N mineralisation and the release of large molecule size DOC, particularly in L layer. The results suggest that organic N in extractable form biodegrades effectively, and that soil fauna have an important role in the decomposition. The results were interpreted from the water quality point of view and the implications of the results to modelling of decomposition and export of DOC and dissolved N to recipient water bodies are discussed. In the modelling context, the novelty of the study is the description of the intermediate decomposition products and the division of the dissolved organic compounds into low molecular weight and high molecular weight fractions.

Spatial variations in the molecular diversity of dissolved organic matter in water moving through a boreal forest in eastern Finland

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) strongly affects water quality within boreal forest ecosystems. However, how the quality of DOM itself changes spatially is not well understood. In this study, to examine how the diversity of DOM molecules varies in water moving through a boreal forest, the number of DOM molecules in different water samples, i.e., rainwater, throughfall, soil water, groundwater, and stream water was determined using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) in Norway spruce and Scots pine stands in eastern Finland during May and June 2010. The number of molecular compounds identified by FT-ICR MS (molecular diversity) ranged from 865 to 2,194, revealing large DOM molecular diversity in the water samples. Additionally, some of the molecular compounds were shared between different water samples. The DOM molecular diversity linearly correlated with the number of low-biodegradable molecules, such as, lignin-like molecules (lignins), but not with dissolved organic carbon concentration. The number of lignins shared between different sampling locations was larger than that of any other biomolecular class. Our results suggest that low-biodegradable molecules, especially lignins, regulate spatial variations in DOM molecular diversity in boreal forests.