Detrital processes in a black locust reforested surface mine compared to a sugar maple dominated mixed hardwood stand

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5489793

Bartuska, A M

Black locust stands on reclaimed surface mines have accumulated a greater forest floor litter mass than nearby mixed hardwood forests. A three year intensive study was initiated to examine the detrital processes controlling differential litter accumulation. Two stands in north central West Virginia were compared, a black locust stand on a reclaimed surface mine and a nearby, mixed hardwood forest not disturbed by mining. Mean annual leaf litter deposition in the black locust stand was significantly less than that in the mixed hardwood stand. A decomposition experiment using litter bags showed that black locust leaf litter decomposed 36% more slowly than sugar maple leaves after 24 months. Through a mass balance analysis, the reduced rate of litter decomposition for black locust leaves more than compensates for the reduced litter deposition and allows for a small yearly accumulation of litter in the forest floor which over time would become significant. Black locust and sugar maple leaves each decomposed at approximately the same rate in both stands. Factors controlling the rate of leaf litter decomposition were assessed by examining physical, biological, and chemical parameters in both stands. Substrate chemistry and not stand effects (microclimate and decomposer organism populations) was found to be the factor controlling the different rates of decomposition. Specifically, the high concentration of lignin in black locust leaf litter compared to sugar maple leaves inhibited microbial decomposition in the locust stand.

• OSTI ID: 5489793
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DETRITUS
FEDERAL REGION III
FOREST LITTER
GRASS
LAND RECLAMATION
MATERIALS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
PREFERRED SPECIES
REVEGETATION
SHRUBS
SURFACE MINING
TREES
USA
WEST VIRGINIA