Governments

Restoration of Acidified Forest Soils near Venray

Herstel van Verzuurde Bosbodems bij Venray

Standort 1: Kempkensberg

The research area is located west of the church village of Merselo, east and west of the Peelweg and south of the Bakelsedijk. The area is predominantly covered with forest.

A number of plots in the area were cleared in 2016. After clearcutting, the branch wood was pushed onto rills and clipped. The resulting soil injury served as a seedbed for new trees. Six years later, new trees are still growing only sparsely

Soil samples were taken on some of the larger rejuvenated areas in Kempkensberg as part of this pilot. The analysis indicates a highly acidified impoverished soil, which is poisoning. The soil is no longer functioning properly: Soil life is hollowing out, organic matter is hardly being converted and processed, nutrients are being washed out at an accelerated rate and toxic substances are being released, resulting in a decline in forest quality.

Within the pilot, an investigation was further conducted into opportunities to improve soil quality that has deteriorated due to acidification and eutrophication caused by atmospheric deposition (including nitrogen oxides and ammonia). Ways to restore/improve the forest soil were examined.

For this purpose, a number of plots were plotted on which soil-improving measures were carried out using various methods. The effects of these were monitored. The aim was to restore the forest soil to pre-acidification levels. The duration of the study is at least four years. This is the minimum period to measure any effects.

The project will therefore be closely monitored in the coming years. To this end, chemical, physical and biological analyses will be conducted annually. In addition, soil life will be examined under the microscope for species. Soil life sensors will also be installed to monitor the development of biological processes in the soil in real time based on environmental parameters (pH, soil moisture, oxygen, EC and temperature).