Soil moisture dynamic in the regeneration gap cutting of a hornbeam-oak stand
- 1University of Sopron, Institute of Geomatics and Civil Engineering, Department of Hydrology, Sopron, Hungary (goz6xf@uni-sopron.hu)
- 2MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany
The “Pilis Lék Experiment” is taking place since 2018 as a join project of the MTA Centre for Ecological Research and Pilisi Parkerdő Zrt. A 90-year old oak-hornbeam forest is under investigation in the experimental area near Pilisszentkereszt.
Gap-cutting was applied with different sizes and shapes of gaps. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate how the shape (circular/elongated), size (small/large), method of cutting (in one/two steps) affect the microclimate of gaps and the regrowth in them. Also researched, which of the listed sizes and shape characteristics helps the preservation of biodiversity and habitat conditions of the forest the most.
In this study we analyzed the soil moisture conditions of two selected gaps and their effects.We chose gaps with the same size, but different shapes. We started working with a large circle and a large elongated gap.
The manual soil moisture mapping frequency was monthly.The field measurements were carried out with a Field Scout TDR300 soil moisture meter at the points of test transects already established.
In addition to the evaluation of soil moisture measurements and regional meteorological data, the experiment is completed by laboratory tests on soil physical parameters taken at several measurement points in the gaps.
The research investigates whether there are differences between the soil moisture conditions of the two gaps. How these differences manifest themselves and relate to the shape of gaps. The analysis also examines how dynamics of soil moisture affects the growth of oak seedlings, the composition of vegetation and the intensity of vegetation cover.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This article was made in frame of the project TKP2021-NKTA-43 which has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary (successor: Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary) from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the TKP2021-NKTA funding scheme.
How to cite: Félegyházi, L., Horváth, C. V., Kovács, B., Kalicz, P., and Gribovszki, Z.: Soil moisture dynamic in the regeneration gap cutting of a hornbeam-oak stand, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-13030, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-13030, 2023.
