Soil properties, aspen, and white spruce responses 5 years after organic matter removal and compaction treatments

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 2045-2055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kabzems ◽  
Sybille Haeussler
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
Reduced Height

Retaining organic matter and preventing soil compaction are important factors affecting the sustainability of managed forests. To assess how these factors affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and 1 year and 5 year post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment tree growth responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash, and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate (2-cm impression), heavy (5-cm impression)). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At year 5, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated (r2 > 0.31, p < 0.0001) with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor removal treatments, where minimal recovery from compaction was observed. There was some evidence for recovery of soil properties to preharvest conditions where expansion of herbaceous vegetation increased soil organic matter.

scholarly journals Aspen and white spruce productivity is reduced by organic matter removal and soil compaction

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (03) ◽  
pp. 306-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kabzems
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Organic Matter Removal

Declines in forest productivity have been linked to losses of organic matter and soil porosity. To assess how removal of organic matter and soil compaction affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and year 1, 5 and 10 post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment plant community responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.)-dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate [2-cm impression], heavy [5-cm impression]). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen (198 cm compared to 472–480 cm) as well as white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) height (82 cm compared to 154–156 cm). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At Year 10, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor + whole tree removal treatments. Recovery of soil properties was occurring in the 0 cm to 2 cm layer of mineral soil. Bulk density values for the 0 cm to 10 cm depth remained above 86% of the maximum bulk density for the site, a soil condition where reduced tree growth can be expected.

scholarly journals Soil properties and aspen development five years after compaction and forest floor removal

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas M. Stone ◽  
John D. Elioff
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Site Productivity ◽  
Organic Matter Removal

Forest management activities that decrease soil porosity and remove organic matter have been associated with declines in site productivity. In the northern Lake States region, research is in progress in the aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx. and P. grandidentata Michx.) forest type to determine effects of soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil properties and growth of aspen suckers, associated woody species, herbaceous vegetation, and on stand development. Four treatments: (1) total tree harvest (TTH); (2) TTH plus soil compaction (CPT); (3) TTH plus forest floor removal (FFR); and (4) TTH plus CPT + FFR were applied after winter-harvest of a 70-yr-old aspen stand growing on a loamy sand with a site index(age50) of 20.7 m. The CPT treatment significantly increased bulk density and soil strength of the surface 30 cm of soil and neither have recovered during the 5 yr since treatment. The CPT plots had 19.6 thousand (k) suckers ha−1, less than half that of the TTH and FFR treatments; mean diameter (19.4 mm) and height (271 cm) were greatest on the TTH plots. The disturbance treatments (CPT, FFR, and CPT + FFR) each reduced biomass of foliage, stems, and total suckers compared with the TTH treatment. Total aboveground biomass (herbs + shrubs + suckers) was less than half that of TTH plots. There were 5.0 k saplings (suckers >2.5 cm DBH) ha−1 on the TTH plots, but fewer than 1.0 k ha−1 in the other treatments. The disturbance treatments decreased 5-yr growth of potential crop trees, delayed early stand development, and temporarily reduced stockability and site productivity of an aspen ecosystem. Key words: Soil compaction, organic matter removal, site productivity, stand development

Aspen plant community response to organic matter removal and soil compaction

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 2030-2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Haeussler ◽  
Richard Kabzems
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
Soil Aeration ◽  
Year Effect

Organic matter removal and reduced soil aeration porosity during logging are important factors influencing the sustained productivity of managed forest ecosystems. We studied the 4-year effect of these factors on diversity and composition of a trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) plant community in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, in a completely randomized experiment with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems; stems and slash; stems, slash, and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none; intermediate (2-cm impression); heavy (5-cm impression)). Tree stem removal caused the greatest change in species diversity (30% of variance; ANOVA p ≤ 0.01), increasing the dominance of aspen and Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv. over other species. Slash removal had little effect. Forest floor removal caused the greatest compositional change (37% of variance; MANOVA p = 0.001), favoring ruderal over bud-banking species. Presence or absence of forest floor better explained these changes than any soil physical or chemical parameter. Although dominance of aspen over Calamagrostis was positively correlated with soil aeration porosity (R2 = 0.50, n = 27, p < 0.001), there were few differences between intermediate and heavy compaction. In this ecosystem, disturbances that reduce forest floor thickness without compacting soils will likely optimize plant species diversity and enhance aspen regrowth.

Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction, and vegetation control on 5-year seedling performance: a regional comparison of Long-Term Soil Productivity sites

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L Fleming ◽  
Robert F Powers ◽  
Neil W Foster ◽  
J Marty Kranabetter ◽  
D Andrew Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Seedling Performance ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
Vegetation Control ◽  
Wide Range

We examined fifth-year seedling response to soil disturbance and vegetation control at 42 experimental locations representing 25 replicated studies within the North American Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) program. These studies share a common experimental design while encompassing a wide range of climate, site conditions, and forest types. Whole-tree harvest had limited effects on planted seedling performance compared with the effects of stem-only harvest (the control); slight increases in survival were usually offset by decreases in growth. Forest-floor removal improved seedling survival and increased growth in Mediterranean climates, but reduced growth on productive, nutrient-limited, warm–humid sites. Soil compaction with intact forest floors usually benefited conifer survival and growth, regardless of climate or species. Compaction combined with forest-floor removal generally increased survival, had limited effects on individual tree growth, and increased stand growth in Mediterranean climates. Vegetation control benefited seedling growth in all treatments, particularly on more productive sites, but did not affect survival or alter the relative impact of organic matter removal and compaction on growth. Organic matter removal increased aspen coppice densities and, as with compaction, reduced aspen growth.

Soil compaction and organic matter removal effects on soil properties and tree growth in the Interior Douglas-fir zone of southern British Columbia

2021 ◽  
Vol 494 ◽  
pp. 119268
Author(s):  
Brian Wallace ◽  
Chuck Bulmer ◽  
Graeme Hope ◽  
Mike Curran ◽  
Tim Philpott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Organic Matter Removal

Short-term impact of forest soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil mesofauna density and oribatid mite diversity

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1136-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P Battigelli ◽  
John R Spence ◽  
David W Langor ◽  
Shannon M Berch
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Soil ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Oribatid Mite ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the short-term impact of forest soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil mesofauna, in general, and oribatid mite species, in particular. Both soil compaction and organic matter removal reduced the density of soil mesofauna. Stem-only harvesting reduced total mesofauna densities by 20% relative to uncut forest values. A combination of whole-tree harvest and forest floor removal with heavy soil compaction significantly reduced total soil mesofauna densities by 93% relative to the uncut forest control. Removal of the forest floor represents a substantial loss of habitat for most soil mesofauna. The forest floor apparently buffered the mineral soil by limiting both the impact of soil compaction and fluctuations in soil temperature and moisture. The relative abundance of Prostigmata and Mesostigmata increased with treatment severity, whereas that of Oribatida decreased. Species richness of the oribatid mite fauna was reduced as the severity of treatments increased. The number of rare oribatid species (those representing <1% of the total oribatid mite sample) decreased by 40% or more relative to the uncut forest control. Evenness also decreased as treatment severity increased. Oppiella nova and Suctobelbella sp. near acutidens were the dominant oribatid species in both the forest floor and mineral soil, regardless of treatment. Soil compaction and organic matter removal significantly impacted the density and diversity of soil mesofauna and oribatid mite fauna in the short term at these study sites.

Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction, and vegetation control on Collembolan populations

Pedobiologia ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J Eaton ◽  
Mary Barbercheck ◽  
Marilyn Buford ◽  
William Smith
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Organic Matter Removal ◽  
Vegetation Control

Stem- and stand-level growth and mortality following partial cutting in eastern boreal poplar – white spruce stands

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Brais ◽  
Brian D. Harvey ◽  
Arun K. Bose
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Partial Cutting

Variable retention (VR) and partial cutting are both considered important silvicultural tools of natural disturbance or ecosystem based forest management approaches. Partial harvesting differs from VR in that post-treatment growth responses and stand regeneration are the primary objective rather than the maintenance of biodiversity. This partial cutting study is undertaken in mixed poplar (Populus spp.) – white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) stands in the eastern Canadian boreal mixedwood forest. It compares, at the tree level, absolute growth rates (AGR) and relative growth rates (RGR) of basal area (BA) and stem survival; and at the stand level, it also compares absolute BA growth, mortality, and sapling density 10 years following treatment. The completely randomized experiment was established with four intensities of partial cutting (0, 50%, 65%, and 100% of poplar BA). All partial cutting intensities had a significant and similar positive effect on AGR of residual spruce stems. Complete poplar removal resulted not only in the highest increase in RGR of suppressed and intermediate spruce stems, but also in higher spruce mortality. Removal of 50% of the initial poplar stand BA provided the best trade-off between positive residual stem growth of spruce and poplar and limited post-treatment mortality.

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