Management Effects on Soil Structure and Soil Nutrient Cycling

There is little information on how tree species and silvicultural practices affect soil properties and nutrient cycling, even though this has a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon storage, and forest stability. We are investigating how forest-relevant tree species (e.g., hornbeam, European beech, common oak, red oak, white fir, Douglas fir and European larch), mixed and pure stands, and natural regeneration influence soil density, soil nutrient and soil carbon stocks, and greenhouse gas emissions to predict tree species and stand-specific influences on forest soil stability (sustainability) and other soil functions.