Effects of forest harvest on soil nutrients and labile ions in Podzols of southwestern Canada : Mean and dispersion effects

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
This study investigates the effects of conventional clear-cutting on soil chemistry in Podzols of Roberts Creek Study Forest. The AA. measured forest floor composition, soil pH and salt-extractable ions concentrations in undisturbed forested stands (control plots), stands harvested 2 to 5 years prior to sampling (cleared plots) and stands harvested 8 to 15 years prior to sampling (regenerating plots). They focused on the effects of forest harvest both on mean (differences in average values) and dispersion parameters (differences in variance between treatments). They found that forest floors of harvested plots had lower phosphorus and potassium concentrations than control plots. It is highlighted that clear-cutting was not associated with strong soil acidification. The most notable harvest effect was a large increase in the variability of inorganic N concentration. This suggests an increase in micro-heterogeneity of post-harvest nutrient availability which has implications for the nutrition of regenerating vegetation, nutrient leaching potential as well as our ability to detect harvest-induced changes.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2014, n°. 122, p. 18-26, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena