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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (3 February 2023) | Viewed by 22450

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Dr. Ari Lauren

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School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus, Yliopistokatu 7, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
Interests: forest science; mathematical modelling; hydrology; biogeochemistry; biochar in water purification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The forest ecosystem is a complex network of interactive processes, e.g., stand hydrology affects soil biogeochemical processes, such as photosynthesis, organic matter decomposition, nutrient release, and greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient release further affects stand growth. A recursive loop is formed when the stand dimensions affect the hydrology. Forest management, such as thinning, partial harvesting, clear-cutting, fertilization, slash management and drainage, change the hydrological or biogeochemical processes and further the stand production. At the same time, the production of some ecosystem services may be enhanced or suppressed. Mathematical models are needed to increase the understanding of the complex interactions, to evaluate the synergies and trade-offs in relation to ecosystem services, and to support wise management of forest resources.

We invite papers containing description or application of forest ecosystem models, description of hydrological or biogeochemical submodels, or data that can be used to test forest ecosystem models. There will be an emphasis is on forest management. In modelling papers, usability and strong conceptual structure of the new models are appreciated.

Dr. Ari Lauren
Guest Editor

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Keywords

peatland forests
drainage
nutrient management
greenhouse gas emissions
nutrient export
ground water
stand growth and yield

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 11485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Nutrient Export Hotspots Using a Spatially Distributed Model in Boreal-Forested Catchments

by Antti Leinonen, Aura Salmivaara, Marjo Palviainen, Leena Finér, Heli Peltola and Annamari Laurén

Forests 2023, 14(3), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030612 - 19 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1808

Abstract

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) aimed to reduce nutrient export from catchments to water courses. Forest operations cause diffuse loading, which challenges the efficient targeting of water protection measures. We formed 100 equally probable clear-cut scenarios, to investigate how the location of the clear-cuts influenced the total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorous (TP) export on different scales. The nutrient export was calculated by using a distributed nutrient export model (NutSpaFHy). The clear-cut-induced excess TN and TP exports varied by 4.2%–5.5% and 5.0%–6.5%, respectively, between the clear-cut scenarios. We analyzed how the sub-catchment characteristics regulated the background export. The results also suggested that there was no single sub-catchment feature, which explained the variation in the TN and TP exports. There were clear differences in the background export and in the clear-cut-induced export between the sub-catchments. We also found that only 5% of the forest area could contribute up to half of the total nutrient export. Based on our results, we presented a conceptual planning framework, which applied the model results to finding areas where the nutrient export was high. Application of this information could improve the overall effectiveness of the water protection measures used in forestry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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18 pages, 21952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Weather and Forest Management on Nutrient Export in Boreal Forested Catchments Using Spatially Distributed Model

by Aura Salmivaara, Antti Leinonen, Marjo Palviainen, Natalia Korhonen, Samuli Launiainen, Heikki Tuomenvirta, Liisa Ukonmaanaho, Leena Finér and Annamari (Ari) Laurén

Forests 2023, 14(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010089 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Weather-driven hydrological variability and forest management influence the nutrient export from terrestrial to aquatic systems. We quantified the effect and range of variation in total nitrogen and phosphorus export in Vehka-Kuonanjärvi catchment located in southeastern Finland. A distributed model NutSpaFHy was used with varying weather scenarios (compiled from observed extreme years of dry, wet and wet & mild) and forest management scenarios (including no additional management and intensive clear-cutting of all mature stands in the existing forest structure). Nutrient exports by scenario combinations were compared to modeled baseline export in observed weather. The results showed that the increase in nutrient export by wet & mild weather (over 55%) exceeded the increase caused by the clear-cutting scenario (23 %). Dry weather decreased the exports to tenth of the baseline, which was per hectare 2.22 kg for N, 0.08 kg for P). The results suggest that in future maintaining a good ecological status in aquatic systems can be challenging if extreme wet years with mild winters occur more frequently. Certain catchment characteristics, e.g., deciduous tree percentage, open area percentage and site fertility, influence the export increase induced by the extreme weather. Hotspot analysis enabled identifying areas with currently high nutrient export and areas with high increase induced by the extreme weather. This helps targeting water protection efficiently. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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20 pages, 4767 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Water Retention Characteristics of Mineral Forest Soils in Finland: Impacts for Modeling Soil Moisture

by Samuli Launiainen, Antti-Jussi Kieloaho, Antti-Jussi Lindroos, Aura Salmivaara, Hannu Ilvesniemi and Juha Heiskanen

Forests 2022, 13(11), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111797 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3113

Abstract

Soil hydraulic properties are central for soil quality and affect forest productivity and the impacts of climate change on forests. The water retention characteristics (WRC) of mineral forest soils in Finland are not well known, and practical tools to predict them for hydrological, biogeochemical and forest models are lacking. We statistically analyzed mineral forest soils WRC from over 130 sites in Finland, focusing on the humus layer and main root zone (0–19 cm depth). We showed that mineral forest soils can be grouped into five WRC classes that are well predictable from soil bulk density, organic matter content and clay fraction. However, the majority of the forest soils are hydrologically rather similar. We found that neither topsoil maps nor any combination of open geospatial data were able to predict WRC. Thus, in the absence of site-specific soil data, parameterizing WRC as a function of forest site fertility type was proposed. We demonstrated the approach in soil moisture modeling at a small forest headwater catchment and showed that the soil moisture response to weather conditions is jointly affected by WRC, stand attributes and topography. We showed that drought risks are highest for dense mature forests at nutrient-poor, coarse-textured sites and lower for young stands on peatlands and lowland herb-rich sites with groundwater influence. The results improve hydrological predictions for Finnish forests, and the open dataset can contribute to the larger synthesis and development of boreal forest soil pedo-transfer functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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19 pages, 12194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring and Modeling the Effect of Strip Cutting on the Water Table in Boreal Drained Peatland Pine Forests

by Leena Stenberg, Kersti Leppä, Samuli Launiainen, Annamari (Ari) Laurén, Hannu Hökkä, Sakari Sarkkola, Markku Saarinen and Mika Nieminen

Forests 2022, 13(7), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071134 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2185

Abstract

Strip-cutting management has been proposed as an alternative to clear-cuts in drained boreal peatland pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests. We explored the hydrological feasibility of strip cutting, that is, under which conditions the post-harvest water table (WT) in peat remains sufficiently deep (here, a WT of −0.35 m during the late growing season) to enable undisturbed tree growth. We approached the question by (1) measuring the WTs in a harvested strip and an adjacent unharvested stand in peatland forests in southern Finland and (2) by simulating the WTs in different strip cut layouts, unharvested peatland, and clear-cut cases using a process-based hydrological model. The measured WTs were, on average, 0.06–0.12 m closer to the peat surface in the harvested strips than in the unharvested stands. The hydrological feasibility of strip cutting increased along with increasing site productivity and improving climate conditions. Strip cutting resulted in the rise in the WTs of adjacent unharvested stands, which can have undesired consequences. Depending on the stand density and strip cut layout, the share of the well-drained area in the harvested strips was slightly larger or even two times larger compared to a complete clear-cut of the forest. Narrow strips (here, 13 m in width) indicated better drainage in the harvested area than wider (20–30 m in width) strips. Even though strip cutting has limited capacity to maintain efficient drainage in the harvested strip on low hydraulic conductivity peat, the increase in the WT was smaller than after clear-cut. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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15 pages, 1884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Forest Harvesting Intensity and Water Table on Biodegradability of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Boreal Peat in an Incubation Experiment

by Elina Peltomaa, Mari Könönen, Marjo Palviainen, Annamari (Ari) Laurén, Xudan Zhu, Niko Kinnunen, Heidi Aaltonen, Anne Ojala and Jukka Pumpanen

Forests 2022, 13(4), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040599 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2936

Abstract

Boreal peatlands are vast carbon (C) stores but also major sources of dissolved organic C (DOC) and nutrients to surface waters. Drainage and forest harvesting accelerates DOC leaching. Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is considered to cause fewer adverse environmental effects. Yet, the effects of CCF on DOC processes are unrecognised. We study DOC production and quality in unharvested, CCF, and clear-cut drained peatland forests and in a non-forested alluvial sedge fen. Parallel replicate peat columns with ground vegetation are collected from the uppermost 50 cm at each site, and the water table (WT) is set to −20 or −40 cm depths on the columns. During the eight-month ex situ incubation experiment, the soil water samples are extracted monthly or bi-monthly. The samples are incubated at 15 °C for multiple 72 h incubation cycles to study pore water quality and biodegradation of DOC. The CO₂ production occurs during the first three days. The DOC concentrations and the CO₂ release per volume of water are significantly lower in the sedge fen than in the drained peatland forests. The WT has a negligible effect on DOC concentrations and no effect on DOC quality, but the higher WT has generally higher CO₂ production per DOC than the lower WT. The results suggest that peat in the drained peatlands is not vulnerable to changes per se but that forest management alters biotic and abiotic factors that control the production, transport, and biodegradation of DOC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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19 pages, 3495 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Integration of Forest Growth Component in the FEST-WB Distributed Hydrological Model: The Bonis Catchment Case Study

by Mouna Feki, Giovanni Ravazzani, Alessandro Ceppi, Gaetano Pellicone and Tommaso Caloiero

Forests 2021, 12(12), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121794 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2254

Abstract

In this paper, the FEST-FOREST model is presented. A FOREST module is written in the FORTRAN-90 programming language, and was included in the FEST-WB distributed hydrological model delivering the FEST-FOREST model. FEST-FOREST is a process-based dynamic model allowing the simulation at daily basis of gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP) together with the carbon allocation of a homogeneous population of trees (same age, same species). The model was implemented based on different equations from literature, commonly used in Eco-hydrological models. This model was developed within the framework of the INNOMED project co-funded under the ERA-NET WaterWorks2015 Call of the European Commission. The aim behind the implementation of the model was to simulate in a simplified mode the forest growth under different climate change and management scenarios, together with the impact on the water balance at the catchment. On a first application of the model, the results are considered very promising when compared to field measured data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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18 pages, 3718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests

by Petr Kupec, Jan Deutscher and Martyn Futter

Forests 2021, 12(12), 1656; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121656 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2146

Abstract

In this study, we present evidence for a hydrological regime shift in upland central European forests. Using a combination of long-term data, detailed field measurements and modelling, we show that there is a prolonged and persistent decline in annual runoff:precipitation ratios that is most likely linked to longer growing seasons. We performed a long term (1950–2018) water balance simulation for a Czech upland forest headwater catchment calibrated against measured streamflow and transpiration from deciduous and coniferous stands. Simulations were corroborated by long-term (1965–2018) borehole measurements and historical drought reports. A regime shift from positive to negative catchment water balances likely occurred in the early part of this century. Since 2007, annual runoff:precipitation ratios have been below the long-term average. Annual average temperatures have increased, but there have been no notable long term trends in precipitation. Since 1980, there has been a pronounced April warming, likely leading to earlier leaf out and higher annual transpiration, making water unavailable for runoff generation and/or soil moisture recharge. Our results suggest a regime shift due to second order effects of climate change where increased transpiration associated with a longer growing season leads to a shift from light to water limitation in central European forests. This will require new approaches to managing forests where water limitation has previously not been a problem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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16 pages, 55547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics of Nocturnal Evapotranspiration and Its Biophysical Controls over a Desert Shrubland of Northwest China

by Xiaonan Guo, Guofei Shang, Yun Tian, Xin Jia, Tianshan Zha, Cheng Li, Huicai Yang and Xia Zhang

Forests 2021, 12(10), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101296 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1956

Abstract

Knowledge about the dynamics and biophysical controlling mechanism of nocturnal evapotranspiration (ET_N) in desert-dwelling shrub ecosystem is still lacking. Using the eddy covariance measurements of latent heat flux in a dried shrubland in northwest China, we examined the dynamics of ET_N and its biophysical controls at multiple timescales during growing-seasons from 2012 to 2014. The ET_N was larger in the mid-growing season (usually in mid-summer) than in spring and autumn. The maximum daily ET_N was 0.21, 0.17, and 0.14 mm night⁻¹ in years 2012–2014, respectively. At the diel scale, ET_N decreased from 21:00 to 5:00, then began to increase. ET_N were mainly controlled by soil volumetric water content at 30 cm depth (VWC₃₀), by vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at leaf expanding and expanded stage, and by air temperature (T_a) and wind speed (W_s) at the leaf coloring stage. At the seasonal scale, variations of ET_N were mainly driven by T_a, VPD, and VWC₁₀. Averaged annual ET_N was 4% of daytime ET. The summer drought in 2013 and the spring drought in 2014 caused the decline of daily evapotranspiration (ET). The present results demonstrated that ET_N is a significant part of the water cycle and needs to be seriously considered in ET and related studies. The findings here can help with the sustainable management of water in desert ecosystems undergoing climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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26 pages, 4457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

NutSpaFHy—A Distributed Nutrient Balance Model to Predict Nutrient Export from Managed Boreal Headwater Catchments

by Annamari (Ari) Lauren, Mingfu Guan, Aura Salmivaara, Antti Leinonen, Marjo Palviainen and Samuli Launiainen

Forests 2021, 12(6), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060808 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2941

Abstract

Responsible forest management requires accounting for adverse environmental effects, such as increased nutrient export to water courses. We constructed a spatially-distributed nutrient balance model NutSpaFHy that extends the hydrological model SpaFHy by introducing a grid-based nutrient balance sub-model and a conceptual solute transport routine to approximate total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export to streams. NutSpaFHy uses openly-available Multi-Source National Forest Inventory data, soil maps, topographic databases, location of water bodies, and meteorological variables as input, and computes nutrient processes in monthly time-steps. NutSpaFHy contains two calibrated parameters both for N and P, which were optimized against measured N and P concentrations in runoff from twelve forested catchments distributed across Finland. NutSpaFHy was independently tested against six catchments. The model produced realistic nutrient exports. For one catchment, we simulated 25 scenarios, where clear-cuts were located differently with respect to distance to water body, location on mineral or peat soil, and on sites with different fertility. Results indicate that NutSpaFHy can be used to identify current and future nutrient export hot spots, allowing comparison of logging scenarios with variable harvesting area, location and harvest techniques, and to identify acceptable scenarios that preserve the wood supply whilst maintaining acceptable level of nutrient export. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry Modelling)

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