Klein-Raufhake Theresa, Hölzel Norbert, Schaper Jens Jakob, Elmer Michael, Fornfeist Max, Linnemann Britta, Meyer Michael, Neuenkamp Lena, Rentemeister Katharina, Santora Lea, Wöllecke Jens, Hamer Ute
University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Münster, Germany.
Landesbetrieb Wald Und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen, FB IV, Team Naturschutz, Münster, Germany.
Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jan;31(1):e70018. doi: 10.1111/gcb.70018.
Temperate forests cover 25% of the world's forest area and most of them are managed for timber production. To increase yields, native deciduous trees have been commonly replaced by fast-growing conifers, especially in Western and Central Europe. Despite the importance of forest soils for a variety of ecosystem functions, the effects of forest management intensity on soil biological processes have not yet been sufficiently understood. Using a standardized sampling protocol that covers 200 plots across four regions with different abiotic site conditions, our study aims at disentangling the effects of individual components of forest management intensity such as (i) share of native deciduous trees, (ii) timber harvesting volume, and (iii) natural deadwood volume on soil biological processes. Our findings indicate that the effects of management practices on soil biological processes are as important as abiotic factors, such as subsoil pH value and soil texture. Piecewise structural equation modeling revealed that forest management has both direct and indirect effects on soil biological processes via humus form and topsoil pH. Generally, the ratio of deciduous and coniferous trees had the most significant effect on nutrient cycling and soil properties, followed by nutrient extraction through timber harvesting and natural deadwood volume. The strength of the observed effects was modified by regional variations in climate, topography, and bedrock. Our findings underline the high diagnostic value of humus form as an indicator of biological processes in mineral topsoil (particularly pH, C/N, and microbial characteristics can be predicted) that can guide forest managers in evaluating soil quality and identifying management impacts.
温带森林覆盖了全球25%的森林面积，其中大部分用于木材生产。为了提高产量，原生落叶树通常被速生针叶树所取代，尤其是在西欧和中欧。尽管森林土壤对多种生态系统功能至关重要，但森林管理强度对土壤生物过程的影响尚未得到充分了解。我们的研究采用标准化采样方案，涵盖四个具有不同非生物场地条件的地区的200个样地，旨在厘清森林管理强度的各个组成部分，如（i）原生落叶树的比例、（ii）木材采伐量和（iii）天然枯木量对土壤生物过程的影响。我们的研究结果表明，管理措施对土壤生物过程的影响与非生物因素（如底土pH值和土壤质地）同样重要。分段结构方程模型显示，森林管理通过腐殖质形态和表土pH值对土壤生物过程产生直接和间接影响。一般来说，落叶树和针叶树的比例对养分循环和土壤性质的影响最为显著，其次是木材采伐和天然枯木量导致的养分提取。观测到的影响强度因气候、地形和基岩的区域差异而有所改变。我们的研究结果强调了腐殖质形态作为矿质表土生物过程指标（特别是pH值、碳氮比和微生物特征可以预测）的高诊断价值，这可以指导森林管理者评估土壤质量和识别管理影响。
