A recent study, published in the journal Nature, examined the influence of tree species on soil activity. In total, 64 European forests were assessed by the researchers. Several conclusions emerged.<\/p>\n
Forests dominated by fast-growing tree species, such as hornbeam or silver birch, show stronger soil food web activity. These species provide more fresh organic matter of higher nutritional quality and accelerate organic matter decomposition processes and soil nutrient cycling.<\/p>\n
Conversely, forests dominated by slower-growing tree species, such as Scots pine or Norway spruce, show weaker soil food web activity. These species prioritise resource conservation.<\/p>\n
Mixing different tree species does not always improve soil functioning; it can even reduce it, despite an increase in above-ground tree growth induced by this diversification. An innovative finding of this study highlights that what benefits trees above ground does not always benefit the below-ground food web.<\/p>\n
Tree diversity alone would not be sufficient to preserve the vitality of forest ecosystems. Mixing species, yes \u2014 but not just any way! The functional traits of the different species must be taken into account.<\/p>\n
In the near future, climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of droughts. This will favour drought-resistant species (that is, those resistant to water-stress-induced cavitation). The study’s findings suggest that this shift in the species composition of tree communities could slow soil functioning, with knock-on effects on soil organic matter recycling. The authors stress the need to take into account both above-ground and below-ground dynamics when managing forests in the face of climate change.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":46606,"template":"","class_list":["post-46799","forestnews","type-forestnews","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n