%0 Research article
%T Responses of soil carbon and nitrogen transformations to stump removal
%A Kataja-aho, Saana
%A Smolander, Aino
%A Fritze, Hannu
%A Norrgård, Sini
%A Haimi, Jari
%D 2012
%J Silva Fennica
%V 46
%N 2
%R doi:10.14214/sf.53
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/53
%X We studied in central Finland whether stump harvesting after clear  felling of coniferous forest poses further short-term changes in soil  carbon and nitrogen dynamics when compared to the traditional site  preparation method, mounding. Exposed mineral soil patches in Norway  spruce (Picea abies) dominated clear-cut stands were sampled 1–5 years  after the treatments. The extent of the exposed mineral soil surface was  significantly larger at the stump removal sites when compared to the  mounding sites. No differences were found in soil pH, organic matter  content or total concentration of soil C between the treatments or  treatment years. Total concentration of soil N was consistently higher  and C:N ratio lower in the stump removal plots than in the mounded  plots. Further, both net N mineralisation and nitrification were clearly  increased in the stump removal plots one year after the treatments.  Soil microbial activity (CO<sub>2</sub> production) was higher in the  stump removal plots but similar difference was not found in sieved soil  samples incubated in the laboratory. Fluxes of other important  greenhouse gases (CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O) did not seem to be  affected by stump removal. The differences between the stump removal and  mounding procedures were most obviously attributed to more substantial  soil disturbance by stump pulling and/or differences in the microbial  communities and quality of soil organic matter in the differently  treated soil.