HoliSoils harmonises and maps soil data from multiple sources. These harmonised products are indispensable for Europe-wide GHG inventories and for the project’s experimental and modelling work in Europe’s main bioclimatic regions and soil types.

Field experiments at HoliSoils test sites investigate the effects of soil and forest management (including thinning regimes, tree species composition, fertilisation, rewetting) and natural disturbances (forest fires, windthrow, droughts) on soil processes, resilience and climate change mitigation potential. Measurements of soil physico-chemical properties and biodiversity are complemented by monitoring soil processes such as GHG fluxes and nutrient cycling.

North Europe

Finland – Karstula

Established

Established

1959

Organization

Organization

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Location

Location

62°54’43.343″N; 24°34’16.021″E
Central Finland region

Soil type

Soil type

Fine sand Organic layer of 4.3 m

Dominant species

Dominant species
Pinus sylvestris

Ground vegetation

Ground vegetation
Vaccinium vitis-idae, Calluna vulgaris and Lichens

Aim of the study

Aim of the study

Understand the impact of nitrogen fertilization on soil functioning, soil biome and GHGs exchange.

Finland – Ränskälänkorpi

Established

Established

2021

Organization

Organization

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Location

Location

61°10.966’N; 25°15.985’E
Southern Finland

Soil type

Soil type

Peat soil

Dominant species

Dominant species
Picea abies, Betula pubescens, Pinus sylvestris

Ground vegetation

Ground vegetation
Bilberry and Sphagnum

Aim of the study

Aim of the study

Estimate the role of continuous cover forestry (CCF) and clear-felling management practice on mitigating climate change and reducing environmental impacts.

Lithuania – Kačerginė

Established

Established

First Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand generation planted in 1964.
Wood ash and nitrogen fertilization experiment established in 2002.

Organization

Organization

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy & Lithuanian Research Centre For agriculture and forestry Institute of Forestry

Contact

Contact

Jūratė Aleinikovienė
Kęstutis Armolaitis Povilas Žemaitis

Location

Location

23°42’13.2″E, 54°54’24.2″N Kačerginė, Central Lithuania (Lithuania)

Soil type

Soil type

Haplic Arenosol

Dominant species

Dominant species
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Ground vegetation

Ground vegetation
Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., Dicranum polysetum Sw., Dicranum scoparium Hedw., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Festuca ovina L. and Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.

Aim of the study

Aim of the study

Understand the nitrogen fertilization impact on the soil nutrient budget, stand productivity (C dynamics aboveground), soil carbon cycling and soil biological activity.

Lithuania – Druskininkai

Established

Established

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) experimental plantation established in 1983. Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. strain testing in Scots pine trees done in 2018.

Organization

Organization

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy & Lithuanian Research Centre For agriculture and forestry Institute of Forestry

Contact

Contact

Virgilijus Baliuckas
Aušra Juškauskaitė Jūratė Aleinikovienė

Location

Location

23°39′56.22”E; 53°59′33.69”N Druskininkai, southern Lithuania (Lithuania)

Soil type

Soil type

Haplic Arenosol

Dominant species

Dominant species
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Ground vegetation

Ground vegetation
Dicranum polysetum Sw., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull., Festuca ovina L., Melampyrum pretense L.

Aim of the study

Aim of the study

Understand the nitrogen fertilization impact on the soil nutrient budget, stand productivity (C dynamics aboveground), soil carbon cycling, soil biological activity, expansion or reduction of root rot (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref.) pathogens.