Work package 7: CWD Nutrient Storage

The work is linked to WP 6, with CWD samples being taken from the same study sites in NW and SE Europe. Material will be collected using the same methodology and data storage will be in a common database. Each participating country will collect approximately 50 pieces of beech-CWD of different dimensions and decomposition stages. The physical-chemical characteristics will be determined by measuring the basic wood density, moisture content, pH and C-, N-, P-, and K-content. Depending on the size of the CWD, a bulk sample of three to seven sub-samples will be taken for wood density, moisture content, and pH analysis. A similar bulk sample will be used for nutrient content analysis. The age of the CWD will be assessed either directly from management information and historical records or indirectly from tree ring analysis of neighbouring trees to reveal time since growth release. Standard age-decay functions will be generated and input to WP 6.

The role and importance of CWD for nutrient storage will be analysed and input to the modelling development work in WPs 8 and 9.

Work-package leader:

 
Hojka Kraigher, Partner 8. Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI)
Vecna pot 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SLOVENIA, Fax: (+386) 61 273 589, Docent, Dr., phone: (+386) 61 123 1343 , e-mail:

NatMan Work-package 7: Reports
Working report 24	Hungary. Changes of physical and chemical properties of dead wood during decay
Working report 25	Denmark. Physical and chemical properties of decaying beech wood in two Danish forest reserves
Working report 26	Beech coarse woody debris characteristics in two virgin forest reserves in southern Slovenia
Working report 46	Decay and physical-chemical characteristics of dead beech wood in the Netherlands