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regular research paper |
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The
impact of a shelterbelt on soil properties and microbial activity in an
adjacent crop field |
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Danuta
Wojewoda1, Stefan Russel2 |
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1Centre for Ecological Research PAS, Dziekanów Leśny,
05-092 Łomianki, Poland, e-mail: w.woj@wp.pl 2Warsaw
Agricultural University, Rakowiecka 26/30 02-528 Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: russel@delta.sggw.waw.pl |
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Abstract:
Studies were carried out in a 8 years old shelterbelt planted
across croplands (D. Chłapowski Landscape Park, region of Wielkopolska,
western Poland) and in the easterly adjacent field. The effect of the
shelterbelt on: soil organic matter content, soil respiration, microbial
biomass, dehydrogenase activity, mineralization potential of N and total
number of bacteria and fungi in the upper soil layer was analysed. Samples
were collected along parallel sites situated in the central part of the strip
(S), in the wood edge (Es), field edge (Ef) and in the field 10 m (F10) and
50 m (F50) away from the strip. All studied microbial parameters, except for
plate counted total numbers of bacteria and fungi, showed a high and
significant correlation with soil respiration and microbial biomass. The
highest values were found in the wood soil, lowest in the field soil and
intermediate in the field edge. Marked vertical differences between layers
0–3 and 3–10 cm were noticed on sites S, Es and Ef while stratification in
the field was visible not earlier than 11 months after ploughing. Some
parameters: soil organic matter contents, dehydrogenase activity, microbial
biomass estimated by fumigation-extraction method and mineralization
potential of N, showed a regular pattern along the gradient from the
shelterbelt to the middle of the field. The study suggests a favourable
effect of a shelterbelt on organic matter content in the adjacent field. This
effect may increase with age of the wood strip. |
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Key words: shelterbelt, wood’s edge, field’s edge, crop
field, soil respiration, microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity,
mineralization potential of N, soil organic matter |