engleski

Enzyme activity of forest soil within soil damaged forest ecosystem of the silver fir with hard fern

Introduction: Tree dieback changes microclimate and microbiological activity of the soil. The aim of this research was to determine differences in microclimate and soil enzyme activity in forest gap and forest stand. Method: The research was done in two forest gaps of fir forest with hard fern and in two forest stands. Measured microclimate elements were air temperature, soil temperature, relative air humidity and volumetric soil humidity. At a depth of 10 cm were taken soil samples to determine dehydrogenase and soil proteolytic activity. Results: No significant differences in chemical characteristics and enzyme activity were found between soils of forest gaps and forest stands. Air and soil temperature as well as soil characteristics had significant effect on enzyme activity. Increase of the organic matter, nitrogen, humus and carbon in the soil resulted increased enzyme activity of the forest soils. The highest correlations were found for forest soils proteolytic activity. Discussion: Due to insignificant changes of soil chemical characteristics, in analysed experimental plots differences in soil enzyme activity were not significant. These can be attributed also to the fact that forest gap is only four years old and relatively good rejuvenated with deciduous species. Seasonal changes of soil enzyme activity were correlated with seasonal fluctuations of abiotic factors like availability of nutrition, temperature and amount of available water. Dehydrogenase and proteolytic activity significantly were depended on microclimate. Significant decrease of soil enzyme activity in forest gap was not found in this research. The highest soil enzyme activity was at a beginning of the vegetation period in the conditions of optimal temperature and soil humidity.

Enzyme activity, forest soil, silver fir

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