Changes in soil organic matter composition after Scots pine afforestation in a native European beech forest revealed by analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 691; pp. 1155 - 1161
• Main Authors: Girona-García, Antonio, Badía-Villas, David, Jiménez-Morillo, Nicasio T., González-Pérez, José A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.11.2019
• Subjects: afforestation; Alkanes; Biogeochemistry; Biomarkers; biomass; deciduous forests; E horizons; Fagus sylvatica subsp. sylvatica; forest soils; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Lignin; lipids; Litter layers; Methoxyphenols; mineral soils; moieties; nitrogen compounds; Pinus sylvestris; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; pyrolysis; soil organic matter; soil profiles; Biomarkers; Lignin; Alkanes; Biogeochemistry; Litter layers; Methoxyphenols
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.229

The introduction of coniferous species in former deciduous forests may exert changes in soil organic matter, particularly in its molecular composition. In this work, pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to study changes in SOM quality related to the centennial afforestation of Scots pine in an area formerly covered by European beech forest in the NE-flank of the Moncayo Natural Park (NE-Spain). For each soil profile three organic layers (fresh litter, fragmented litter and humified litter) and mineral soil horizons (Ah, E, Bhs and C) were studied. A total of 128 compounds were identified in the pyrograms, and composition differences were detected among the organic and mineral soil layers as well as between soils under beech and pine, for the main compound classes: nitrogen compounds, aromatics, lignin methoxyphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lipids and polysaccharide-derived moieties. Such chemical differences were found to be derived from the biomass composition of the predominant vegetation type that was incorporated into the soil and from its progression into the soil profile. The analysis of the distribution of alkanes indicated higher SOM stabilization in the native beech forest soil. The signal of beech biomarkers (long chain n-alkanes C31-C33) found in the pine E horizon indicates the permanence of SOM derived from the natural forest ca. 100 years after the afforestation. [Display omitted] •A total of 128 pyrolysis compounds were detected in the soil organic matter (SOM).•Polysaccharides in Bhs and BC under pine may indicate migration of complexed forms.•Natural beech forest alkane series point to higher SOM stabilization.•Biomarkers in pine show permanence of beech-derived SOM 100 yrs. after afforestation.