Relationships between the Content of C, N, P and Their Stoichiometry in the Soils of Selected Reserves of the Białowieża Primeval Forest

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the content of C, N, P and their stoichiometry in the soils of Białowieża Primeval Forest in northeastern Poland. The studies were carried out in the forest reserves of Białowieża Primeval Forest, i.e., in Władysław Szafer Landscape (WS), in Dębowy Grąd (DG), in Lipiny (LP), and in Koryciny Reserve (KOR) in northeastern Poland (Podlaskie Voivodeship). A close relationship was found between the content of TC and TN in the soils of the studied deposits, which is confirmed by positive linear relationships for the soils of the 0–5 cm layer (r = 0.965 ***, r2 = 0.931) and 5–40 cm depth (r = 0.959 ***, r2 = 0.919). The C:N ratio ranged from 17.40 to 24.50, with the highest content recorded in the soil of Lipiny reserve, which may indicate slowed decomposition processes and accumulation of organic matter in the soil due to a very acidic soil reaction (pHCaCl2 3.98). The C:P ratio in reserves of Koryciny and Dębowy Grąd ranged from 114.4 to 229.7, and the mean value in the litter was 547.8. The value of C:P ratio > 300 may favor biological sorption of phosphorus in the soil of Lipiny reserve. The values of stoichiometric C:N:P ratio may be an indicator of the intensity of nutrient flux entering forest soils from dead plant residues.

Keywords

• carbon
• nitrogen
• phosphorus
• forest reserves
• soil
• litter forest stoichiometry