The Effects of Detritus Input on Soil Organic Matter Content and Carbon Dioxide Emission in a Central European Deciduous Forest

A major objective of our research was to survey soil biological activity and organic matter content reduction in a Central European oak forest during treatments of various detritus inputs within the Síkfőkút DIRT (Detritus Input and Removal Treatments) Project. Beside the control, three detritus removal and two detritus duplication treatments were applied. Our examinations have proven that soil organic matter content declined relatively fast in detritus removal treatments. The reduction was especially remarkable in root detritus removal treatments, where – due to the lack of transpiration – soils were moister during the whole year than in the other treatments. The higher moisture content, despite of the reduction of detritus input, produced an intense soil respiration. This can be explained by the fact that decomposing organisms have increased the use of soil organic matter. Detritus input reduction had a significantly greater effect on soil respiration and organic matter content than detritus input duplication of the same extent. The latter did not cause any significant change compared to the control.