The influence of papermill sludge application on the biogeochemistry and vegetation of young red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait. ) plantations established in recent clearcut forest ecosystems

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5582254

Kraske, C R

Combined primary and secondary papermill sludge was applied to three young red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation (age < 8 years) in western Maine. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of sludge application on forest soil chemical and physical properties, soil solution and streamwater chemistry, and conifer and competitive vegetation growth. Research sites were established in Letter E Township, Jim Pond Township, and Coplin Plantation. At Letter E, study plots were established in an adjacent uncut forest area, in order to examine the effects of clearcut harvesting on forest ecosystem biogeochemical processes. A seedling study was also established to examine the effect of sludge application on newly-planted tree species: japanese larch (Lariz leptolepis), red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), and black spruce (Picea mariana(Mill.) B.S.P.). Sludge was operationally applied during the summer and fall of 1989. The target loading rate was 40 Mg ha[sup [minus]1]. Harvesting at the Letter E site appeared to increase concentrations of major nutrients in soil solution. In 1989, soil solution Ca[sup 2+], Mg[sup 2+], and NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] were considerably higher in the harvested areas than in the uncut forest area. Initial flushes of Ca[sup 2+], Mg[sup 2+], Na[sup +] and SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus]] into soil solution occurred immediately following sludge application. Only Na[sup +] and SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus]] remained elevated in solution of sludge-amended harvest area soils. Harvesting resulted in elevated forest floor pH and decreased organic matter content, reflecting accelerated decomposition of the organic horizon. Sludge application increased forest floor pH, exchangeable base cations, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation, and decreased exchangeable acidity. Exchangeable Mg[sup 2+] and Na[sup +], and water-soluble SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus]] were the mineral soil properties most affected by sludge application.

• Research Organization: Maine Univ., Orono, ME (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5582254
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONIFERS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
FORESTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROWTH
HARVESTING
INDUSTRY
LOADING RATE
NUTRIENTS
PAPER INDUSTRY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
SEEDLINGS
SLUDGES
SOILS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY