EUBCE 2026 - Luka STEFANOVIC - Impact of Forest Management Type on Soil Organic Matter - Microbial Community Coupling in Fagus Sylvatica Forest of Boschetto, Parma, Italy

Impact of Forest Management Type on Soil Organic Matter - Microbial Community Coupling in Fagus Sylvatica Forest of Boschetto, Parma, Italy

Short Introductive summary

The Comunalia di Boschetto is located on the northern slope of the Tuscan-Emilian ridge. Boschetto property covers a total area of 341.90.90 hectares, of which 337 are wooded. The dominant wood specie is Beech (Fagus sylvatica). To better understand the influence of management practices on soil biogeochemical properties, 3 management types of cutting in monoculture beech forest at the altitude of 1230 masl have been compared: 50 year old (yo) coppice forest, 10 yo coppice forest and 1 yo coppice forest. For the project, the following parameters have been considered: canopy composition; total organic matter; granulometry; active and potential pH; E4/E6; enzymatic activity of dehydrogenase, ß-Glucosidase, Arylsulfatase, Acid Phosphatase and Arylamidase; microbial functional diversity and microbial respiration; tree dimensions; mushroom presence and diversity. The preliminary conclusions indicate significant impacts in soil organic matter (SOM) quantity, quality and the state of transformation, further influencing soil microbiome, its functionality and its ability to decompose and transform organic matter and affecting services provided by the wood ecosystem.

L. Stefanovic, University of Parma, Interdepartmental Center SITEIA, ITALY
E. Maestri, University of Parma, Interdepartmental Center SITEIA, Consorzio Interuniversitario Naz., ITALY
V. Gallo, University of Parma, Interdepartmental Center SITEIA, ITALY
O. Shomko, University of Parma, ITALY
A. Mortali, University of Parma, Interdepartmental Center SITEIA, ITALY
N. Marmiroli, Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per le Scienze Ambientali, Parma, ITALY