This study was carried out to assess the carbon stock and analyze influencing factors in Quercus mongolica which is one of the dominant species on Mt. Gariwang, Gangwon-do. The study sites were established a total 24 plots with a 400 m 2 sized which is divided by elevation and slope to measure aboveground biomass and soil carbon concentration to a depth of 50 cm. The tree biomass carbon stock was the highest at 222.17 tC•ha-1 on south-facing slopes above 1,000 m and the lowest at 123.11 tC•ha-1 on south-facing slopes below 1,000 m. The soil carbon stock was the highest at 89.5 tC•ha-1 on north-facing slopes below 1,000 m and the lowest at 65.4 tC•ha-1 on south-facing slopes below 1,000 m. A total carbon stock which is included tree biomass, soil carbon stocks and litter layer carbon stocks was the highest on south-facing above 1,000 m (297.135 tC•ha-1). Tree carbon stocks showed a positive correlation with altitude (r = 0.76) but a negative correlation with biodiversity (r =-0.85). Soil carbon storage was positively influenced by factors such as available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity. These results showed how environmental factors influence forest carbon storage and the importance of its management and long-term monitoring for optimal carbon management in response to climate change. In conclusion, the carbon storage in Q. mongolica at Mt. Gariwang was to be superior to our national average, and it should be importantly considered the need for conservation and sustainable management of forest carbon in this region.

Soil samples from the rhizosphere of pine (Pinus densiflora) stands in the fire-disturbed Uljin forest were collected to analyze their physicochemical properties and fungal communities. In the burned area, soil pH decreased by 0.56, and organic matter content decreased by 0.32%p compared to the undisturbed area. Fungal community analysis revealed that all alpha diversity indices decreased in the burned area, but there were no differences according to fire severity. Soil pH, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen showed a positive correlation with the alpha diversity. Additionally, beta diversity analysis also indicated significant differences in the fungal communities between the burned area and the control sites (p value = 0.031). The changes in fungal communities were considered to be influenced by the decline in the order Atheliales, genus Russula, and genus Trechispora. A prediction analysis of the functional traits of fungi showed that the number of fungi involved in nutrient absorption and decomposition decreased in the burned area. It seems that the soil restoration of pine forests is progressing very slowly, as the soil fungi related to nutrient absorption by pine trees have not recovered even 18 months after the forest fire. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor continuous fungal communities in pine forest restoration after a forest fire to determine forest ecosystem restoration success and stabilization.

This study examined the changes in soil physicochemical properties after a forest fire in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which burned 16,800 ha in March 2022. The study categorized the affected area into three fire intensity levels: low, middle, and high. Soil samples were collected 9 and 18 months post-fire from two depths (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) to assess surface and subsurface layers. Soil pH decreased after the fire but did not return to pre-fire levels even after 18 months. Organic matter content declined significantly, especially in the surface layer (0-10 cm), with a stronger decrease in areas of higher fire intensity (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in available phosphorus and total nitrogen, possibly due to vegetation recovery post-fire. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased with fire intensity, but differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships between Total nitrogen and CEC (r = 0.898 **), organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (r = 0.892 **), and OM and CEC (r = 0.888 **). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that chemical properties like OM, total nitrogen, and CEC exhibited more variability than physical properties post-fire. This highlights the need for long-term soil restoration strategies focusing on organic matter replenishment, nitrogen supplementation, and recovery of CEC, which are crucial for ecosystem recovery after forest fires.

Evaluating forest functional indicators is essential for effective forest management planning. In this study, we conducted a metagenome-based comparative analysis of the rhizosphere soils from a natural Quercus mongolica stand and an artificial Larix kaempferi stand on Mt. Gariwang, Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. Both stands originally belonged to the same natural forest and represent the current dominant tree species. Bacterial communities were affected more by climate than by tree species. A bacterial co-occurrence network analysis showed more complex interactions in the Q. mongolica than in L. kaempferi. Conversely, fungal communities were affected more by tree species than by climate. Specifically, the Q. mongolica stand had a high ratio of saprotrophic fungi, whereas the L. kaempferi stand exhibited a higher ratio of fungi associated with nutrient decomposition and harbored a high proportion of fungi that form ectomycorrhizae with long-distance exploration types. These fungal traits serve as indicators of soil ecological changes in Q. mongolica and L. kaempferi stands. Our comparative analysis of the microbial communities of Q. mongolica and L. kaempferi, representative plantation species in the Republic of Korea, revealed seasonal and host species–specific bacterial and fungal associations, and fungal communities were less variable than bacterial communities and more accurately reflected host tree traits.