The changes of energy and carbon in top soil and above-ground part of Dryopteris filix-mas species along the succession of beech forest

The objective of research was to verify, whether succesion of nudal beech forests affects energy, ash and Ct contents of top layers of cambisols and aboveground part of dominant herb species Dryopteris filix-mas. The forest stands, from the juvenile stemwood to the stand of primeval forest character, were located in Slovenské stredohorie Mts (Western Carpathians). It has been found out that the successional stages of beech stands significantly affected soil characteristics of the ecotope, in the case of Dryopteris filix-mas species significant difference was observed only for the energy content. Approximately 7.5% less energy was accumulated in humus subhorizons Oof of mature beech stands (110, 200 years) compared with the juvenile stemwoods. On the other hand, in Aoq horizons markedly more energy (by 35–66%) was accumulated in the soils of mature beech phytocoenoses. The influence of stand succession differentiated ash content in Aoq horizons too. Significant difference (7.6%) was found between 85 and 200-year-old beech stand. Within studied parameters only accumulation of Ct in top soil layers was not significantly affected by stand succession. The relation between energy and ash accumulation in top soil layers of studied beech stands showed significant correlations between the variables (P <0.01). Approximately 62% of energy variability in humus subhorizons Ool of the studied stands was affected by the ash content (lower was the ash content – higher was the energy content). In Aoq soil horizons this dependence was 50% (higher was the ash content – lower was the energy content).