Summary
This study evaluated the effects of afforestation on soil properties and carbon storage in four mountain sites in Bulgaria representing typical forest-related land-use conversions. The research found that conversion from cropland to coniferous plantation significantly reduced soil bulk density and altered soil chemistry, though soil acidification occurred in upper layers. Whilst afforestation of cropland functioned as a carbon sink in the region, conflicting results emerged when afforestation was applied to abandoned cropland with grazing history.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK upland and marginal land management strategies, particularly regarding carbon sequestration through afforestation and land-use change. However, direct application requires consideration of differences in climate, soil types, existing vegetation, and management practices between Bulgarian mountain ecosystems and UK conditions.
Key measures
Soil bulk density, coarse fragments, sand content, soil pH, organic carbon content, nitrogen content, C/N ratio, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and ecosystem carbon stock distribution
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil physical and chemical properties, soil organic carbon stocks, and whole-ecosystem carbon storage across four land-use types in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It evaluated how afforestation of cropland and abandoned land affected soil characteristics and carbon sequestration capacity.
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