Four centuries of soil carbon and nitrogen change after stand-replacing fire in a forest landscape in the western Cascade Range of Oregon

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 2455-2464 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Giesen ◽  
S. S. Perakis ◽  
K. Cromack
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Cascade Range ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
C And N ◽  
Mineral Soils

Episodic stand-replacing wildfire is a significant disturbance in mesic and moist Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forests of the Pacific Northwest. We studied 24 forest stands with known fire histories in the western Cascade Range in Oregon to evaluate long-term impacts of stand-replacing wildfire on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and dynamics within the forest floor (FF, Oe and Oa horizons) and the mineral soil (0–10 cm). Twelve of our stands burned approximately 150 years ago (“young”), and the other 12 burned approximately 550 years ago (“old”). Forest floor mean C and N pools were significantly greater in old stands than young stands (N pools: 1823 ± 132 kg·ha–1vs. 1450 ± 98 kg·ha–1; C pools: 62 980 ± 5403 kg·ha–1vs. 49 032 ± 2965 kg·ha–1, mean ± SE) as a result of significant differences in FF mass. Forest floor C and N concentrations and C/N ratios did not differ by time since fire, yet potential N mineralization rates were significantly higher in FF of old sites. Old and young mineral soils did not differ significantly in pools, concentrations, C/N ratios, or cycling rates. Our results suggest that C and N are sequestered in FF of Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir forests over long (∼400 year) intervals, but that shorter fire return intervals may prevent that accumulation.

scholarly journals The 1912 Douglas-Fir Heredity Study: Long-Term Effects of Climatic Transfer Distance on Growth and Survival

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bradley St. Clair ◽  
Glenn T Howe ◽  
Jennifer G Kling
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Near Term

Abstract The 1912 Douglas-Fir Heredity Study is one of the first studies undertaken by the US Forest Service, and one of the first forest genetics studies in North America. The study considers provenance variation of 120 parent trees from 13 seed sources planted at five test sites in the Pacific Northwest. The unique, long-term nature of the study makes it valuable to revisit and consider its biological and historical significance. This analysis considers how far climatically Douglas-fir populations may be moved without incurring unacceptable declines in growth and survival. Results indicate that Douglas-fir seed sources may be moved at least 2° C cooler or warmer and still retain good long-term survival and productivity. However, projected future climate change beyond 2° C may lead to lower survival and productivity. One option to address these concerns is assisted migration; however, if seed sources are moved beyond 2–3° C to a cooler climate in anticipation of warming, or from a more continental to a maritime climate, we are likely to see increased mortality and associated losses in productivity in the near-term. Lessons from this study include: (1) pay attention to good experimental design; we were able to overcome limitations from the design by using new statistical approaches; (2) maladaptation may take time to develop; poorer survival was not evident until more than two decades after planting; and (3) long-term studies may have value for addressing new, unforeseen issues in the future.

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.

Understanding soil nutrients and characteristics in the Pacific Northwest through parent material origin and soil nutrient regimes

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2001-2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Littke ◽  
R.B. Harrison ◽  
D.G. Briggs ◽  
A.R. Grider
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Parent Materials ◽  
The Pacific

A convenient method is necessary for assessing the availability of soil nitrogen in plantation Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stands in the Pacific Northwest. The objective of this research was to use soil parent materials (SPMs) and soil nutrient regimes (SNRs) to determine the most efficient method to characterize soil nitrogen availability in Douglas-fir stands. It was hypothesized that SPMs and SNRs would effectively separate stands with distinctive climate, site, and soil characteristics and forest floor and soil carbon and nitrogen reserves. At 60 Douglas-fir stands, SPMs and SNRs were determined, and soil particle percentages, soil depth, and forest floor and soil nitrogen and carbon contents were measured to a depth of 1 m. Soils of sedimentary origin and very rich and rich SNRs contained greater nitrogen and carbon contents than those from glacial and igneous origins and medium SNRs. Sedimentary SPMs and very rich SNRs were developed from older parent materials and had significantly greater soil depths and finer textures than those from glacial SPMs and medium SNRs. SNRs and SPMs are recommended as good estimators of soil nutrient pools and soil characteristics in Douglas-fir plantation forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Soil water leachate from two forested catchments on the Precambrian Shield, Ontario

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1353-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce D. LaZerte ◽  
Lem Scott
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Solubility Curve ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Precambrian Shield ◽  
Soil Solutions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mineral Soils

A predominantly coniferous catchment on the Precambrian Shield had significantly more acid, base-poor, and Al-rich soil solutions than a predominantly deciduous catchment. Eight-year median depth profiles of the forest floor solutions revealed that ceramic tension lysimeters collected significantly higher levels of Al and Si, lower amounts of NO3−, and equal amounts of dissolved organic carbon than plastic zero-tension lysimeters. There was no significant difference between lysimeter types in the deeper mineral soils. NO3−, NH4+, K+, organic C, organic Al, Fe, and to a lesser extent Ca2+ and Mg2+ were more abundant in forest floor solutions than in the mineral soils. Inorganic Al, F−, Na+, and SO42− were more abundant in the mineral horizons, and Cl− was uniform throughout the profile. Calculations based on the Na profile and the weathering of plagioclase feldspars suggested that secondary Al and Si minerals were accumulating in the mineral soil. Long-term median inorganic Al concentrations followed the microcrystalline gibbsite solubility curve (−log(Al3+) = −9.2 + 3.0(pH); R2 = 0.97), and F− was closely correlated (R2 = 0.7). NO3−, NH4+, and K+ in the forest floor exhibited the strongest seasonal patterns, with peaks during the winter–spring snowmelt and late summer. Their levels increased severalfold in response to summer drought, but there was little response in the lower horizons. Apparently because of a decline in SO42− and possibly Ca2+ deposition, there was a long-term decline in Ca2+ and SO42− in the stream draining the PCl mineral horizons (approximately −2.1 ± 0.4 μequiv.•L−1•year−1), and a similar Ca2+ decline in the mineral soil solutions themselves. However, there was no change in pH or inorganic Al levels.

Sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen relationships in forest soils across the northern Great Lakes States as affected by atmospheric deposition and vegetation

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1386-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark B. David ◽  
David F. Grigal ◽  
Lewis F. Ohmann ◽  
George Z. Gertner
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
Forest Soil ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Sulfate Deposition ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
C And N ◽  
Great Lakes States ◽  
Aspen Forest

Relationships among forest soil carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, vegetation type, and atmospheric deposition of wet sulfate were tested using 169 forested plots across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Plots were geographically stratified into five zones, with wet sulfate deposition increasing from 156 (zone 1) to 380 (zone 5) equiv.•ha−1 • year−1. Total S concentrations, adjusted for N levels, indicated higher concentrations in eastern than in western zones in both the upper mineral soil (ca. 0.0152 and 0.0133% S, respectively) and forest floor (ca. 0.124 and 0.113% S, respectively). This illustrates that forest soil S levels reflect geographic gradients in atmospheric sulfate deposition. Total C and N concentrations and C:N and C:S ratios were affected by vegetation type. Jack pine and red pine mineral soil had lower concentrations of C and N compared with balsam fir, maple, and aspen. Forest floor C and N showed no clear pattern.

Relationships between soil organic matter and forest productivity in western Oregon and Washington

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Edmonds ◽  
H.N. Chappell
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Puget Sound ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C And N ◽  
Washington Cascades

Mineral soil and forest floor C and N contents were determined in 154 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) stands in western Oregon and Washington ranging in age from 16 to 64 years. Relationships between site index and mineral soil and forest floor C, N, and C/N ratios were examined. Douglas-fir data were analyzed by geographic province (Puget Sound, Washington Cascades, Oregon Cascades, coastal Washington, coastal Oregon, and southwest Oregon). Average mineral soil C in Douglas-fir stands ranged from 102 Mg/ha to 177 Mg/ha in Puget Sound and Washington Cascades provinces, respectively. Soil N ranged from 3708 kg/ha in Puget Sound province to 9268 kg/ha in the Washington Cascade province. Western hemlock data were analyzed in three provinces (Washington Cascades, coastal Washington, and coastal Oregon). Average mineral soil C in western hemlock stands ranged from 241 Mg/ha in the Washington Cascades to 309 Mg/ha in coastal Washington and was higher than Douglas-fir mineral soil C. Western hemlock mineral soil N was also higher than Douglas-fir mineral soil N ranging from 10 495 kg/ha in the Washington Cascades to 15 216 kg/ha in coastal Oregon. Forest floor C and N contents were also higher in western hemlock than Douglas-fir stands. Nonlinear regression analysis revealed a weak positive relationship between site index and total mineral soil C in Douglas-fir (r2 = 0.19). A similar relationship was observed between Douglas-fir site index and total soil N (r2 = 0.19). Relationships were weak because of the large variability in mineral soil C and N within as well as across provinces. Maximum Douglas-fir site indexes occurred across a broad plateau of mineral soil and forest floor C/N ratios ranging from 15–25 and 35–45, respectively. Minimum site indexes also occurred in these C/N ranges. No increase in Douglas-fir productivity occurred above mineral soil C levels of 125 Mg/ha. There were no relationships between site index and mineral soil C and N or C/N ratios in western hemlock stands.

Long-term impact of nitrogen fertilization on carbon and water fluxes in a Douglas-fir stand in the Pacific Northwest

2020 ◽  
Vol 455 ◽  
pp. 117645
Author(s):  
Sung-Ching Lee ◽  
T. Andrew Black ◽  
Rachhpal S. Jassal ◽  
Andreas Christen ◽  
Gesa Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Water Fluxes ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Long Term Impact

scholarly journals Distribution and altitudinal patterns of carbon and nitrogen storage in various forest ecosystems in the central Yunnan Plateau, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianqiang Li ◽  
Qibo Chen ◽  
Zhuang Li ◽  
Bangxiao Peng ◽  
Jianlong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Pinus Yunnanensis ◽  
Yunnan Plateau ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
C And N ◽  
Quercus Semecarpifolia ◽  
Management Policies

AbstractThe carbon (C) pool in forest ecosystems plays a long-term and sustained role in mitigating the impacts of global warming, and the sequestration of C is closely linked to the nitrogen (N) cycle. Accurate estimates C and N storage (SC, SN) of forest can improve our understanding of C and N cycles and help develop sustainable forest management policies in the content of climate change. In this study, the SC and SN of various forest ecosystems dominated respectively by Castanopsis carlesii and Lithocarpus mairei (EB), Pinus yunnanensis (PY), Pinus armandii (PA), Keteleeria evelyniana (KE), and Quercus semecarpifolia (QS) in the central Yunnan Plateau of China, were estimated on the basis of a field inventory to determine the distribution and altitudinal patterns of SC and SN among various forest ecosystems. The results showed that (1) the forest SC ranged from 179.58 ± 20.57 t hm−1 in QS to 365.89 ± 35.03 t hm−1 in EB. Soil, living biomass and litter contributed an average of 64.73%, 31.72% and 2.86% to forest SC, respectively; (2) the forest SN ranged from 4.47 ± 0.94 t ha−1 in PY to 8.91 ± 1.83 t ha−1 in PA. Soil, plants and litter contributed an average of 86.88%, 10.27% and 2.85% to forest SN, respectively; (3) the forest SC and SN decreased apparently with increasing altitude. The result demonstrates that changes in forest types can strongly affect the forest SC and SN. This study provides baseline information for forestland managers regarding forest resource utilization and C management.

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