Aims

This study aimed to define how vegetation affects the content and chemistry of soil organic matter (SOM) in topsoil (O and A) horizons under blueberry shrubs (Vaccinietum myrtilli) and tall-grass vegetation in the subalpine zone of the Bieszczady Mountains (Eastern Carpathians, SE Poland).

Methods

Topsoil samples (O and A horizons) were collected from ten sites covered with Vaccinium myrtillus L. and at ten sites covered with tall-grass vegetation. Above- and belowground parts of vegetation from each vegetation type were sampled. Total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) content in soil and vegetation samples were determined using an elemental analyzer. SOM chemical properties were determined via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The mineral composition of the A horizons was determined via X-ray diffractometry (XRD).

Results

V. myrtillus L. showed significantly higher TC content and C/N ratio in its aboveground parts compared to tall-grass vegetation, though TN content was significantly lower. FTIR-ATR spectra showed more intense absorption bands for V. myrtillus L. The soil mineral composition was similar across vegetation types. Soils under blueberry shrubs showed significantly higher mean content of organic carbon and TN in the O horizon compared to tall-grass vegetation, with no significant differences in the A horizon.

Conclusions

Topsoil horizons under blueberry shrubs show higher soil organic carbon (SOC) content and C/N ratios than those under tall-grasses. Our results suggest that shrubification may affect carbon concentration in the soil; however, the lack of bulk density measurements prevents the quantification of SOM content and overall carbon sequestration, necessitating further studies.

中文翻译：

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植被类型对 Bieszczady 山脉（东喀尔巴阡山脉）亚高山区土壤有机质含量和光谱特性的影响

 目标

本研究旨在确定植被如何影响 Bieszczady 山脉（东喀尔巴阡山脉，波兰东南部）亚高山区蓝莓灌木 （Vaccinietum myrtilli） 和高草植被下表土 （O 和 A） 层土壤有机质 （SOM） 的含量和化学成分。

 方法

表土样品 （O 和 A 层） 是从 10 个被 Vaccinium myrtillus L. 覆盖的地点和 10 个被高草植被覆盖的地点收集的。对每种植被类型的植被的地上和地下部分进行了采样。使用元素分析仪测定土壤和植被样品中的总碳 （TC） 和氮 （TN） 含量。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱法和紫外-可见分光光度法测定 SOM 的化学性质。通过 X 射线衍射法 （XRD） 确定 A 层的矿物成分。

 结果

与高草植被相比，V. myrtillus L. 在其地上部分表现出显著较高的 TC 含量和 C/N 比值，尽管 TN 含量显著降低。FTIR-ATR 光谱显示 V. myrtillus L 的吸收带更强。不同植被类型的土壤矿物组成相似。与高草植被相比，蓝莓灌木下的土壤在 O 层中有机碳和 TN 的平均含量显著更高，在 A 层中没有显著差异。

 结论

蓝莓灌木下的表层土壤层显示出比高草下更高的土壤有机碳 （SOC） 含量和 C/N 比。我们的结果表明，灌木化可能会影响土壤中的碳浓度;然而，缺乏堆积密度测量阻碍了 SOM 含量和整体碳封存的量化，因此需要进一步研究。