Turnover of mineral elements in the ecosystem of native herbaceous-bilberry spruce forest in the middle taiga subzone (Komi Republic)

Abstract

The contents of the paper aim at issues on native spruce forests in the taiga zone. It includes assessments of chemical elements local cycles in the ecosystem of middle-taiga of different ages of different herbaceous-bilberry spruce forest Piceеtum herboso-myrtillosum on podzols soils. It shows the structure of organic and mineral plant matter from of different tiers is shown. It revealed the regularities processes of consumption and return of chemical elements in the soil-vegetation system. The tree stand plays a major role in formation of the structural composition of organic matter annual production and fall in the ecosystem of old-aged spruce forest. The renewal process was marked as successful under the canopy forest. The plant phytomass accumulates 2298 kg ∙ ha–1 elements of mineral nutrition. High accumulation capacity is demonstrated by Ca, N, K and Si. To form its annual production, spruce forest tolerate 144.1 kg ∙ ha–1 mineral elements. The biological cycle rate of nutrients for spruce forest equals 7.3 years. The annual leaf waste provides the soil surface with 104.5 kg ∙ ha–1 nitrogen and ash elements. Destruction annually releases 23 kg ∙ ha–1 mineral elements from leaf fallen waste. Forest litter is the main source of nutrients. The reserve of chemical elements in organic soil layer is 1044.9 kg • ha–1. Precipitations annually enrich the soil with additional 24.5 kg ∙ ha–1 mineral elements. Transportation of mineral elements outside the limits of root layer (0–30 cm) within surface soil waters is 59.2 kg ∙ ha–1 a year.

Keywords

• siberian spruce picea obovata ledeb.
• phytomass
• production
• leaf waste
• nitrogen and ash elements
• atmospheric precipitation
• soil waters
• water migration of mineral elements