Publication date: 1 January 2017
Source:Geoderma, Volume 285
Author(s): Anna Ilek, Jarosław Kucza, Małgorzata Szostek
Forests play an extremely important role in the formation of water circulation in a catchment. Despite numerous studies concerning the relations between forest and water, many problems still remain unexplained. Among them is the influence of the species composition in a stand on the water storage capacity of forest soils, especially of their surface horizons, whose physico-chemical properties are directly affected by the stand. The knowledge of those interactions is significant not only in the aspect of modelling of hydrological phenomena occurring in forest ecosystems but may also be helpful in indicating the directions of stand rebuilding aimed at extending the water-protective functions of forest. The aim of the present research is to analyse the influence of the bulk density and the index of decomposition of organic matter on the water storage capacity of the surface layers of forest soils formed under beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) stands in southern Poland. The water storage capacity of individual forest soil horizons shows a distinct relationship with their bulk density. In beech and fir stands there is a critical value of bulk density, amounting to 0.48 and 0.51
Source:Geoderma, Volume 285
Author(s): Anna Ilek, Jarosław Kucza, Małgorzata Szostek
