Abstract

Clear-cutting practices in hemiboreal forests significantly alter forest ecosystems, leading to substantial changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. This study investigated the impact of clear-cutting age on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) focusing on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and soil microbial respiration in the mineral topsoil 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers. The study sites included 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-year clear-cut sites, and adjacent mature Scots pine stand sites, adopting a paired-site design to compare clear-cuts of different ages and forest sites. Clear-cutting in Scots pine forests significantly impacted SOC and TN concentrations, initially leading to a decrease in SOC followed by an increase in TN levels. We found higher concentrations of nitrate (NO₃-N), nitrite (NO₂-N), and ammonium (NH₄-N) in clear-cuts compared to mature forests, indicating enhanced nitrification and mineralization processes after clear-cut. The SOC and TN stocks were higher in the forest topsoil layers than in the clear-cut sites, except for the TN values in the 3rd-year clear-cuts. The SMBC concentrations were higher in forests than in clear-cuts, which showed the importance of forest ecosystems in supporting microbial activity and soil health. Variations in the SOC:TN and SMBC:SMBN ratios between forests and clear-cuts suggested alterations in soil nutrient dynamics and microbial community structure resulting from the clear-cutting of mature forests. We concluded that further research is needed to understand better the long-term impacts of clear-cutting on soil quality and the status of reforested ecosystems, while evaluating the interactions between soil chemical and biological properties as more effective indicators.

  Keywords

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Pinus sylvestris L., Clear-cutting, Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Nitrogen, Microbial Biomass

Authors’ Info

Paper Info

Citation

Muraškiene M, Varnagiryte-Kabašinskiene I, Stakenas V (2025). The effect of clear-cut age on soil organic carbon and nitrogen indices in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands. iForest 18: 146-153. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4711-018

Academic Editor

Giorgio Alberti

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© SISEF - The Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology 2025

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