Dynamics of soil temperature and its influence on biomass production of herb layer in a submontane beech forest

Abstract

The paper summarizes the results of long-term measurements of soil temperature. The measurements were performed at two depths: 5 cm and 20 cm, on a series of five experimental plots with different stocking. The temperature of soil in the submontane beech forest at the Ecological Experimental Site (EES) Kremnické vrchy Mts. reached maximum values in August, minimum ones in February. The obtained data were processed using t-test and regression analysis - to evaluate the influence of soil temperature at the discussed soil depths on the biomass production in plants. An important influence of this factor was confirmed at both depths.

Keywords

• soil temperature
• biomass production
• herb layer
• beech forest