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Potential Identification of Root System Architecture Using GPR for Tree Translocation as a Sustainable Forestry Task: A Case Study of the Wild Service Tree
Sustainable economic development serves society but requires taking over space, often at the expense of areas occupied by single trees or even parts of forest areas. Techniques for transplanting adult trees used in various conflict situations at the interface of economy and nature work as a tool for sustainable management of urbanized and industrial areas, as well as, in certain circumstances, forest or naturally valuable areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in determining the horizontal and vertical extent of tree root systems before transplantation. Employing this non-invasive method to map root system architecture aids in the appropriate equipment selection and helps define the dimensions and depth of trenches to minimize root damage during excavation. This study specifically focused on the root systems of wild service trees (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) found in a limestone mine area, where some specimens were planned to be transplanted, as the species is protected under law in Poland. The root systems were scanned with a ground-penetrating radar equipped with a 750 MHz antenna. Then, the root balls were dug out, and the root parameters and other dendrometric parameters were measured. The GPR survey and manual root analyses provided rich comparative graphic material. The number of the main roots detected by the GPR was comparable to those inventoried after extracting the stump. The research was carried out in problematic soil, causing non-standard deformations of the root systems. Especially in such conditions, identifying unusually arranged roots using the GPR method is valuable because it helps in a detailed planning of the transplanting process, minimizing root breakage during the activities carried out, which increases the survival chances of the transplanted tree in a new location.
GPR (Ground Penetration Radar) research in forest areas to identify archaeological sites (Mount Ślęża, Poland)
Investigating Water Storage Dynamics in the Litter Layer: The Impact of Mixing and Decay of Pine Needles and Oak Leaves
Little is known about how the degree of mixing various forest-forming species affects forest floor hydrology. We evaluated the water storage capacity of the resulting litter layer by mixing the litterfall of Scots pine and sessile oak and studying their decomposition time. We prepared 90 artificial samples containing pure pine litter, pure oak litter, and mixed pine–oak litter with varying shares of pine needles. These samples were subjected to 15 months of decomposition in soil. After every three months of decay, some samples were removed from the soil, and their water storage capacity, bulk density, and C:N ratio were evaluated. Our findings indicate that samples with the greatest water storage capacity had a low C:N ratio and a predominant share of oak leaves. Conversely, samples with a high C:N ratio and a predominant share of pine needles had the lowest water storage capacity. After 12 and 15 months of decomposition, the water storage capacity increased by more than 52% compared to the initial water capacity of the samples. The highest increase in water storage capacity (>40%) was observed in samples with a predominant share of oak leaves, while the lowest (approximately 28%) was recorded in samples with 80 and 100% of pine needles. Our findings suggest that introducing mixed-species stands, with deciduous species as the predominant component, can yield several ecological benefits, such as an increased ability to store water in forest floor.