Effects of bigleaf maple on soils in Douglas-fir forests

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Fried ◽  
James R. Boyle ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Kermit Cromack Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
Forest Floors

Soil chemical and physical properties, forest floor weights, nutrient content and turnover rates, and litter fall weights and nutrient content under bigleaf maple (Acermacrophyllum Pursh) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) were compared on five sites on the eastern margin of the Oregon Coast Range. Litter fall weight and nutrient content were significantly greater under maple on every site for every macronutrient and for most micronutrients. Forest floor biomass and nutrient content were extremely variable, much more so than litter fall, and there were no consistent differences between the two species. However, turnover rates for forest floor biomass and nutrients were significantly faster under maple for every nutrient at every site. Bulk density of mineral soil was also highly variable with significant differences at only two sites. Soil under maple was consistently higher in nitrogen, and less consistently, in potassium. There were no consistent trends in amounts of calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus. Soil organic carbon content under maple was significantly greater than under Douglas-fir on four of five sites. These differences may result from the more rapid turnover of forest floors under maple trees.

Biomass and nutrient content of Douglas-fir logs and other detrital pools in an old-growth forest, Oregon, U.S.A.

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1536-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Means ◽  
Paul C. MacMillan ◽  
Kermit Cromack Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Close Association ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
N Release

Logs, forest floor, and mineral soil were sampled and measured, and snags were measured, in a 450-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand on the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon. Logs, some still identifiable after 300 years on the forest floor, contained large amounts of organic matter (222 Mg/ha), C (100 Mg/ha), water (559–10 700 L/log), N (183 kg/ha), and Ca (141 kg/ha), and smaller amounts of P (5.5 kg/ha), K (22 kg/ha), Mg (14 kg/ha), and Na (3.7 kg/ha). Logs and snags covered about 17% of the forest floor and had an all-sided area index of 0.69 m2/m2. Through mineralization, C, N, and K were lost through time; Ca and Mg increased; and P and Na increased then decreased, showing no net change. Also through mineralization, cellulose and hot acid detergent soluble fraction decreased more rapidly than lignin. Lignin was apparently not lost until the later stages of decay, when N was also lost in significant amounts. This parallels the shift from initial dominance by white rots that degraded cellulose and lignin to later dominance by brown rots that preferentially degraded cellulose. Lignin and cellulose were eventually lost at more similar rates in later decay stages. This may have been due in part to a close association between the remaining cellulose and lignin in later decay stages. Lignin was a better predictor of the onset of N release than was the C:N ratio.

Tree species and soil nutrient profiles in old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Cross ◽  
Steven S. Perakis
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Oregon Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species – soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Foliar P and N:P variations largely reflected soil P variation across sites. The four tree species that we examined exhibited a number of individualistic effects on soil nutrient levels that contribute to biogeochemical heterogeneity in these ecosystems. Where fire suppression and long-term succession favor dominance by highly shade-tolerant western hemlock, our results suggest a potential for declines in both soil Ca availability and soil biogeochemical heterogeneity in old-growth forests.

Bioassay of forest floor nitrogen supply for plant growth

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1320-1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van Cleve ◽  
O. W. Heal ◽  
D. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Paper Birch ◽  
Forest Floors ◽  
P Supply

Using a bioassay approach, this paper considers the nitrogen-supplying power of forest floors from examples of the major forest types in interior Alaska. Yield and net N uptake by paper birch seedlings grown in standardized mixtures of quartz sand and forest floor organic matter, and separate incubation estimates of N mineralization and nitrification for the forest floors, were employed to evaluate potential N supply. Black spruce and floodplain white spruce forest floors supplied only one-fifth the amount of N taken up by seedlings growing in other forest floors. Incubation estimates showed these forest floors yielded 4 and 15 times less extractable N, respectively, than the more fertile birch forest floors. In comparison with earlier estimates of P supply from these same forest floors, the upland types showed greater deficiency of N whereas floodplain types showed greater deficiency of P in control of seedling yield. The latter condition is attributed to the highly calcareous nature of the floodplain mineral soil, the consequent potential for P fixation, and hence greater potential deficiency of the element compared with N in mineralizing forest floors. Nitrogen concentration of the forest floors was the best predictor of bioassay response.

Effect of forest floor on growth and nutrition of Douglas-fir and western hemlock seedlings with and without fertilizer

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1222-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Radwan
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Growth And Nutrition ◽  
Forest Floors ◽  
P Fertilizers

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of four different forest soils on growth and shoot nutrients of potted Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedlings, in absence and in presence of forest floor, and with and without N and P fertilizers. Nine-month-old seedlings from low-elevation seed sources were used, and seedlings were grown for 2 years in a roofed lathhouse. Soils were of the Klone, Vesta, Bunker, and Shelton series; Klone and Vesta soils, and Bunker and Shelton soils, were collected from western hemlock and Douglas-fir stands, respectively. The fertilizers ammonium nitrate at 100 kg N/ha and triple superphosphate at 226 kg P/ha were tested. The forest floor, at 70 g/7.6-L pot, and the N and P fertilizers were added to the top of the planting pots without mixing. The forest floors and mineral soils differed by source in many of the chemical characteristics determined. Overall, seedling growth of Douglas-fir and western hemlock was better in the Klone and Shelton soils than in the Bunker and Vesta soils. Seedlings, especially those of western hemlock, grew better with than without forest floor. The N fertilizer reduced seedling growth of both species and, in some soils, reductions were more with than without forest floor. The P fertilizer improved seedling growth of both species in all soils and, with one exception, growth was much greater in the presence than in the absence of the forest floor. With both species, soil, forest-floor, and fertilization treatments affected concentrations and contents of the various shoot nutrients determined. The nutritional changes observed varied by nutrient and reflected differences in uptake of native and fertilizer nutrients, as well as changes in shoot dry weight. The results demonstrate the importance of the forest floor to growth and nutrition of Douglas-fir and western hemlock seedlings, especially when fertilizers are used.

Fungal and arboreal biomass in a western Oregon Douglas-fir ecosystem: distribution patterns and turnover

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fogel ◽  
Gary Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Oregon Coast Range ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Soil Hyphae

The allocation of biomass and the turnover time of various components were measured from August 1976 to August 1977 in a young, second-growth Douglas-fir stand in the Oregon Coast Range. Allocation of biomass among the tree components was 14 732 kg foliage ha−1, 30 455 kg branches ha−1, 212 941 kg boles ha−1, 49 289 kg nonmycorrhizal roots ha−1, and 15 015 kg host portion of mycorrhizae ha−1. Biomass allocation of fungal components was 10 009 kg mycorrhizal mantles ha−1, 2785 kg Cenococcumgeophilum sclerotia ha−1, 65 kg sporocarps ha−1, 369 kg litter hyphae ha−1, and 6666 kg soil hyphae ha−1. The forest floor was composed of 6970 kg fine (<2 mm) litter ha−1, 6564 kg coarse (2–25 mm) litter ha−1, and 5500 kg log (>25 mm) litter ha−1. Soil organic matter (<0.494 mm) was 87 600 kg ha−1. Total annual stand throughput was 30 324 kg ha−1, excluding soil organic matter throughput. Of this total, 50.5% was accounted for by fungal throughput, 39.5% by tree throughput, and 10.0% by forest floor throughput.

scholarly journals Natural abundance of 15N of a spruce forest ecosystem under acid rain and manipulated clean rain field conditions

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 377-387
Author(s):  
P. Sah S ◽  
R. Brumme ◽  
N. Lamersdorf
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Control Plot ◽  
Natural Abundance ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Bulk Precipitation ◽  
N Status

We analysed stable isotopes of N in a spruce forest under ambient rainfall (no further manipulation of the atmospheric input) and clean rain application (10 years of reduced inorganic N- and acid-constituent input). The objectives of the study were to assess whether or not the natural <sup>15</sup>N abundance would function as an indicator for the N-status of our forest ecosystems. For this purpose, natural <sup>15</sup>N abundance values were measured in needles, litter fall, roots, soil, bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil water of both plots. In the bulk precipitation and throughfall the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N values of NO<sub>3</sub>-N were in the range reported by other studies (–16 to + 23‰). In both plots, the throughfall was greatly depleted of <sup>15</sup>N compared to the bulk precipitation and this was attributed to nitrification in the canopy leaves, leading to &delta;<sup>15</sup>N-depleted nitrate production in the leaves that leaches down the soil surface. Nitrate in seepage water showed a general increase in &delta;<sup>15</sup>N values when it passes through the upper mineral soil (10 cm soil depth) and infiltrates into deeper mineral soil horizons (100 cm soil depth), similar to the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N enrichment of total nitrogen in the mineral soil. We observed <sup>15</sup>N depletion in both green needles and litter fall at the clean rain plot, compared to the N-saturated control plot. We assumed it to be due to increased mycorrhizal N-uptake under N limited, i.e. clean rain conditions which are indicated by relatively lower N concentrations of green needles. With respect to the vertical gradient of the <sup>15</sup>N abundance in the forest floor, both plots differ from each other, showing an untypical peak of &delta;<sup>15</sup>N depletion in the humus layer, which is more pronounced at the control plot. In contrast to the mineral soil where mineralisation is a dominant process for fractionation we attribute the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N pattern in the forest floor to additional processes like litter input and immobilisation. We conclude that the &delta;<sup>15</sup>N natural abundance analysis is helpful for interpreting the N-status of forest ecosystems but further research is needed especially with respect to the soil-root interface.

Organic matter and nitrogen content of the forest floor in even-aged northern hardwoods

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Anthony Federer
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
Forest Floors

Organic content of the forest floor decreases for several years after clear-cutting, and then slowly recovers. Thickness, bulk density, organic matter, and nitrogen content of forest floors were measured for 13 northern hardwood stands in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Stands ranged from 1 to about 100 years in age. Forest-floor thickness varied significantly with stand age, but bulk density, organic fraction, and nitrogen fraction were independent of age. Total organic content of the forest floor agreed very well with data from Covington's (W. W. Covington 1981. Ecology, 62: 41–48) study of the same area. Both studies indicated that mature forest floors have about 80 Mg organic matter•ha−1 and 1.9 Mg nitrogen•ha−1. Within 10 or 15 years after cutting, the organic matter content of the floor decreases to 50 Mg•ha−1, and its nitrogen content to 1.1 Mg•ha−1. The question whether the decrease is rapid and the minimum broad and flat, or if the decrease is gradual and the minimum sharp, cannot be answered. The subsequent increase to levels reached in mature forest requires about 50 years. Some of the initial decrease in organic matter and nitrogen content of the forest floor may be caused by organic decomposition and nitrogen leaching, but mechanical and chemical mixing of floor into mineral soil, during and after the harvest operation, may also be important. The difference is vital with respect to maintenance of long-term productivity.

Distribution of water-soluble organic carbon in an aspen forest soil

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1266-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.Z. Huang ◽  
J.J. Schoenau
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Water Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Prince Albert National Park ◽  
Aspen Forest

The purpose of this study was to characterize the quantity, distribution, and variance of water-soluble organic C (WSOC) in a soil under trembling aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) in the southern boreal forest of Canada. WSOC was determined monthly from May to October 1994 in the forest floor horizons (L, F, H) and mineral soil (Ae) of an aspen stand in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan. The concentration of WSOC varied considerably with profile depth, but varied little among the slope positions and aspects. The L horizon had the highest WSOC concentration (425–8690 mg•kg−1 ovendried soil), followed by the F, H, and Ae horizons. The concentration of WSOC in the Ae horizon was significantly related to the concentration in forest floor horizons above. Water-soluble organic C in the Ae horizon likely was derived from the overlying organic layer by leaching. In a laboratory incubation, the rate of WSOC release (the net result of release and uptake) during incubation decreased continuously over time, but in the field, the rate of WSOC release decreased slightly early in the growing season, but increased later in the season as new litter fall reached the forest floor. This indicates that litter fall is a major factor in the replenishment of WSOC in aspen forest stands.

Long-term recovery in the soil profile of 15N from Douglas-fir needles decomposing in the forest floor

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 833-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM. Preston ◽  
D.J. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
First Year ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Almost All

To follow the movement and transformations of litter-fall N in a forest ecosystem, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) foliage labelled with 15N was mixed into the forest floor and left to decompose in steel cylinders of 15 cm diameter X 60 cm length. There were four treatments: 15N-labelled foliage only, foliage plus 200 kg N•ha−1 as urea or NH4NO3, and unamended control. The addition of fertilizer N had no significant effects on 15N recovery or distribution in the soil profile. The overall recovery of 15N to 60 cm depth was 53.7%, 24.9%, and 19.9% after 1, 3, and 7.5 years, respectively. After the first year almost all of the recovered 15N was in the L layer. At 3 years, a higher proportion was found in the FH layer, and by 7.5 years, approximately one-third of the 15N was found in mineral soil horizons. There was very little recovery of 15N in inorganic form (1% or less) after 1 year; in subsequent years inorganic N was found at background levels. Recoveries in soil after 1 and 3 years were similar to those reported for 15N added as inorganic fertilizer in the absence of plant uptake. However, very low losses in the next sampling period (3 to 7.5 years) indicated stabilization of 15N in increasingly recalcitrant forms.

Annual Macroelement Transfer From PinusBanksiana Lamb. Forest to Soil

1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 470-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil W. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Glacial Outwash ◽  
Annual Total ◽  
Total Potassium

The annual amounts of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in litter-fall, throughfall, and stemflow were measured in a 30-year-old jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) stand on a coarse glacial outwash soil in northern Ontario. Litter from ground vegetation and from the pine overstory was estimated. The nutrient content of precipitation was measured and the quantity of nutrients in leaf wash determined.Tree litter was the most important source of N, P, Ca, and Mg for the forest floor (51–69% of the total depending on the element), whereas throughfall supplied most K (54% of the total). Ground vegetation litter contributed significant amounts of nutrients (7–23% of the total depending on the element) but stemflow added little (1–8% of the total). Potassium in throughfall was derived mainly from leaf wash whereas N, P, Ca, and Mg in throughfall were derived primarily from precipitation entering the ecosystem. This jack pine forest floor received an annual total of 30 kg/ha of N, 22 kg/ha of Ca, 19 kg/ha of K, 3 kg/ha of Mg, and 2 kg/ha of P from the processes studied. Most of the nutrients in these totals were returning to the forest floor from the vegetation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document