ABSTRACT
We investigated forest floor cover, the amount of transported soil, and litter fall in a hinoki plantation adjacent to an evergreen broadleaf forest set as the shelterbelt on a ridge in order to evaluate the edge effect on surface soil conservation for the hinoki plantation by the litter from the shelterbelt. High values of broadleaf litter fall and forest floor cover, and a low value of transported soil, were observed closer to the edge. Generalized linear modeling suggested that transported soil was strongly affected by the forest floor cover, the percentage of which was largely dependent on the broadleaf litter fall, which was mainly determined by the distance from the edge. These results suggested that the direct supply of litter from the shelterbelt conserves the surface soil of the hinoki plantation around the forest edge.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the staff of the Tano Forest Science Station, University of Miyazaki for their assistance during our field study and in the selection of our study site.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Notes on contributors
Kiwamu Yamagishi
Kiwamu Yamagishi is a research associate of Field Science Center, University of Miyazaki. He finished Master of Science in University of Miyazaki.
Koji Kizaki
Koji Kizaki graduated Master of Science course from University of Miyazaki, and has worked as a technical officer of Forestry Agency Japan.
Satoshi Ito
Prof. Satoshi Ito received PhD from Kyushu University, and worked in Kyushu University from 1989 to 1993. He moved to Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki in 1993. He is interested in ecology of riparian forests and biodiversity conservation in managed forests.
Ryoko Hirata
Dr. Ryoko Hirata has been working as a senior lecturer of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki since 2015. She has published scientific papas of seed dispersal ecology, and recently of silvicultural practices for conifer plantations.
Yasushi Mitsuda
Prof. Yasushi Mitsuda had worked in FFPRI Japan since 2005, and moved to University of Miyazaki in 2012. His major field is forest planning based on mathematical modeling of forest growth, site productivity, and ecosystem services.