Metla Project 3535
Weathering fluxes and processes of forest soils
Duration: 2010-2012
Research project group: Forest Soil Science project group
Objectives
The release of nutrients and elements from soil minerals in weathering processes is in a key role in the nutrient and element cycling of the forest ecosystems. Weathering provides nutrients for plants as well as acts as a neutralizing process and supports the buffering capacity of the forest soil against the changes caused by several factors in the soil nutrient balance (forest practices, humus compounds, soil development, deposition). Weathering fluxes are important in element budgets of the forest ecosystems for example in the whole tree harvesting, as well as in studying the soil processes related to soil preparation or deposition. In boreal forest ecosystems, organic acids produced in the degradation processes of the organic matter are probably the most important factors controlling the weathering processes.
The importance of the weathering processes are widely recognized, but detailed information on weathering fluxes is still limited. The purpose of this project is to produce detailed information on weathering fluxes for several locations under different land use practices. The weathering fluxes and processes are studied in relation to soil age, climate and soil type as well as to the other element fluxes of the forest ecosystems, and to logging residue harvesting and forest cutting and ploughing. In the experiments carried out in the laboratory, we study the effect of temperature and organic compounds on the release of elements from the mineral soil in the different logging residue harvesting situations. In addition, the applied laboratory methods used will be further developed within the project.
Project leader:
Lindroos, Antti-Jussi
The Finnish Forest Research Institute,
Vantaa Unit,
PL 18, FI-01301 VANTAA, FINLAND
Phone: +358 10 211 5446 Telefax: +358 10 211 2103
E-mail: antti.lindroos@metla.fi
Other researchers:
Derome, Kirsti, RO (2012), Hartman, Markus, VA (2012), Ilvesniemi, Hannu, VA (2012), Tamminen, Pekka, VA (2012)
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Updated 24.05.2012
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