• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2016

Background: As the decomposition of lignocellulosic compounds is a rate-limiting stage in the nutrient mineralization from organic matters, elucidation of the changes in soil enzyme activity can provide insight into the nutrient dynamics and ecosystem functioning. The current study aimed to assess the effect of thinning intensities on soil conditions. Un-thinned control, 20 % thinning, and 30 % thinning treatments were applied to a Larix kaempferi forest, and total carbon and nitrogen, total carbon to total nitrogen ratio, extractable nutrients (inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium), and enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase) were investigated. Results: Total carbon and nitrogen concentrations were significantly increased in the 30 % thinning treatment, whereas both the 20 and 30 % thinning treatments did not change total carbon to total nitrogen ratio. Inorganic nitrogen and extractable calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly increased in the 20 % thinning treatment; however, no significant changes were found for extractable phosphorus and potassium concentrations either in the 20 or the 30 % thinning treatment. However, the applied thinning intensities had no significant influences on acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, and ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase activities. Conclusions: These results indicated that thinning can elevate soil organic matter quantity and nutrient availability, and different thinning intensities may affect extractable soil nutrients inconsistently. The results also demonstrated that such inconsistent patterns in extractable nutrient concentrations after thinning might not be fully explained by the shifts in the enzyme-mediated nutrient mineralization.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2022

Background: The Arctic permafrost stores enormous amount of carbon (C), about one third of global C stocks. However, drastically increasing temperature in the Arctic makes the stable frozen C stock vulnerable to microbial decomposition. The released carbon dioxide from permafrost can cause accelerating C feedback to the atmosphere. Soil organic matter (SOM) composition would be the basic information to project the trajectory of C under rapidly changing climate. However, not many studies on SOM characterization have been done compared to quantification of SOM stocks. Thus, the purpose of our study is to determine soil properties and molecular compositions of SOM in four different Arctic regions. We collected soils in different soil layers from 1) Cambridge Bay, Canada, 2) Council, Alaska, USA, 3) Svalbard, Norway, and 4) Zackenberg, Greenland. The basic soil properties were measured, and the molecular composition of SOM was analyzed through pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). Results: The Oi layer of soil in Council, Alaska showed the lowest soil pH and the highest electrical conductivity (EC) and SOM content. All soils in each site showed increasing pH and decreasing SOC and EC values with soil depth. Since the Council site was moist acidic tundra compared to other three dry tundra sites, soil properties were distinct from the others: high SOM and EC, and low pH. Through the py-GC/MS analysis, a total of 117 pyrolysis products were detected from 32 soil samples of four different Arctic soils. The first two-axis of the PCA explained 38% of sample variation. While short- and mid-hydrocarbons were associated with mineral layers, lignins and polysaccharides were linked to organic layers of Alaska and Cambridge Bay soil. Conclusions: We conclude that the py-GC/MS results separated soil samples mainly based on the origin of SOM (plants- or microbially-derived). This molecular characteristics of SOM can play a role of controlling SOM degradation to warming. Thus, it should be further investigated how the SOM molecular characteristics have impacts on SOM dynamics through additional laboratory incubation studies and microbial decomposition measurements in the field.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to examine carbon dynamics with biomass, soil $CO_2$ efflux, litter and root decomposition after tree density control in young Pinus densiflora stands. The stands were established with 50% thinning, clear-cut, and control stands with three pseudo-replicated plots and a bare soil plot in 8-year-old Pinus densiflora nursery field. Monthly measurements were conducted from March 2012 to February 2014 and aboveground biomass and coarse-roots were estimated by derived allometric equations. Average diameter growth at root collar in control and thinned was 0.89 cm and 1.48 cm per year, respectively, and the diameter growth of control stand was significantly higher than that of thinned stands (p<0.05). Total biomass was estimated to 5.17, $4.85kg\;C\;m^{-2}$ per year in control and thinned, respectively. Annual soil $CO_2$ efflux in control, thinned, clear cut, and bare soil was 3.71, 3.90, 4.17, $4.56kg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively and removing trees significantly increased soil $CO_2$ efflux (p<0.05). Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) was 1.57, 1.36, -0.67, $-1.25kg\;C\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$ in control, thinned, clear cut and bare soil in the young Pinus densiflora stands. NEP was significantly decreased by removing trees. Thinning increased diameter at root collar and carbon of individual tree and recovered 86% of carbon removed by thinning after one-year. In addition, soil $CO_2$ efflux increased and NEP increased by thinning. Results of this study, tree density control such as thinning increased the carbon storage and growth of the young Pinus densiflora stands.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2018

Climate models forecast more frequent and a longer period of drought events which may impact forest soil carbon dynamics, thereby altering the soil respiration (SR) rate. We examine the simulated drought effects on soil $CO_2$ effluxes from soil surface partitioning heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration sources. Three replicates of drought plots ($6{\times}6m$) were constructed with the same size of three control plots. We examined the relation between $CO_2$ and soil temperature and soil moisture, each being measured at a soil depth of 15 cm. We also compared which factor affected $CO_2$ efflux more under drought conditions. Total SR, autotrophic respiration (AR) and heterotrophic respiration (HR) were positively correlated with soil temperature (p < 0.05), and the relationships were stronger in roof plots than in control plots. Total SR, AR, and HR were negatively correlated only in roof plots, and the only HR showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05, r = -0.59). Soil respiration rates were more influenced by soil temperature than by soil moisture, and this relationship was more evident under drought conditions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.307-311
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the dynamics of soil respiration (total soil and heterotrophic respiration) following fertilizer application in red pine forests. Fertilizer (N:P:K = 113:150:37 kg/ha), which reflects current practices in Korean forest, was applied in April 2011, and total soil and heterotrophic respiration rates were monitored from April 2011 to March 2012. Monthly variation of total soil and heterotrophic respiration rates were similar between the fertilizer and control treatments, as soil temperature was the dominant factor controlling the both rates. Total soil respiration rates during the study period were not significantly different between the fertilizer (0.504 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$) and control (0.501 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$) treatments. However, the proportion of heterotrophic respiration was higher in the fertilizer (78% of total soil respiration rates) than in the control (62% of total soil respiration rates) treatments. These results suggest that current fertilizer practices in Korea forest soil do not substantially affect total soil respiration rates.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-93
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• 2013

Global warming accelerates both carbon (C) input through increased forest productivity and heterotrophic C emission in forest soils, and a future trend in soil C dynamics is uncertain. In this study, the Korean forest soil carbon model (KFSC model) was applied to 1,467,458 ha of Pinus densiflora forests in Korea to predict future C dynamics under RCP 8.5 climate change scenario (RCP scenario). Korea was divided into 16 administrative regions, and P. densiflora forests in each region were classified into six classes by their stand ages : 1 to 10 (I), 11 to 20 (II), 21 to 30 (III), 31 to 40 (IV), 41 to 50 (V), and 51 to 80-year-old (VI+). The forest of each stand age class in a region was treated as a simulation unit, then future net primary production (NPP), soil respiration (SR) and forest soil C stock of each simulation unit were predicted from the 2012 to 2100 under RCP scenario and constant temperature scenario (CT scenario). As a result, NPP decreased in the initial stage of simulation then increased while SR increased in the initial stage of simulation then decreased in both scenarios. The mean NPP and SR under RCP scenario was 20.2% and 20.0% higher than that under CT scenario, respectively. When the initial age class was I, IV, V or VI+, predicted soil C stock under CT scenario was higher than that under RCP scenario, however, the countertrend was observed when the initial age class was II or III. Also, forests having a lower site index showed a lower soil C stock. It suggested that the impact of temperature on NPP was higher when the forests grow faster. Soil C stock under RCP scenario decreased at the end of simulation, and it might be derived from exponentially increased SR under the higher temperature condition. Thus, the difference in soil C stock under two scenarios will be much larger in the further future.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.554-561
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• 2017

Under the projected global warming, release of carbon as $CO_2$ through soil organic matter decomposition is expected to increase. Therefore, accurate measurement of $CO_2$ released from soil is crucial in understanding the soil carbon dynamics under increased temperature conditions. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) traps are frequently used in laboratory soil incubation studies to measure soil respiration rate, but decreasing $CO_2$ gas solubility with increasing temperature may render the reliability of the method questionable. In this study, the influences of increasing temperature on the $CO_2$ capture capacity of NaOH traps were evaluated under $5{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ temperature range at $10^{\circ}C$ interval. Two closed-chamber experiments were performed where NaOH traps were used to capture $CO_2$ either released from acidified $Na_2CO_3$ solution or directly injected into the chamber. The sorption of ambient $CO_2$ within the incubators into NaOH traps was also measured. The amount $CO_2$ captured increased as temperature increased within 2 days of incubation, suggesting that increased diffusion rate of $CO_2$ at higher temperatures led to increases in $CO_2$ captured by the NaOH traps. However, after 2 days, over 95% of $CO_2$ emitted in the emission-absorption experiment was captured regardless of temperature, demonstrating high $CO_2$ absorption efficiency of the NaOH traps. Thus, we conclude that the influence of decreased $CO_2$ solubility by increased temperatures is negligible on the $CO_2$ capture capacity of NaOH traps, supporting that the use of NaOH traps in the study of temperature effect on soil respiration is a valid method.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.417-430
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental process of plant community during the secondary succession and the dynamics of soil properties in the burned and unburned areas of Mt. Ch’oly-san. Owing to the forest fire occurred on April, 1989, the red pine(Pinus densiflora) forest and its floor vegetation were burned down. The floristic composition of burned and unburned areas were composed of 53 and 49 species of vascular plants, respectively. The dominant species based on SDR4 of the burned sites were lespedeza cyrtobotrya (89.62), Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens (62.50), and Carex humilis (58.73), Quercus serrata (43.33). In contrast, Pinus densiflora (83.56), Lespedeza cyrtobotrya (55.57), Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens (51.88) and Carex humilis (50.41) were dominant in the unburned area. The biological spectra showed the $H-D_1-R_5-e$ type in both the burned and unburned areas. The indices of similarity ($CC_S$) between the two areas were 0.74. Degree of succession (DS) was 604 in the burned area and 802 in the unburned area. From these facts, it is assumed that the succession is rapidly progressing because of the recovery of vegetation. The species diversity ($\={H}$) and evenness index(C) in the burned and unburned areas were 0.15 and 0.18, respectively. Red pine tree did not resprout after scorch by the forest fire, but Lespedeza, Quercus, Rhododendron, Albizzia, and Zanthoxylum resprouted from the roots and trunks after the forest fire. It seems that these species are the fire-resistant species. Soil properties such as soil pH, content of organic matter, available phosphous, total nitrogen, tatal carbon, exchangeable potssium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium increased due to forest fire. These results suggest the intensity of forest fire in the study area was relatively weak. Monthly changes of soil properties were of little significance except for some cases.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 2012

We investigated the relationship between vegetation type and soil carbon dynamics in even-aged alder (Alnus hirsuta) and Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) plantations in central Korea. Both forests were located on the same soil parent material and occupied similar topographic positions. Soil $CO_2$ efflux in the two plantations was determined using a dynamic chamber method accompanied by measurements of soil moisture content and temperature. Mean soil temperature was similar in the two plantations, but mean soil water content was significantly higher in the alder plantation than in the pine plantation. In both plantations, seasonal patterns in soil $CO_2$ efflux exhibited pronounced variation that corresponded to soil temperature. Soil water content did not affect the seasonal variation in soil $CO_2$ efflux. However, in summer, when soil temperature was above $17^{\circ}C$, soil $CO_2$ efflux increased linearly with soil water content in the alder plantation. Estimated $Q_{10}$ was 3.3 for the alder plantation and 2.7 for the pine plantation. Mean soil respiration during the measurement period in the alder plantation was 0.43 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$, which was 1.3 times higher than in the pine plantation (0.33 g $CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$). Higher soil $CO_2$ efflux in the alder plantation might be related to nitrogen availability, particularly the concentration of $NO_3{^-}$, which was measured using the ion-exchange resin bag method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2022

Environment-friendly harvesting is practiced to maintain ecosystem, landscape, and forest protection functions. The present study was conducted at Simgok-ri, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonngi-do, where a 41-50-year-old Japanese larch forest was harvested in an environment-friendly manner from 2017 to 2019. The dynamics of organic matter in this forest were investigated at three years after the harvest. Specifically, organic matter content was measured on the forest floor and in overstory biomass, litterfall, and soil up to 30 cm in depth from June 2020 to January 2021. Owing to the harvest, the amount of overstory biomass of the Japanese larch stands decreased from 142.22 to 44.20 t ha^-1. On the forest floor, the amount of organic matter was 32.87 t ha^-1 in the control plots and 23.34 t ha^-1 in the harvest plots. Annual litterfall was 4.43 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in the control plots and 1.16 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in the harvest plots. Soil bulk density in the B horizon was 0.97 g cm^-3 in the control plots and 1.06 g cm^-3 i n the harvest plots. Soil organic matter content was 11.5% in the control plots and 12.8% in the harvest plots. The total amount of soil organic matter did not differ significantly between the control plots (245.21 t ha^-1) and harvest plots (263.92 t ha^-1), although the amount of soil organic matter tended to be higher in the harvest plots. The total amount of organic matter in the forest was estimated to be 406.48 t ha^-1 in the control plots and 338.21 t ha^-1 in the harvest plots. In the harvest plots, the ratio of aboveground organic matter decreased to 13.1% and soil organic matter increased to 78.0%, indicating that the distribution of organic matter changed significantly in these plots. Overall, the carbon accumulated in aboveground biomass was substantially reduced by environment-friendly harvesting, whereas the soil carbon level increased, which played a role in mitigating the reduction of system carbon in the forest. These results highlight one possible resolution for forest management in terms of coping with climate change. However, given that only three years of environment-friendly harvesting data were analyzed, further research on the dynamics of organic matter and tree growth is needed.