Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-nr592 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-16T05:24:07.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Influence of Afforestation on Upland Soils: The Use of ‘Bomb 14C’ Enrichment as a Quantitative Tracer for Changes in Organic Status

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

D D Harkness  and
A F Harrison
D D Harkness
Affiliation:
NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, East Kilbride, Scotland
A F Harrison
Affiliation:
NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, East Kilbride, Scotland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A series of soil samples were collected in November 1984 from five stands of Sitka spruce planted at recorded times between 1951 and 1968. Within a comprehensive program of ecologic and biogeochemical analyses, natural 14C measurements on selected organic components of the 0 to 5cm soil horizons serve to quantify progressive changes induced in the organic carbon inventory and relative to that of the original grassland. Points of particular interest are: 1) an enhanced input of fresh organic matter in the years immediately following planting; this, in parallel with a net decrease in the total carbon content of the topsoil; 2) this freshly introduced carbon predominates in the soil profile even after 30 years of afforestation; 3) during the 15- to 30-year growth period, the soil carbon content remains constant but progressive changes occur in its biogeochemical composition and rate of turnover.

Information

Type
II. Carbon Cycle in the Environment
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 31 , Issue 3: June 20-25, 1988 Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia , 1989 , pp. 637 - 643
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Harkness, D D, Harrison, A F and Bacon, P J, 1986, The temporal distribution of ‘bomb 14C’ in a forest soil, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 28, no. 2A, p 328–337.Google Scholar
Harkness, D D and Wilson, H W, 1972, Some applications in radiocarbon measurement at the Scottish Research Reactor Centre, in Rafter, T A and Grant-Taylor, T, eds, Internatl conf on 14C dating, 8th, Proc: Wellington, Royal Soc New Zealand, p B102.Google Scholar
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1981, Scientific aspects of forestry, I and II (2nd rept): London, HMSO.Google Scholar
Jenkinson, D S, 1977, Studies on the decomposition of plant material in soil. V. The effects of plant cover and soil type on the loss of carbon from 14C labeled ryegrass decomposing under field conditions: Jour Soil Sci, v 28, p 424–434.Google Scholar
Jenkinson, D S, 1981, The fate of plant and animal residues in soil, in Greenland, D J and Hayes, M H B, eds, The chemistry of soil processes: New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, chap 9.Google Scholar
Jorgensen, J R, Well, C G and Metz, L J, 1980, Nutrient changes in decomposing loblolly pine forest floor: Soil Sci Soc America Jour, v 44, p 1307–1314.Google Scholar
Ladyman, S J (ms), 1982, Natural isotopic abundances in soil studies: PhD dissert, Univ Strathclyde, p 156–161.Google Scholar
Ogden, J M (ms), 1986, Some effects of afforestation on soil organic matter: PhD dissert, Univ Stirling.Google Scholar
Pyatt, D G, 1970, Soil groups of upland forests: Forest Record, Forestry Commission, London.Google Scholar
Swift, M J, Heal, O W and Anderson, J M 1979, Decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Studies in ecology, vol 5: London, Blackwell Scientific.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M and Polach, H A, 1977, Discussion: Reporting of 14C data: Radiocarbon, v 19, no. 3, 355–363.Google Scholar
Tate, K R, 1979, Fractionation of soil organic phosphorous in two New Zealand soils by use of sodium borate: New Zealand Jour Sci, v 22, p 137–142.Google Scholar
Thompson, T R E (ms), 1972, A soil survey of the Gisburn Forest: Rept, Soil Survey of England and Wales, Forestry Comm.Google Scholar
Waring, R H and Franklin, J F, 1979, Evergreen coniferous forest of the Pacific Northwest: Science, v 204, p 1380–1386.Google Scholar