Quantitative characterization of nutrient regimes in some boreal forest soils

1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Klinka ◽  
Gordon J. Kayahara ◽  
Qingli Wang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Single Measure ◽  
Quantitative Classification ◽  
Mineralizable N ◽  
Boreal Soils

In order to assess to what extent soil nutrient properties support differentiation of field-identified soil nutrient regimes, composite samples from each forest floor and 0–30 cm of the mineral soil were collected from 116 forest stands in central British Columbia. The samples were analyzed for acidity, total carbon (tC), total nitrogen (tN), mineralizable-N (min-N), and extractable Ca, Mg, K, P, and SO4-S (eCa, eMg, eK, eP, eSO4); and the results were expressed as concentrations on a dry-mass basis. Mineralizable-N of the mineral soil showed (1) the largest amount of variation in the population of sampled soils, (2) significant differences (P < 0.01) among field-identified soil nutrient regimes, and (3) strong correlations with tC, tN, and eCa, eMg, and eK. Using mineral soil min-N as a differentiating characteristic, the following limiting values (mg kg−1) were proposed to provide an objective means of defining soil nutrient regimes: < 2 for very poor, 2–8.9 for poor, 9–27.4 for medium, 27.5–110 for rich, and > 110 for very rich. Site index (height at 50 yr breast height age) of lodge-pole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud) and interior spruce [Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelmann × P. glauca (Moench) Voss] increased from very poor to very rich soils; however, the differences among site indices of contiguous soil nutrient regimes were largely insignificant. Regression analysis indicated that (1) soil moisture accounts for the largest proportion of the variation in site index, (2) models using C:N ratio of the forest floor and 0–30 cm of the mineral soil had a stronger relationship with site index (0.38 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.43, standard error < 3.0 m) than those using min-N. These results gave further evidence that min-N in the 0–30 mineral soil is a good single measure representing soil nutrient conditions, and justify the use of the existing field procedure for estimating soil nutrient regimes in montane boreal soils. Key words: Boreal soils, soil nutrient regime, quantitative classification, mineralizable-N, site index

Initial quantitative characterization of soil nutrient regimes. I. Soil properties

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 1557-1564 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Kabzems ◽  
K. Klinka
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Total N ◽  
Quantitative Classification ◽  
Topographic Features ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Study Sites

Previous attempts to characterize soil nutrient regimes of forest ecosystems have been qualitative evaluations utilizing vegetation and (or) topographic features, morphological soil properties, and mineralogy of soil parent materials. The objective of this study was to describe and provide initial data for quantitative classification of soil nutrient regimes in some Douglas-fir ecosystems on southern Vancouver Island. A multivariate classification using forest floor plus mineral soil mineralizable N and exchangeable Mg quantities was proposed for the four nutrient regimes (poor, medium, rich, and very rich) recognized in this study. Significant differences in mineralizable and total N existed between the four identified soil nutrient regimes. The previous N fertilization of two study sites did not seem to change soil N status sufficiently to alter the classification. The differences in nutrient availability were more distinct when forest floor and mineral soil properties, expressed on an areal basis, were summed. There were no significant differences in exchangeable Ca and Mg for the poor and medium soil nutrient regimes. The humus form of the forest floor was an important characteristic for identifying soil nutrient regimes in the field; however, the nutrient quantities of the forest floor reflected differences in bulk density and depth and did not effectively distinguish between regimes.

Characterization of nutrient regimes in some continental subalpine boreal forest soils

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Y. H. Chen ◽  
K. Klinka ◽  
J. Fons ◽  
P. V. Krestov
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Total N ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Engelmann Spruce ◽  
Mineralizable N ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Direct Measures

To determine whether field-identified soil nutrient regimes (SNRs) can be characterized and segregated by direct soil nutrient measures, we collected samples of forest floor and mineral soil (0 to 30 cm) from a wide range of forest sites throughout the Engelmann Spruce — Subalpine Fir (ESSF) zone of British Columbia. The samples were analyzed for acidity, total C, total N, mineralizable N, and extractable Ca, Mg, K, P, and SO4-S. The study sites were stratified according to an a priori field classification (SNRs) and an a posteriori classification derived from quantitative classification (groups) using all direct measures of nutrients as discriminating variables. The two classification methods had 72% agreement. Regardless of the classification, nitrogen-related variables (C:N ratio, total N, and mineralizable N) in the mineral soil segregated best among SNRs or groups indicating the presence of a steep, N-driven regional soil nutrient gradient. Multiple regression models using SNRs, groups, or direct measures of nutrients together with surrogates of climate (elevation, latitude, and/or longitude) as predictors had the similar accountability for the variation in subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce site index (0.41 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.65). The similarity in the accountability for site index justifies the use of the a priori classification in estimating site quality. Comparison of mineralizable-N values for field-identified SNRs between different climatic regions showed similarities between boreal climates and discrepancies between boreal and cool mesothermal climates. The study gave further evidence that indices of plant-available nitrogen in the upper mineral soil provide useful measures for field-identified SNRs, but indicated that it may be necessary to expand the existing five-class a priori classification to accommodate differences in regional soil nutrient gradients. Key words: Classification, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, nitrogen, site index, soil nutrient regime

The influence of understory vine maple on forest floor and mineral soil properties in coastal temperate forests

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. C. Tashe ◽  
M. G. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Available P ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
Exchangeable Bases ◽  
Mineralizable N

In coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, vine maple (Acer circinatum Pursh) is a common understory tree species. We studied the influence of vine maple, growing in the understory of a stand of Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] and western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (RAF.) Sarg.], on forest floor and mineral soil properties. Fifteen (in a 75-yr-old stand) and 12 (in a 130-yr-old stand) plots containing vine maple were compared to paired plots without the influence of vine maple. Mull humus was dominant under vine maples, while mor humus was mainly found under conifers at the 130 yr-old stand. Common to both stands in the upper mineral soil were greater mineralizable N and total exchangeable bases under vine maple. At the 75-yr-old stand, the forest floor had a higher pH and greater total exchangeable base concentration, while the mineral soil had a lower C:N ratio, greater NO3-availability and lower available P concentration and content under vine maple compared to conifers. The 130-yr-old stand had less available P content and greater concentrations of mineralizable N and exchangeable Mg in the forest floor under vine maple. Results suggest that the presence of vine maple may enhance the availability of N and exchangeable bases, but may adversely affect P availability. Key words: Vine maple, soil-plant interactions, forest floor, Acer circinatum

Nutrient cycling in Huntington Forest and Turkey Lakes deciduous stands: nitrogen and sulfur

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Mitchell ◽  
N.W. Foster ◽  
J.P. Shepard ◽  
I.K. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Adirondack Mountains ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Turkey Lakes Watershed

Biogeochemical cycling of S and N was quantified at two hardwood sites (Turkey Lakes watershed (TLW) and Huntington Forest (HF)) that have sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) as the major overstory component and are underlain by Spodosols (Podzols). TLW and HF are located in central Ontario (Canada) and the Adirondack Mountains of New York (U.S.A), respectively. Major differences between the TLW and HF sites included stand age (300 and 100 years for TLW and HF, respectively), age of dominant trees (150–300 and 100 years for TLW and HF, respectively), and the presence of American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.) at HF as well as lower inputs of SO42− and NO3− (differences of 99 and 31 mol ion charge (molc)•ha−1•year−1, respectively) at TLW. There was an increase in concentration of SO42− and NO3− after passage through the canopy at both sites. A major difference in the anion chemistry of the soil solution between the sites was the much greater leaching of NO3− at TLW compared with HF (1300 versus 18 molc•ha−1•year−1, respectively). At HF, but not TLW, there was a marked increase in SO42− flux (217 molc•ha−1•year−1) when water leached from the forest floor through the mineral soil. The mineral soil was the largest pool (>80%) of N and S for both sites. The mineral soil of TLW had a C:N ratio of 16:1, which is much narrower than the 34:1 ratio at HF. This former ratio should favor accumulation of NH44+ and NO3− and subsequent NO3− leaching. Laboratory measurements suggest that the forest floor of TLW may have higher N mineralization rates than HF. Fluxes of N and S within the vegetation were generally similar at both sites, except that net requirement of N at TLW was substantially lower (difference of 9.4 kg N•ha−1•year−1). The higher NO3− leaching from TLW compared with HF may be attributed mostly to stand maturity coupled with tree mortality, but the absence of slow decomposing beech leaf litter and lower C:N ratio in the soil of the former site may also be contributing factors.

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.

Site index, site quality, and foliar nutrients of trembling aspen: relationships and predictions

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1743-1755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han YH Chen ◽  
Karel Klinka ◽  
Richard D Kabzems
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Foliar Nutrients ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Soil Model ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

To examine the relationships between trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) productivity, environmental attributes, and foliar nutrients and to make accurate predictions of trembling aspen productivity, we sampled 60 naturally established, fire-originated, and even-aged trembling aspen stands in northern British Columbia. Trembling aspen site index significantly varied with latitude, elevation, aspect, slope position, edatopes, some forest floor and mineral soil physical and chemical properties, and concentrations of some foliar nutrients. To predict site index, we developed multiple linear regression models using climatic variables, topographic properties, edatopes, soil physical and chemical properties, or foliar nutrients as predictors. Model accountability for variation of site index differed in decreasing order from soil model, climatic model, forest floor model, foliar nutrient model, edatope model, topographic model, to mineral soil model. Examined by the test data set, all models were unbiased, but they had different levels of precision in prediction in decreasing order from edatope model, soil model, forest floor model, mineral soil model, foliar nutrient model, climatic model, to topographic model. The soil and foliar nutrients models may provide insight into ecosystem processes, but the models using climatic variables and topographic properties or edatopes as predictors are recommended for predicting trembling aspen site index.

An approach to quantitative classification of nutrient regimes of forest soils

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2640-2653 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Courtin ◽  
K. Klinka ◽  
M. C. Feller ◽  
J. P. Demaerschalk
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Forest Soils ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Quantitative Classification ◽  
Rooting Zone ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
Soil Groups

Many workers have classified nutrient regimes of forest soils, but there have been few attempts to provide an objective means of defining soil nutrient regimes. This objective was accomplished in the present study by numerical analysis conducted on 195 soil samples of vegetation and soils from coastal British Columbia. The differentiating characteristics used in the classification were pH (H2O) and the C/N ratio of the humus forms; and total soil nitrogen (kg/ha) and sum of exchangeable calcium, magnesium, and potassium (kg/ha) within the soil rooting zone. Numerical analysis distinguished seven soil groups. These groups were related to the floristic composition of understory vegetation and to forest productivity as indicated by site index. These vegetation – soil relationships were then used to assign the soil groups into five soil nutrient regime classes: very poor, poor, medium, rich, and very rich.

scholarly journals Effects of Biochar to Excessive Compost-Fertilized Soils on the Nutrient Status

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Chi Tsai ◽  
Yu-Fang Chang
Keyword(s):  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Soil Nutrient Status ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Excessive Nutrients ◽  
Cu And Zn

Positive effects of a biochar–compost mix on soil nutrient status in infertile soil have been reported, but the potential effect of biochar amendments in excessive compost-fertilized soils has not been extensively studied. Excessive application of compost can result in the accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals (Cu and Zn). Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of biochar–excessive compost co-application on soil nutrient status. We hypothesized that biochar co-application could have positive effects on the absorption of excessive nutrients of Cu and Zn. A 371-day laboratory incubation study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de. Wit) biochar produced at 750 °C on the dynamics of the soil nutrients. Three Taiwan rural soils were selected, including slightly acidic Oxisols (SAO), mildly alkaline Inceptisols (MAI), and slightly acid Inceptisols (SAI). The biochar treatments include control (0%) and 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% (w/w). In each treatment, 5% (w/w) poultry-livestock manure compost was added to test excessive application. The results indicated that the biochar treatments had a significant increase effect on soil pH, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), C:N ratio, and available K concentration. The effect of biochar on electrical conductivity (EC) and available P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Zn was insignificant. The effect of biochar, with relatively low application rates (<2% by wt), low surface area, and less surface function group, was eliminated by excessive compost (5% by wt). In addition to carbon sequestration and nitrogen conservation, biochar addition has no effect on the absorption of the excessive nutrients Cu and Zn in three studied soils.

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.

Nitrogen dynamics in conifer-dominated forests with and without hardwoods

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1434-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Perry ◽  
C. Choquette ◽  
P. Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
N Mineralization ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil N Mineralization ◽  
Leaf Litterfall ◽  
Uniform Area

Nitrogen and carbon in the surface 12 cm of mineral soil, N in leaf litterfall, anaerobic N mineralization rates in the soil and forest floor, and root and N accretion to sand traps placed in surface soil layers were compared in forests with hardwoods either completely or partially removed during a conifer thinning 3 years before. An adjacent unthinned conifer–hardwood stand was also included. Conifer stocking did not differ between thinned stands with and without hardwoods. Stands without hardwoods averaged 520 kg/ha more N in mineral soil (p < 0.001), 20% more N mineralized from soil during 7-day incubations (p < 0.001), and lower soil C:N ratio (p = 0.02) than stands with hardwoods. These variables did not differ between thinned and unthinned mixed stands. Soil N did not correlate with the number of hardwoods removed. Weight of forest floor and rate of N mineralization from the forest floor did not differ between mixed and pure stands. However, stands with hardwoods returned about 10 kg•ha−1•year−1 more N in leaf litter (due to higher N concentration in conifer litter as well as the presence of high-N hardwood litter); stands without hardwoods accreted about 10 kg•ha−1•year−1 more N in sand traps. Soil N mineralization in mixed stands correlated positively with N mineralization in the forest floor but not with N accretion to sand traps, while the opposite was true in pure conifer stands. Although pretreatment variability among stands cannot be ruled out, the replicated treatments within a relatively uniform area make it appear likely that differences were related to the presence or absence of hardwoods. This was not a simple additive effect, however, but a community-level phenomenon, that is, conifers cycled N differently when mixed with hardwoods than when in pure stands.

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