A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils

Owing to its role in mitigating CO2 in the atmosphere, the total organic carbon (TOC) stock of soil, a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is of significant interest as regards climate change. To determine TOC stock, it is first necessary to determine the soil's bulk density (BD), de...

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Main Authors: Václav Zouhar, Aleš Kučera, Karel Drápela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Forest Science
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Online Access:https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202412-0002_a-glmer-based-pedotransfer-function-expressing-the-relationship-between-total-organic-carbon-and-bulk-density-i.php
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author Václav Zouhar
Aleš Kučera
Karel Drápela
author_facet Václav Zouhar
Aleš Kučera
Karel Drápela
author_sort Václav Zouhar
collection DOAJ
description Owing to its role in mitigating CO2 in the atmosphere, the total organic carbon (TOC) stock of soil, a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is of significant interest as regards climate change. To determine TOC stock, it is first necessary to determine the soil's bulk density (BD), determined through intact soil sampling; however, in forest soils, it can be difficult to determine BD in soils with high levels of stoniness and/or tree root coverage. Furthermore, the method is time-consuming and labour-intensive, making it impractical for studies over large areas. In such cases, BD can be determined using a pedotransfer function (PTF) expressing the relationship between forest soil TOC and BD. The aim of this study was to determine a forest soil PTF using actual data obtained from 777 soil pits dug as part of the Czech Republic's National Forest Inventory (NFI). Within the NFI, BD is assessed from undisturbed core samples, while TOC is assessed from mixed samples from the same soil genetic horizons. Both generalised linear (GLM) and generalised linear mixed-effects (GLMER) models were used, with the final GLMER model best expressing the relationship for individual natural forest areas within the NFI dataset. The GLMER-based PTF described in this study can be widely applied to accurately estimate soil BD via TOC concentration at temperate forest sites where stoniness and/or root cover previously made it technically impossible to take undisturbed samples using standard methods.
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spelling doaj-art-2ea9a0b3bce24744b2d5c9ba2111d2792024-12-26T23:50:27ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesJournal of Forest Science1212-48341805-935X2024-12-01701261963310.17221/48/2024-JFSjfs-202412-0002A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soilsVáclav Zouhar0Aleš Kučera1Karel Drápela2Forest Management Institute - Brandýs nad Labem, Brno branch, Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicInstitute of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicOwing to its role in mitigating CO2 in the atmosphere, the total organic carbon (TOC) stock of soil, a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is of significant interest as regards climate change. To determine TOC stock, it is first necessary to determine the soil's bulk density (BD), determined through intact soil sampling; however, in forest soils, it can be difficult to determine BD in soils with high levels of stoniness and/or tree root coverage. Furthermore, the method is time-consuming and labour-intensive, making it impractical for studies over large areas. In such cases, BD can be determined using a pedotransfer function (PTF) expressing the relationship between forest soil TOC and BD. The aim of this study was to determine a forest soil PTF using actual data obtained from 777 soil pits dug as part of the Czech Republic's National Forest Inventory (NFI). Within the NFI, BD is assessed from undisturbed core samples, while TOC is assessed from mixed samples from the same soil genetic horizons. Both generalised linear (GLM) and generalised linear mixed-effects (GLMER) models were used, with the final GLMER model best expressing the relationship for individual natural forest areas within the NFI dataset. The GLMER-based PTF described in this study can be widely applied to accurately estimate soil BD via TOC concentration at temperate forest sites where stoniness and/or root cover previously made it technically impossible to take undisturbed samples using standard methods.https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202412-0002_a-glmer-based-pedotransfer-function-expressing-the-relationship-between-total-organic-carbon-and-bulk-density-i.phpcarbon stockclimate changeczech national forest inventoryczech natural forest areassoil propertiessoil stoniness
spellingShingle Václav Zouhar
Aleš Kučera
Karel Drápela
A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
Journal of Forest Science
carbon stock
climate change
czech national forest inventory
czech natural forest areas
soil properties
soil stoniness
title A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
title_full A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
title_fullStr A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
title_full_unstemmed A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
title_short A GLMER-based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
title_sort glmer based pedotransfer function expressing the relationship between total organic carbon and bulk density in forest soils
topic carbon stock
climate change
czech national forest inventory
czech natural forest areas
soil properties
soil stoniness
url https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202412-0002_a-glmer-based-pedotransfer-function-expressing-the-relationship-between-total-organic-carbon-and-bulk-density-i.php
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