Fine woody debris as a biogen reservoir in forest ecosystems

Deadwood is a very important element of the forest ecosystem, storing many nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of plants. Decaying wood occurs in various forms and sizes in forest ecosystems. In addition to large logs, there are also smaller forms. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of released components from decaying fine woody debris (FWD). The experiment included three species of wood (Abies alba, Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus excelsior) and a control without wood. Leachate from the FWD was collected in bottles, which were installed for a period four months. The filtrate was collected during a two-week interval and analyzed in the laboratory. It was found that ash wood releases twice as much dissolved organic carbon as fir wood, and that the greatest amount of nitrogen is released by alder wood. Some seasonal variability in the release of biogens from FWD was determined, which confirms the importance of temperature and humidity in the degradation process. Our results suggest that FWD in forest ecosystems is an important element of the nutrient cycle and deadwood decomposition is an essential ecosystem process by which nutrients are delivered to the soil.

Automated summary

Deadwood is a crucial element in the forest ecosystem, storing necessary nutrients for plant functioning. The study reveals that different wood species release varying components during decay, influenced by seasonal variations, temperature, and humidity. The research highlights that decaying fine woody debris is integral to nutrient cycling and deadwood decomposition is a vital ecosystem process for nutrient delivery to the soil.