title: Preliminary Effects of Fertilization on Ecochemical Soil Condition in Mature Spruce Stands Experiencing Dieback in the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki Mountains, Poland.
abstract: In recent years, there has been the phenomena of spruce dieback in Europe. Significant areas of spruce low mortality now cover both sides of the Polish southern border. We evaluated ecochemical parameters influencing the heavy dieback occurring in mature spruce stands in the Polish Carpathian Mountains. Dolomite, magnesite and serpentinite fertilizers were applied to experimental plots located in 100-year-old stands in the autumn of 2008. The experimental plots were located in the mid-elevational forest zone (900-950 m) on two nappes of the flysch Carpathians: Magura (Ujsoły Forest District) and Silesian (Wisła Forest District). The saturation of the studied soils demonstrates moderate resilience of soils in Wisła Forest District in relation to acid load and high flexibility of the Ujsoły soils. After application of the fertilizers, an increase of Mg, Ca and Mb was noted in the soil solution, determined in the overlaying highly acidic organic horizons through the ion-exchange buffering mechanism of highly protonated functional groups with high buffering capacity. Magnesium concentration increased following fertilization, presenting a potential improvement of forest growth capacity without the hazard of adverse side effects of liming. Aluminium stress in old spruce is unlikely, while trees in the control plots in Wisła Forest District may already be sensitive to aluminium stress. Serpentinite fertilization improved the supply of soils in magnesium without causing significant changes in the pH of the soil. Such changes in the pH were found in dolomite and magnesite fertilizer.
authors: Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Stanisław
authors: S
authors: Małek
authors: Department of Forest Soil, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Kazimierz
authors: K
authors: Januszek
authors: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405 USA.
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Keeton
authors: Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Józef
authors: J
authors: Barszcz
authors: Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kroczek
authors: Department of Forest Soil, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Błońska
authors: Department of Forest Soil, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29-go Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Wanic
keywords: Ecochemical indicators; Old Picea abies stands; Poland; Slow-release fertilizers