RECORD
Forest Soil Respiration and Exoenzyme Activity in Western North America Following Thinning, Residue Removal for Biofuel Production, and Compensatory Soil Amendments
- Title:
- Forest Soil Respiration and Exoenzyme Activity in Western North America Following Thinning, Residue Removal for Biofuel Production, and Compensatory Soil Amendments
- Creator:
- Sherman, Lauren; Coleman, Mark D.
- Date Created:
- 2020-03
- Description:
- Cellulosic biofuel from forest thinning operations is a potential renewable energy source in regions with overstocked forests such as those in western United States. However, it is possible that biomass removal can deplete nutrients from soil, which can alter soil respiration (Rs) and exoenzyme properties, and potentially impact tree growth. This study evaluates the impact of biomass removal on Rs and exoenzyme properties and the capacity of soil amendments to counteract any potential effects. At two study locations, we created four post‐thinning biomass retention levels: full biomass removal (0×), full biomass retention (1×), double biomass retention (2×), and a no‐thin treatment. Four soil amendment treatments were applied to each biomass retention level: N fertilizer (F), biochar (B), fertilizer plus biochar (FB), and an untreated control (C). We evaluated treatment effects on Rs and activity of four exoenzymes to represent C‐cycling, N‐release, and P‐release processes. Biomass retention levels had no effect on Rs (p = .42) or exoenzyme activities (p > .29). Variation in exoenzyme activity was explained by location, season, soil organic matter, soil moisture content, and temperature. Variation in Rs was explained by the same variables, in addition to C‐cycling exoenzyme activity and soil pH. Soil amendments had no effect on exoenzyme activities (p > .49), and no main effect on Rs (p = .48), though amendments influenced Rs differently at each location (p = .02). Short‐term findings suggest small‐diameter biomass removal for cellulosic biofuel production will not impact Rs and exoenzyme properties, and paired with our tree growth study, provide evidence that biofuel systems are a feasible renewable energy source in the western North America. Forest biomass removed after thinning of western American forests has potential to provide abundant bioenergy feedstocks. However, there is concern that removing residual biomass from thinning operations will degrade microbial decomposition and nutrient cycling functions through decreased detrital inputs. Microbial processes, measured with soil respiration and exoenzyme activity were little affected in the second and third years after various combinations of forest thinning, biomass removal, and compensatory amendments of biochar and nitrogen fertilization. Forest microbial functions appear to be resilient to biomass removal for bioenergy production in the years following treatment. Long‐term observations are needed.
- Document Type:
- Research Article
- Subjects:
- UIEF forest thinning thinning operations soil respiration forest soils exoenzyme activity biofuel production residue removal biomass removal forest health bioenergy feedstocks forest ecology
- Location:
- UIEF
- Latitude:
- 46.869607
- Longitude:
- -116.733856
- Publisher:
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
- Department:
- Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences
- Type:
- Text
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Forest Soil Respiration and Exoenzyme Activity in Western North America Following Thinning, Residue Removal for Biofuel Production, and Compensatory Soil Amendments", UIEF Research Exchange, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/uief/items/uief_0148.html
Rights
- Rights:
- In copyright, educational use permitted.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/