Response of Dissolved Organic Carbon following Forest Harvesting in a Boreal Forest

Sammanfattning

To determine if forestry affects stream water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, we conducted high frequency water sampling at a clear-cut catchment experiment in northern Sweden 1 year after harvesting. The overall finding was that harvesting significantly increased stream water DOC in these boreal forest catchments, at least during the growing season. The results indicate a DOC concentration increase of up to 50% during early summer on the two harvested catchments relative to the two control catchments. The analysis supports the hypothesis that a raised groundwater level following harvesting caused the increased DOC concentration during both hydrological episodes and low flow conditions. Harvesting resulted in a 70% increase in DOC export due to the combined effect of runoff and DOC concentration during the June-October study period. Given the extent of forestry activity in the boreal landscape, these results demonstrate that tree harvesting will affect the water quality of the region.

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2009, volym: 38, nummer: 7, sidor: 381-386
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Laudon, Hjalmar

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Schelker, Jakob

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Sörensen, Rasmus

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Ågren, Anneli

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Globala målen (SDG)

SDG6 Rent vatten och sanitet för alla

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1579/0044-7447-38.7.381

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/61596