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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 62(5)

Organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen relationships of regreened forest soils in an industrially impacted landscape

Patrick A. Levasseur https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8307-435X A B * , Julian Aherne C , Nathan Basiliko B and Shaun A. Watmough C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.

B Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada.

C Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.

* Correspondence to: patricklevasseur@trentu.ca

Handling Editor: Nick Dickinson

Soil Research 62, SR24063 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR24063
Submitted: 10 April 2024  Accepted: 4 June 2024  Published: 1 July 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Soil organic matter (SOM) is largely composed of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), the proportions of which often change with soil depth. The relationships between SOM, C, and N in forest soils can be greatly altered in degraded landscapes and understanding these relationships is integral for successful forest restoration planning.

Aims

The current study investigated SOM, C, and N relationships in highly degraded forest soils by depth following regreening (one-time application of soil amendments and afforestation). Additionally, the use of standard C:OM ratios (which are commonly used to estimate soil C) were assessed.

Methods

The SOM, C, and N were measured at five different depths, at nine sites, ranging in time since regreening treatment applications across one of the world’s largest regreening programmes in the City of Greater Sudbury, Canada.

Key results

The C:OM and C:N ratios decreased with soil depth while N:OM increased. The C and N were significantly correlated with SOM at all depths (excluding the L horizon). The C:OM ratio was lower than standard values and did not change between 16 and 41 years since the application of 10 Mg ha−1 of dolomitic limestone.

Conclusions

Despite massive soil degradation, SOM, C, and N relationships over soil depth at the regreening sites are consistent with unimpacted forest soils. Applying commonly used C:OM ratios drastically overestimated soil C pools, especially at lower depths.

Implications

Even in the most degraded landscapes, restoration can improve soil properties. Standard C:OM ratios should be used with caution.

Keywords: afforestation, carbon storage in soil, erosion, land degradation, reclamation of degraded soil, soil depth, soil nitrogen cycling, soil organic matter.

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