Soil nutrient changes following whole tree harvesting on three northern hardwood sites

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1985.03615995004900060044x· OSTI ID:6851852

Mroz, G D; Jurgensen, M F; Frederick, D J

Three northern hardwood stands were clearcut to evaluate the effect of whole tree harvesting on sites of varying quality. Stands were growing on sandy, outwash soils and had red maple (Acer rubrum) site indices of 15, 19, and 20 and biomass values of 114, 165, and 181 Mg/ha. Harvesting did not alter extractable soil P levels significantly on any site. Forest floor weights decreased to similar values on all sites 1.5 years after harvest. Nitrogen losses of over 1.3 Mg/ha occurred in the top meter of soil on all sites. This was attributed to the mixing of the forest floor with the surface mineral soil by the full tree skidding and the subsequent leaching of mineralized N. Soil exchangeable K decreased more than 1 Mg/ha on all sites. Changes in Ca and Mg were much smaller on the low and medium than on the high site. These losses from surface soil horizons are higher than reported previously for clearcutting northern hardwoods on till soils. The greatest impact of whole tree harvest on soil nutrients occurred on the better sites in this study rather than on the poor quality site. (Refs. 33.).

• Research Organization: Michigan Technical Univ., Houghton, MI 49931, USA
• OSTI ID: 6851852
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 49:6; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMISTRY
COMMINUTION
DEFORESTATION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LEACHING
MAPLES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PHOSPHORUS
PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SITE SURVEYS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TREES