Tree Regeneration-Soil Relationships

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 September 2024) | Viewed by 1903

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Biology and Forestry, The Pennsylvania State University—DuBois Campus, DuBois, PA, USA
Interests: forest management; forest ecology; plant ecology; natural resource management; biodiversity; vegetation; landscape ecology; conservation; conservation biology; community ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural regeneration in urban forests faces both biotic and abiotic challenges. The biotic challenges, people and herbivores, can be controlled by managing access to the forests. The abiotic challenges, especially air pollution and urban climate, have their most profound effects on the soil–tree relationships. The presence of natural regeneration trees is strongly related to the soil environment but can be largely influenced by human disturbances including soil compaction due to human trampling and chemical pollution. Although soil management techniques can reduce soil compaction, it is far more difficult to reduce the level of chemicals introduced to the soils from fossil fuels combustion. Little explored basic questions include relationships between the urban soil structure, which is often modified by people, and seedling populations of forest canopy tree species. How do the chemicals accumulating in soils from air pollution relate to seedling populations? How does the relatively hot urban climate effect the soil moisture natural regeneration relationship? Do soil conditions decrease the success rate of seed establishment by enhancing the success of seed consumers? Do urban soils favor the establishment of invasive species over native species? How does the soil microbial community relate to natural regeneration in the urban forest? What management techniques can urban forest stewards utilize to address urban forest soil challenges to enhance the natural regeneration of canopy trees?

The Special Issue aims at covering the state of the art in urban forest natural regeneration, responses of seedlings and saplings to various urban forest soil conditions, including interactions with invasive plant species, large animal herbivory and seed predation. Research articles and review articles of relevant practices on the topics are welcome.

Dr. Robert E. Loeb
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • urban forest ecology
  • urban natural areas conservation
  • tree natural regeneration
  • urban forest soils
  • forest resource management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 15193 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Balanced N, P and K Fertilization on Fine Root Traits and Soil Properties in Sapindus mukorossi
by Juntao Liu, Ling Zhou, Dongnan Wang, Yingyun Gong, Xiaoli Yan, Qiuli Cao, Shixiong Wu, Jianhui Weng, Guoqing Zhang and Liming Jia
Forests 2024, 15(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010094 - 3 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1318
Abstract
To uncover the relationship between fine root traits and soil properties of trees under different fertilization treatments is important for understanding the nutrient acquisition strategies of woody oilseed plants under scientific fertilization management. An experiment of randomized complete block design was conducted in [...] Read more.
To uncover the relationship between fine root traits and soil properties of trees under different fertilization treatments is important for understanding the nutrient acquisition strategies of woody oilseed plants under scientific fertilization management. An experiment of randomized complete block design was conducted in a Sapindus mukoross plantation using combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers at different levels (Control: 0 kg·ha−2 of N, P and K; level 1: 300 kg·ha−2 of N, 250 kg·ha−2 of P, and 200 kg·ha−2 of K; level 2: 600 kg·ha−2 of N, 500 kg·ha−2 of P, and 400 kg·ha−2 of K; and level 3: 900 kg·ha−2 of N, 750 kg·ha−2 of P, and 600 kg·ha−2 of K). The response of fine root traits and soil properties of Sapindus mukoross to the application of different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) combinations was investigated by measuring fine root traits and soil properties indices. The results showed that: (1) The soil surface is the main location of fine roots. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the FRB, RLD, FSRL, and RAD of Sapindus mukoross were significantly increased under the fertilization treatment compared with the control. (2) In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the SOC, TN, TP, TK, AP, AK and AN of Sapindus mukoross soils were higher than those of the control group under different fertilization treatments, except for the pH. (3) Correlation analysis showed that FRB and RLD were significantly and positively correlated with SOC, AN and AP, while TP and AP were negatively correlated with FSRL and positively correlated with RAD. RDA showed that AP content in soil was the main factor which influenced the fine root traits of Sapindus mukoross. The results of the study revealed the response strategies of fine root traits and soil properties of Sapindus mukoross to N, P and K fertilizers, provided theoretical support for the scientific cultivation of woody oilseed species, and suggested scientific and rational fertilization and management strategies for Sapindus mukoross plantation forests, a species widely planted in the southern region of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Regeneration-Soil Relationships)
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