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Potential indicators of soil quality in temperate forest ecosystems: a case study in the Basque Country

Indicateurs potentiels de la qualité des sols dans les écosystèmes forestiers tempérés : une étude de cas dans le Pays Basque

Annals of Forest Science volume 66, page 303 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • Assessment of forest sustainability requires reliable soil quality indicators. The present study evaluated the use of several potential such indicators in forests in the Basque Country under different types of management, involving: (i) species change and (ii) heavily mechanised forest operations.

  • • Five adjacent forest stands were selected for study: (i) two unmanaged forests (Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica) and one (40-year-old) Pinus radiata plantation, to investigate the effect of species change; and (ii) a chronosequence of mechanised radiata pine plantations (3 and 16 years old), to investigate heavy mechanisation.

  • • Several physical, chemical and biological parameters were analysed in the mineral soil. Species change could not be assessed with chemical parameters, but parameters related to organic matter indicated the disturbance caused by heavy mechanisation. The Least Limiting Water Range was a good indicator of soil physical degradation induced by heavy mechanisation. Biological parameters proved sensitive indicators: (i) the fungal phospholipid fatty acid biomarker 18:2ω6 for species change; and (ii) the ratio of Gram-positive/Gram-negative bacteria for heavy mechanisation. Nevertheless, these parameters are complementary, and monitoring programmes should include physical, chemical and biological parameters.

  • • Further studies are required to assess natural boundaries of variation in soil quality indicators, and their resistance and resilience.

Résumé

  • • L’évaluation de la durabilité des forêts nécessite des indicateurs fiables de la qualité des sols. La présente étude a évalué l’utilisation de plusieurs de ces indicateurs potentiels dans les forêts du Pays Basque sous différents types de gestion, comprenant : (i) le changement des espèces et (ii) les opérations forestières fortement mécanisées.

  • • Cinq peuplements forestiers voisins ont été sélectionnés pour l’étude : (i) deux forêts non gérées (Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica) et une plantation (âgée de 40 ans) de Pinus radiata, pour examiner l’effet des changements d’espèces, (ii) une chronoséquence de plantations mécanisées de Pinus radiata (âgées de 3 et 16 ans), pour enquêter sur la mécanisation lourde.

  • • Plusieurs caractéristiques physiques, chimiques et biologiques ont été analysées dans le sol minéral. Le changement d’espèce ne peut être évaluée avec des paramètres chimiques, mais les paramètres liés à la matière organique ont indiqué des perturbations causées par la forte mécanisation. Le Least Limiting Water Range est un bon indicateur de la dégradation des sols induite par la forte mécanisation. Paramètres biologiques qui se sont révélés des indicateurs sensibles : (i) le biomarqueur acide gras phospholipide fongique 18:2ω6 pour le changement d’espèces, (ii) le rapport bactérien Gram-positive/Gram-negative pour la mécanisation lourde. Néanmoins, ces paramètres sont complémentaires, et des programmes de suivi devraient inclure des paramètres physiques, chimiques et biologiques.

  • • D’autres études sont nécessaires pour évaluer les limites naturelles de la variation des indicateurs de la qualité des sols, de leur résistance et de leur résilience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Forestry Unit, NEIKER-Tecnalia, Zamudio Technology Park 812, 48160, Derio, Spain

    Nahia Gartzia-Bengoetxea, Ander González-Arias & Inazio Maríinez de Arano

  2. Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Section, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Str. 27, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany

    Ellen Kandeler

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  1. Nahia Gartzia-Bengoetxea
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  2. Ander González-Arias
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  4. Inazio Maríinez de Arano
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Correspondence to Nahia Gartzia-Bengoetxea.

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Gartzia-Bengoetxea, N., González-Arias, A., Kandeler, E. et al. Potential indicators of soil quality in temperate forest ecosystems: a case study in the Basque Country. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 303 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009008

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X