Modeling soil quality thresholds to ecosystem recovery at Fort Benning, GA, USA

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Ecological Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.11.009· OSTI ID:989630

Garten, Jr, Charles T ^[1]; Ashwood, Tom L ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The objective of this research was to use a simple model of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics to predict nutrient thresholds to ecosystem recovery on degraded soils at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the southeastern USA. Artillery, wheeled, and tracked vehicle training at military installations can produce soil disturbance and potentially create barren, degraded soils. Ecosystem reclamation is an important component of natural resource management at military installations. Four factors were important to the development of thresholds to recovery of aboveground biomass on degraded soils: (1) initial amounts of aboveground biomass, (2) initial soil C stocks (i.e., soil quality), (3) relative recovery rates of biomass, and (4) soil sand content. Forests and old fields on soils with varying sand content had different predicted thresholds for ecosystem recovery. Soil C stocks at barren sites on Fort Benning were generally below predicted thresholds to 100% recovery of desired future ecosystem conditions defined on the basis of aboveground biomass. Predicted thresholds to ecosystem recovery were less on soils with more than 70% sand content. The lower thresholds for old field and forest recovery on more sandy soils were apparently due to higher relative rates of net soil N mineralization. Calculations with the model indicated that a combination of desired future conditions, initial levels of soil quality (defined by soil C stocks), and the rate of biomass accumulation determine the predicted success of ecosystem recovery on disturbed soils.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL work for others
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 989630
• Journal Information: Ecological Engineering, Journal Name: Ecological Engineering Journal Issue: 4/5 Vol. 23; ISSN 0925-8574
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BIOMASS
CARBON
DISTURBANCES
ECOSYSTEMS
FORESTS
GEORGIA
MINERALIZATION
NITROGEN
NUTRIENTS
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SAND
SIMULATION
SOILS
TRAINING