Effect of climate on coarse woody debris decay dynamics and incorporation into the soils of forested Alpine areas (DecAlp)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Gabriele Broll
• Subject Area: Soil Sciences
• Term: from 2012 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 220008281

The project deals with coarse woody debris, decay processes in alpine forest soils, soil organisms, humus forms and their relation to climate in an Alpine area (Trentino, climosequences from 1000 m to about 2200 m asl, N- and S- facing slopes, natural coniferous forest). Planned activities are grouped among 3 different “compartments”: Coarse woody debris (CWD) → Humus forms → Soil organic matter (SOM). We have the following research questions: (i) How does climate affect coarse woody decay above and especially in the soil of alpine sites? (ii) What time scales are involved in (CWD decay as a function of climate)? How quickly is CWD integrated into SOM fractions? In which way are the decay products of CWD stabilised? (iii) What are the links between decay mechanisms and the spatial distribution of humus forms? (iv) Can the humus form serve as a proxy for the soil biota for the spatial extrapolation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria, Switzerland
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Paolo Cherubini; Professor Dr. Markus Egli; Professor Dr. Jean-Michel Gobat; Dr. Michael Grabner; Professor Dr. Heribert Insam