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Forest canopy is a complex interface between the atmosphere, the biosphere and the lithosphere, exerting a strong influence on forest durability through element recycling. Leaves are filters of the low atmosphere and can capture dry deposition (DD). Trees have developed strategies, such as resorption (R) during senescence, for nutrient conservation. These strategies seem to depend on the soil type. The chemical composition evolution of leaves is conceptualized as a function of four fluxes: foliar absorption (FA) foliar leaching, (FL), accretion (A), and resorption (R). The objective of this study is to evaluate these five fluxes, i.e., DD, FA, FL, A, and R for different elements (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Si) at the experimental forest site in Montiers which includes three plots with contrasting soils and similar climate and stand characteristics. The percentage of resorption was 63% for N, 37% for S, 35% for K and 23% for P, regardless of the soil type. Resorption represents the most efficient recycling mechanism for ecosystems. Accretion during senescence occurs in two elements that are also found as biominerals in leaves: Ca (13–26 kg.ha−1.y−1) and Si (3–6 kg.ha−1.y−1). The effect of soil is limited to leaf concentrations and exchanges, and only for three elements (Mn, Ca and Si) that are not growth-limiting elements in our study site. This study shows that, except for N, taking into account the exchanges between living foliar tissues and leaching solutions is fundamental to accurately estimate the resorption rate.

The role of forest vegetation in the silicon (Si) cycle has been widely examined. However, to date, little is known about the specific role of fine roots. The main objective of our study was to assess the influence of fine roots on the Si cycle in a temperate forest in north-eastern France. Silicon pools and fluxes in vegetal solid and solution phases were quantified within each ecosystem compartment, i.e. in the atmosphere, above-ground and below-ground tree tissues, forest floor and different soil layers, on three plots, each with different soil types, i.e. Dystric Cambisol (DC), Eutric Cambisol (EC) and Rendzic Leptosol (RL). In this study, we took advantage of a natural soil gradient, from shallow calcic soil to deep moderately acidic soil, with similar climates, atmospheric depositions, species compositions and management. Soil solutions were measured monthly for 4 years to study the seasonal dynamics of Si fluxes. A budget of dissolved Si (DSi) was also determined for the forest floor and soil layers. Our study highlighted the major role of fine roots in the Si cycle in forest ecosystems for all soil types. Due to the abundance of fine roots mainly in the superficial soil layers, their high Si concentration (equivalent to that of leaves and 2 orders higher than that of coarse roots) and their rapid turnover rate (approximately 1 year), the mean annual Si fluxes in fine roots in the three plots were 68 and 110 kgha-1yr-1 for the RL and the DC, respectively. The turnover rates of fine roots and leaves were approximately 71 and 28 % of the total Si taken up by trees each year, demonstrating the importance of biological recycling in the Si cycle in forests. Less than 1 % of the Si taken up by trees each year accumulated in the perennial tissues. This study also demonstrated the influence of soil type on the concentration of Si in the annual tissues and therefore on the Si fluxes in forests. The concentrations of Si in leaves and fine roots were approximately 1.5–2.0 times higher in the Si-rich DC compared to the Si-poor RL. In terms of the DSi budget, DSi production was large in the three plots in the forest floor (9.9 to 12.7 kgha-1yr-1), as well as in the superficial soil layer (5.3 to 14.5 kgha-1yr-1), and decreased with soil depth. An immobilization of DSi was even observed at 90 cm depth in plot DC (−1.7 kgha-1yr-1). The amount of Si leached from the soil profile was relatively low compared to the annual uptake by trees (13 % in plot DC to 29 % in plot RL). The monthly measurements demonstrated that the seasonal dynamics of the DSi budget were mainly linked to biological activity. Notably, the peak of dissolved Si production in the superficial soil layer occurred during winter and probably resulted from fine-root decomposition. Our study reveals that biological processes, particularly those involving fine roots, play a predominant role in the Si cycle in temperate forest ecosystems, while the geochemical processes appear to be limited.

The role of forest vegetation in the silicon (Si) cycle has been widely examined. However, to date, no study has investigated the specific role of fine roots. The main objectives of our study were to assess the influence of fine roots as well as the impact of soil properties on the Si cycle in a temperate forest in northeastern France. Silicon pools and fluxes in solid and solution phases were quantified within each ecosystem compartment, i.e., the atmosphere, aboveground and belowground tree tissues, forest floor, and different soil horizons, on three plots, each with different soil types, i.e., Dystric Cambisol (plot S1), Eutric Cambisol (plot S2), and Rendzic Leptosol (plot S3). In this study, we took advantage of a natural soil gradient, from shallow calcic soil to deep moderately acidic soil, with similar climates, atmospheric depositions, species composition and management. Soil solutions were measured monthly for four years to study the seasonal dynamics of Si fluxes. A budget of dissolved Si was also determined for the forest floor and soil layers. Our study highlighted the major role of fine roots in the Si cycle in forest ecosystems for all soil types. Because of the abundance of fine roots mainly in the superficial soil horizons, their high Si concentration (equivalent to that of leaves and two orders higher than that of coarse roots) and their rapid turnover rate (approximately one year), the mean annual Si fluxes in fine roots in the three plots ranged from 68 to 110 kg ha−1 y−1 for the Rendzic Leptosol and the Dystric Cambisol, respectively. The turnover of fine roots and leaves was approximately 71 % and 28 % of the total Si taken up by trees each year, respectively, demonstrating the importance of biological recycling in the Si cycle in forests. Less than 1 % of the Si taken up by trees each year accumulated in the perennial tissues. This study also demonstrated the influence of soil type on the concentration of Si in the annual tissues and therefore on the Si fluxes in forests. The concentrations of Si in leaves and fine roots were approximately 1.5–2.0 times higher in the Si-rich Dystric Cambisol compared to the Si poor Rendzic Leptosol. In terms of the dissolved Si budget, there were large amounts of dissolved Si in the three plots on the forest floor (9.9 to 12.7 kg ha−1 y−1) and in the superficial soil horizon (5.3 to 14.5 kg ha−1 y−1), and Si decreased with depth in plot S1 (1.7 kg ha−1 y−1). The amount of Si leached from the soil profile was relatively low compared to the annual uptake by trees (13 % in plot S1 to 29 % in plot S3). The monthly measurements demonstrated that the seasonal dynamics of the dissolved Si budget were mainly linked to biological activity. Notably, the peak of dissolved Si production in the superficial soil horizon was during the winter and probably resulted from fine root decomposition. Our study reveals that biological processes, particularly those of fine roots, play a predominant role in the Si cycle in temperate forest ecosystems, while the geochemical processes appear to be limited.

Climate change and particularly increasing frequency of drought events during the vegetation period may threaten tree vitality and forest biomass productivity in many temperate regions in the future. In that context, the identification of critical environmental factors and a better understanding of their impact on forests are decisive. The water balance is recognized as one of the most important soil factors for stand productivity in temperate forests. Hence, the consequences of short or long term climate change might vary considerably spatially in function of soil type within a given forest.Our study objective was to assess the impact of contrasting soil types on the water balance and stand growth of a beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest ecosystem of similar age and management during four climatically contrasting years. The experimental forest site of Montiers presents different soils with contrasting physicochemical properties (Dystric Cambisol, Eutric Cambisol and Rendzic Leptosol) monitored to quantify water fluxes and stand biomass increment. Using data collected over the period 2012-2015, including a particularly dry year (-24% precipitations in 2015), we also quantified the impact of water shortage on stand productivity at the annual scale as a function of soil type. We evidenced important differences in soil water holding capacities (SWHC) along the studied soil sequence, ranging between 57 mm for the Rendzic Leptosol downhill over limestone and 205 mm for the Dystric Cambisol uphill over detrital sediments.The results show that the canopy intercepted the same amount of incident rainfall in the three plots and that there were no significant differences in annual soil moisture dynamics among the studied soils. We evidenced different rooting patterns depending on soil type. Under a same climate and with stand, site exposition and solar radiation equivalency, trees transpiration was the evident primary driver of the stand potential to produce aboveground biomass. Soil water holding capacity, annual trees transpiration and aboveground biomass production increased in that order: Rendzic Leptosol < Eutric Cambisol < Dystric Cambisol. During the drier year 2015, the decrease in aboveground biomass productivity was of similar amplitude on the three soil types.

In forest ecosystems, the specific influence of soil resources on stand productivity is difficult to assess because many other ecological variables also affect tree growth. In this study, we took advantage of a natural soil gradient, from shallow calcic soil to deep acidic soil, all with similar climate, atmospheric depositions, species composition and management, to determine the relationship between soil nutritive resources and the growth and mineral nutrition of a beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) mature forest of Northeastern France. Soil resources were assessed through the quantification of the stocks of available water and mineral nutrients (Ca, Mg, K and P 2 O 5 ). Beech stand growth and mineral nutrition were determined through the use of several indicators, i.e., standing aboveground biomass and annual biomass production, potential growth index (prediction of the height of dominant trees at 100 years) and foliar nutrient content. We observed a gradient of nutritive resources in soils as well as a gradient of stand growth on the study site: the current aboveground biomass was highest on the calci-brunisol which presented the highest water and nutrient stocks while it was lowest on the rendisol, characterized by a very low water holding capacity and a very low stock of available K. However, the growth of beech trees on the rendisol was equivalent to the highest growth classes of beech trees in France, and K nutrition was optimal. Observations on the study site suggest that, in favorable climate conditions, some biological adaptation processes, such as an efficient root colonization as well as an efficient nutrient cycling may allow to maintain stand growth and nutrition on soils with low water and nutrient reserves. The fertility of forest soils has thus to be assessed in a dynamic way by integrating nutrient fluxes as well as the adaptations of trees to environmental constraints. The biological processes become an increasingly important part in the conservation of soil fertility, notably in the perspective of global changes.

Boron concentrations and isotopic compositions of atmospheric dust and dissolved depositions were monitored over a two-year period (2012-2013) in the forest ecosystem of Montiers (Northeastern France).This time series allows the determination of the boron atmospheric inputs to this forest ecosystem and contributes to refine our understanding of the sources and processes that control the boron atmospheric cycle. Mean annual dust and dissolved boron atmospheric depositions are comparable in size (13 g.ha(-1).yr(-1) and 16 g.ha(-1).yr(-1), respectively), which however show significant intra- and interannual variations.Boron isotopes in dust differ from dissolved inputs, with an annual mean value of +1 and +18 for, respectively. The notable high boron contents (190-390 mu g.g(1)) of the dust samples are interpreted as resulting from localized spreading of boron-rich fertilizers, thus indicating a significant local impact of regional agricultural activities. Boron isotopes in dissolved depositions show a clear seasonal trend.The absence of correlation with marine cyclic solutes contradicts a control of atmospheric boron by dissolution of seasalts. Instead, the boron data from this study are consistent with a Rayleigh-like evolution of the atmospheric gaseous boron reservoir with possible but limited anthropogenic and/or biogenic contributions.

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