Soil pH and divalent cations after clear-cutting on a Japanese cypress plantation

• Published in: Journal of forest research Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 363 - 370
• Main Authors: Farahnak, Moein, Mitsuyasu, Keiji, Ide, Jun'ichiro, Chiwa, Masaaki, Enoki, Tsutomu, Jeong, Seonghun, Otsuki, Kyoichi, Shimizu, Kuniyoshi, Kume, Atsushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 03.09.2022
• Subjects: Chamaecyparis obtusa; clear-cutting; soil pH
• ISSN: 1341-6979; 1610-7403
• DOI: 10.1080/13416979.2022.2048987

Although Chamaecyparis obtusa reduces soil pH and cation levels, limited information is available regarding their alterations after clear-cutting. We examined the soil pH and base cations on the upslopes and downslopes of individual trees and stumps of C. obtusa at two distances (0.5 m and 1.0 m) and three depths (0-5, 5-10, and 10-30 cm) in intact- and cut-tree plots. The soil pH was higher in the cut-tree plot than in the intact-tree plot, indicating the recovery of soil pH after clear-cutting. The recovery was more evident in the surface soils (0-5 cm) of downslope areas (0.5 m) than in other soil depths, which implies that the recovery of soil pH was caused by the lack of H + supply from stumps after clear-cutting. The results of H + (in H 2 O: water-soluble and KCl: exchangeable) suggested a lack of soluble H + in the cut-tree plot. Soil Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ levels in the surface soil (0-5 cm) were 1.86-fold and 1.93-fold higher in the cut-tree plot than in the intact-tree plot, respectively, implying that the recovery of divalent cations after clear-cutting was caused by a reduction in cation loss through cation exchange with H + derived from the stemflow. Collectively, soil pH and divalent cations were recovered after clear-cutting because the stemflow had ceased.