Influence of Salmon Carcass Placement in Red Alder Riparian Areas on Stream Chemistry in Lowland Western Washington

Decomposition rates and changes in the nutrient content of needle and leaf litter were examined in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii Mirb. Franco), western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), Pacific silver fir (Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes), and red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) ecosystems in western Washington, U.S.A. Nylon litterbags (1-mm mesh) were placed in the stands in November and December 1974. Bags were collected after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months and weighed, except in the Pacific silver fir stand when bags were collected after 6, 9, 14, and 24 months. Litter was analyzed for C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, lignin, and cellulose. Decomposition constants (k values) were determined. Fastest decomposition after 2 years occurred in red alder leaves, followed by Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and Pacific silver fir needles. There were significant differences in weight loss among species after 1 year, but no significant differences were evident after 2 years. Red alder leaves showed rapid weight loss in the 1st year but decomposed little in the 2nd year. Decomposition constants were highly positively correlated with minimum air temperatures and negatively correlated with C:N ratios. Low litter moisture tended to reduce decomposition in summer, particularly in the Pacific silver fir stand. Decomposition proceeded under snow in this ecosystem. The pattern of loss of elements from litterbags after 2 years varied from ecosystem to ecosystem, particularly for N. The following element mobility series resulted for the four ecosystems: red alder (K > Mg > Ca > P > N > Mn), Douglas-fir (K > P > Ca > Mg > Mn > N), western hemlock (K > Ca > Mg > N > Mn > P), and Pacific silver fir (K > Mg > Ca > Mn > P > N).

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Decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics in small-diameter woody litter in four forest ecosystems in Washington, U.S.A.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x87-084 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 499-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Robert L. Edmonds

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Small Diameter ◽

High Elevation ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Decomposition Rates ◽

Red Alder ◽

N Release ◽

Woody Litter ◽

Western Washington

Decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics in small-diameter woody litter (twigs, cones, and branches) were studied in four ecosystems in western Washington: high elevation Pacific silver fir (Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes) and low elevation Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.). Conifer twigs decomposed faster (k = 0.14–0.24 year−1) than cones (k = 0.09–0.12 year−1) and branches (k = 0.03–0.11 year−1). Decomposition constants were related better to initial lignin/initial N ratios (r = −0.64) than initial lignin concentrations. N was generally the least mobile nutrient while K was the most mobile. Many nutrients were strongly immobilized in conifer fine woody litter, including N, Mg, Mn, and Ca. There was little immobilization of N in red alder branches. N release from decomposing woody litter appears to be controlled by a critical C/N ratio. This critical C/N ratio, however, was not constant and increased as the substrate decomposition rate increased.

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Patterns of nutrient concentration in basidiocarps in western Washington

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b80-089 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 694-698 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

K. A. Vogt ◽

R. L. Edmonds

Keyword(s):

Forest Floor ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Weight Basis ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Fruiting Bodies ◽

Lignicolous Fungi ◽

Red Alder ◽

Western Washington ◽

Armillariella Mellea

Fruiting bodies and forest floor samples were collected and analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Na content in red alder, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and Pacific silver fir ecosystems in western Washington. Different genera and species of fungi showed wide variation in the capability of concentrating nutrients within their fruiting bodies. Ranges of nutrient content for fruiting bodies were 0.66–11.27% N, 0.04–2.39% P, 7 – 32 080 ppm Ca, 2975 – 57 404 ppm K, 10–7096 ppm Mg, 3–1727 ppm Mn, 15–3975 ppm Fe, 18–6763 ppm Na, and 15–278 ppm Zn. Nitrogen, P, and K were concentrated in significantly higher levels in fruiting bodies versus the forest floor in all ecosystems. Nitrogen and K were concentrated at levels higher than 1% while P, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Na were concentrated at levels less than 1% of the dry weight of the fruiting bodies. Calcium was not concentrated by fungi in sporocarps, except for Armillariella mellea rhizomorphs (3.2% on dry weight basis). Lignicolous fungi were lower in N and K than nonlignicolous fungi.

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Litterfall and nutrient returns in red alder stands in western Washington

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/bf02184327 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 343-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. A. Radwan ◽

Constance A. Harrington ◽

J. M. Kraft

Keyword(s):

Red Alder ◽

Western Washington

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Nodulation and nitrogen fixation by red alder and Sitka alder on coal mine spoils

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x82-141 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 992-997 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paul Heilman ◽

Gorden Ekuan

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Nitrogenase Activity ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Tree Age ◽

Fixed Nitrogen ◽

Red Alder ◽

Mine Spoils ◽

Nodule Number ◽

Western Washington ◽

The Difference

Nodule number, nodule weight, and nitrogen fixation (nitrogenase activity by acetylene reduction) were determined for 3 years for red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) and Sitka alder (Alnussinuata Reg. Rydb.) on three types of coal spoils in western Washington. Generally, the two species were similar in number and weight of nodules and in nitrogen-fixation rates when measured in June (these rates varied from 23 to 27 µmol•g−1•h−1). The type of coal spoil material influenced nodule number but not nodule weight. Topsoil covered subsoil had the highest number of nodules. Trees on unweathered subsoil had the lowest number, particularly for Sitka alder. Nodule weight (dry, ash free) varied from 68 kg•ha−1 for 5-year-old Sitka alder interplanted in a 1:1 mix with Douglas-fir (1790 alders•ha−1) to 188–200 kg•ha−1 for pure stands of both alder species at age 5 (5380 trees•ha−1). The difference in nodule weight between species was not significant. Both species fixed nitrogen at similar rates although in the last year of measurement red alder trees fixed 37% more nitrogen than Sitka alder. This difference was not significant, however. Nitrogen fixation per unit area depended on tree age and spacing, varying from 17 kg•ha−1•year−1 at age 3 with 1830 alders•ha−1 to 150 kg•ha−1•year−1 by both species at age 5 and a density of 5380 trees•ha−1. Fixation rates increased from age 3 to 5 years primarily because of increased nodule weight. Nitrogen fixation by the Sitka alder in mixture with Douglas-fir was relatively high and was encouraging for the concept of mixed plantings of these two species. However, response of Douglas-fir to mixed planting with Sitka alder has not been demonstrated.

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Phytomass production in young mixed plantations of Alnus rubra (Bong.) and cottonwood in western Washington

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m83-158 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1007-1013 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Paul Heilman ◽

R. F. Stettler

Keyword(s):

Nitrogenase Activity ◽

Populus Trichocarpa ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Alnus Rubra ◽

Mixed Stands ◽

Red Alder ◽

Short Rotation ◽

Mixed Plantations ◽

Rotation Culture ◽

Western Washington

Use of red alder in mixture with 28 clones of cottonwood in close spaced, short-rotation culture for fiber and energy was investigated. Early growth was rapid with red alder averaging 7.2 m and cottonwood mixed with alder averaging 8.2 m in height after 3 years. Alder significantly increased nitrogen content of cottonwood foliage in the 1st and 2nd years but not in the 3rd. Mean height of cottonwood at 3 years was increased in mixture with red alder. However, heights of the shortest cottonwood clones were reduced. Dry weight production on mixed plots (both species combined) was generally less than for pure cottonwood. Only with the slowest growing cottonwood clones did mixed stands show increased dry weight production. The best cottonwood clone, a hybrid (Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides), produced 20.3 t∙ha−1∙year−1 dry weight for 3 years in pure stands compared with 2.8 t∙ha−1∙year−1 for the poorest. Production by alder was inversely related to cottonwood production in mixed plantings. Nodulation and C2H3 reduction was evaluated during the third growing season. Results indicated severe decline in nitrogenase activity where overtopping and shading of red alder by adjacent cottonwood occurred. At this site, the success of this mixture appears to depend upon use of cottonwood clones that do not outgrow the alder. Since the highest yielding cottonwood clones are much more productive at this site than the alder that we used, there would seem to be little incentive for mixed plantings of these species under the conditions of this experiment.

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