Soil nitrogen mineralization at various levels of canopy cover in red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations

The objective of this study was to determine the rate of nitrogen (N) mineralization in response to various levels of canopy cover in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) stands. Experimental plots consisted of various levels of canopy cover,i.e., clearcut, 25% (50% during first sampling year), 75%, and uncut in red pine plantations in northern Lower Michigan, USA. Net N mineralization and nitrification in the top 15 cm of mineral soil were examined during the first two growing seasons (1991–1992) following the canopy cover manipulations, using anin situ buried bag technique. Mean net N mineralization over the course of both growing seasons (May–October) ranged from 26.9 kg ha⁻¹ per growing season in the clearcut treatment to 13.4 kg ha⁻¹ per growing season in the uncut stand. Net N mineralization and nitrification increased significantly in the clearcut treatment compared to the uncut treatment during the second growing season only. However, net N mineralization and nitrification did not differ significantly between the partial canopy cover treatments and the uncut stand. Increased N mineralization and nitrification in the clearcut during the second growing season may be associated with increased soil temperature and changes of organic matter quality with time since canopy removal. This study was supported in part by the USDA Forest Service and Michigan Technological University.     

Soil and microbial respiration in a loblolly pine plantation in response to seven years of irrigation and fertilization

Because soil CO₂ efflux or soil respiration (R_S) is the major component of forest carbon fluxes, the effects of forest management on R_S and microbial biomass carbon (C), microbial respiration (R_H), microbial activity and fine root biomass were studied over two years in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation located near Aiken, SC. Stands were six-years-old at the beginning of the study and were subjected to irrigation (no irrigation versus irrigation) and fertilization (no fertilization versus fertilization) treatments since planting. Soil respiration ranged from 2 to 6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and was strongly and linearly related to soil temperature. Soil moisture and C inputs to the soil (coarse woody debris and litter mass) which may influence R_H were significantly but only weakly related to R_S. No interaction effects between irrigation and fertilization were observed for R_S and microbial variables. Irrigation increased R_S, fine root mass and microbial biomass C. In contrast, fertilization increased R_H, microbial biomass C and microbial activity but reduced fine root biomass and had no influence on R_S. Predicted annual soil C efflux ranged from 8.8 to 10.7 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and was lower than net primary productivity (NPP) in all stands except the non-fertilized treatment. The influence of forest management on R_S was small or insignificant relative to biomass accumulation suggesting that NPP controls the transition between a carbon source and sink in rapidly growing pine systems.     

Influence of tree species on gross and net N transformations in forest soils

We compared N fluxes in a 150-year-old Fagus sylvatica coppice and five adjacent 25-year-old plantations of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Quercus petraea, Pinus laricio and Pseudotsuga menziesii. We measured net N mineralization fluxes in the upper mineral horizon (A1, 0–5 cm) for 4 weeks and gross N mineralization fluxes for two days. Gross rates were measured during the 48-h period after addition of ¹⁵NH₄ and ¹⁵NO₃. Mineralization was measured by the ¹⁵NH₄ dilution technique and gross nitrification by ¹⁵NO₃ production from the addition of ¹⁵NH₄, and by ¹⁵NO₃ dilution. Net and gross N mineralization was lower in the soil of the old coppice, than in the plantations, both on a soil weight and organic nitrogen basis. Gross nitrification was also very low. Gross nitrification measured by NO₃ dilution was slightly higher than measured by ¹⁵NO₃ production from the addition of ¹⁵NH₄. In the plantations, gross and net mineralization and nitrification from pool dilution were lowest in the spruce stand and highest in the beech and Corsican pine stands. We concluded that: (1) the low net mineralization in the soil of the old coppice was related to low gross rate of mineralization rather than to the concurrent effect of microbial immobilisation of mineral N; (2) the absence of nitrate in the old coppice was not related to the low rate of mineralization nor to the absence of nitrifyers, but most probably to the inhibition of nitrifyers in the moder humus; (3) substituting the old coppice by young stands favours nitrifyer communities; and (4) heterotrophic nitrifyers may bypass the ammonification step in these acid soils, but further research is needed to check this process and to characterize the microbial communities.     

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from mature forest stands in the boreal forest, Saskatchewan, Canada

Despite the spatial significance of Canada's boreal forest, there is very little known about CH₄ and N₂O emissions from non-peatlands within it. The primary objective of this project was to study the atmosphere–soil exchange of CH₄ and N₂O at three sites in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, CH₄ and N₂O emissions were measured along transects in three different mature forest stands (aspen, black spruce and jack pine) using a sealed chamber method. At the aspen site, the gross rates of mineralization and nitrification, and the relative contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O emissions, were also measured using the ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique. Results indicated that the jack pine and black spruce sites were slight sinks of CH₄ (−0.123 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹and −0.017 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ respectively in 2006 and −0.095 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹and 0.045 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ respectively in 2007), whereas the aspen site was a net source (4.40 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2006 and 19.60 g CH₄–C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2007). The high CH₄ emissions at the aspen site occurred at depressions that were water-filled due to above-average precipitation levels in 2005–2007. All three sites had very low cumulative N₂O emissions, ranging from −0.002 to 0.014 g N₂O–N m⁻² yr⁻¹ in both years. The ¹⁵N results indicated that N cycling at the aspen site was very conservative, allowing little N to escape the system as N₂O; the emissions that did occur were due primarily to a nitrification-related process.     

Microbial activity,nutrient dynamics and litter decomposition in a Canadian Rocky Mountain pine forest as affected by N and P fertilizers

To study the specific effects of N and P fertilizers on soil microbial processes under field conditions, a pine forest in southern Alberta was fertilized with ammonium nitrate and urea (0 and 188 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively) singly and in combination with triple super phosphate (0 and 94 kg P ha⁻¹, respectively). Microbial respiration (BR), substrate induced respiration (SIR), metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and rates of microbially mediated key processes were monitored in the forest floor FH material during the growing periods of spring 1990 to fall 1992. A transient increase in soil NH₄⁺ availability was detected following N addition but significant increases in PO₄³⁻ availability were detected throughout the study as a result of P enhancement. Microbial variables were unaffected by N addition, whereas soil organic matter and SIR was increased with P fertilization. Microbial BR and qCO₂ were reduced with P fertilization suggesting more efficient utilization of C. Increased net mineralization of P in the P-fertilized plots was found during the second and third summers after fertilization, following immobilization of P during the first year. In contrast, NH₄⁺-N mineralization in the N-fertilized plots was significantly increased only during the first year. Rates of nitrification were unaffected by either N or P addition. Decomposition of pine litter was enhanced with N addition only during the first year and P had no effect on decomposition. Addition of N and P at these rates does not appear to impose a major ecological stress to the soil ecosystem.     

Production and quality of senesced and green litterfall in a pine–oak forest in central-northwest Mexico

Litterfall is an important ecological process in forest ecosystems, influencing the transfer of organic matter, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and other nutrients from vegetation to the soil. We examined the production of different litterfall fractions as well as nutrient content and nutrient inputs by senesced and green leaf-litter in a semiarid forest from central Mexico. From September 2006 to August 2007, monthly litter sampling was carried out in monospecific and mixed stands of Quercus potosina and Pinus cembroides. Litterfall displayed a marked bimodal pattern with the largest annual amount (5993 ± 655 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) recorded in mixed stands, followed by Q. potosina (4869 ± 510 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and P. cembroides (3023 ± 337 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Leaves constituted the largest fraction of total litterfall reaching almost 60%, while small branches contributed with 20–30%. Overall, N content in leaf-litter was higher while lignin content was significantly lower for Q. potosina than for P. cembroides. Thus, greater litter quality together with higher litter production caused the largest C, N and P inputs to forest soils to occur in monospecific Q. potosina stands. Green leaf fall displayed significantly lower lignin:N and C:N ratios in Q. potosina than P. cembroides suggesting faster decomposition and nutrient return rates by the former. Although we recorded only two green leaf fall events, they accounted for 18% and 11% of the total N and P input, respectively, from leaf-litter during the study period. Apart, from the large spatiotemporal heterogeneity introduced by differences in litter quantity and quality of evergreen, deciduous and mixed stands, green litterfall appears to represent a much more important mechanism of nutrient input to semiarid forest ecosystems than previously considered.     

Nutrient cycling and soil leaching in eighteen pure and mixed stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies)

Studies on the combined effects of beech–spruce mixtures are very rare. Hence, forest nutrition (soil, foliage) and nutrient fluxes via throughfall and soil solution were measured in adjacent stands of pure spruce, mixed spruce–beech and pure beech on three nutrient rich sites (Flysch) and three nutrient poor sites (Molasse) over a 2-year period. At low deposition rates (highest throughfall fluxes: 17 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 5 kg S ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) there was hardly any linkage between nutrient inputs and outputs. Element outputs were rather driven by internal N (mineralization, nitrification) and S (net mineralization of organic S compounds, desorption of historically deposited S) sources. Nitrate and sulfate seepage losses of spruce–beech mixtures were higher than expected from the corresponding single-species stands due to an unfavorable combination of spruce-similar soil solution concentrations coupled with beech-similar water fluxes on Flysch, while most processes on Molasse showed linear responses. Our data show that nutrient leaching through the soil is not simply a “wash through” but is mediated by a complex set of reactions within the plant–soil system.     

Aboveground biomass and nitrogen in four short-rotation woody crop species growing with different water and nutrient availabilities

We quantified the effect of water and nutrient availability on aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in four species from the southeastern United States, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The 6-year-old stands received five levels of resource input (control, irrigation with 3.05 cm water week⁻¹, irrigation + 57 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrigation + 85 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and irrigation + 114 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Irrigation significantly increased foliage, stem, and branch biomass for sweetgum and sycamore, culminating in 103% and 238% increases in total aboveground biomass. Fertilization significantly increased aboveground components for all species resulting in 49, 58, 281, and 132% increases in total aboveground biomass for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Standing total aboveground biomass of the fertilized treatments reached 79, 59, 48, and 54 Mg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased foliar nitrogen concentration for loblolly pine, sweetgum, and sycamore foliage. Irrigation increased total stand nitrogen content by 6, 14, 93, and 161% for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 62, 53, 172, and 69% with maximum nitrogen contents of 267, 212, 237, and 203 kg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Growth efficiency (stem growth per unit of leaf biomass) and nitrogen use efficiency (stem growth per unit of foliar nitrogen content) increased for the sycamore and sweetgum, but not the loblolly or slash pine.     

Comparison of soil nitrogen dynamics under beech,Norway spruce and Scots pine in central Germany

To investigate the effect of tree species on soil N dynamics in temperate forest ecosystems, total N (Nt), microbial N (Nmic), net N mineralization, net nitrification, and other soil chemical properties were comparatively examined in beech (64–68 years old) and Norway spruce (53–55 years old) on sites 1 and 2, and beech and Scots pine (45 years old) on site 3. The initial soil conditions of the two corresponding stands at each site were similar; soil types were dystric Planosol (site 1), stagnic Gleysols (site 2), and Podzols (site 3). In organic layers (LOf₁, Of₂, Oh), Nmic and Nmic/Nt, averaged over three sampling times (Aug., Nov., Apr.), were higher under the beech stands than under the corresponding coniferous ones. However, the Nmic in the organic layers under beech had a greater temporal variation. Incubation (10 weeks, 22 °C, samples from November) results showed that the net N mineralization rates in organic layers were relatively high with values of 8.1 to 24.8 mg N kg^–1 d^–1. Between the two corresponding stands, the differences in net N mineralization rates in most of the organic layers were very small. In contrast, initial net nitrification rates (0.2–17.1 mg N kg^–1 day^–1) were considerably lower in most of the organic layers under the conifer than under the beech. In the mineral soil (0–10 cm), Nmic values ranged from 4.1–72.7 mg kg^–1, following a clear sequence: August>November>April. Nmic values under the beech stands were significantly higher than those under the corresponding coniferous stands for samples from August and April, but not from November. The net N mineralization rates were very low in all the mineral soils studied (0.05–0.33 mg N kg^–1 day^–1), and no significant difference appeared between the two contrasting tree species.     

Impact of land-use management on nitrogen transformation in a mountain forest ecosystem in the north of Iran

Soil inorganic N is one of the most important soil quality indexes, which may be influenced by land-use change. The historical conversion of land-use from native vegetation to agriculture resulted in sharp declines in soil N dynamics. This study was conducted to determine the soil inorganic N concentrations and net N mineralization rate in four common types of land-uses in the mountain forest area in the north of Iran, namely arable land, pine plantation, ash plantation, and beech stand. The soil samples were taken from top mineral soil layer (5cm) in each site randomly (n=6) during August- September 2010. Beech stand and ash plantation showed significantly higher total nitrogen compared with arable land and pine plantation, while extractable NH 4 + -N concentration was significantly greater in Beech stand compare to arable soils (p<0.05). No significantly difference was found in Net N mineralization, net nitrification and net ammonification rates among different land-uses. Results showed that net N mineralization and ammonification were occurred just in the soil of Ash plantation during the incubation time. Our findings suggested that conversion of Hyrcanian forests areas to pine plantation and agricultural land can disrupt soil natural activities and affect extremely soil quality.     

Fine root production and turnover in Brazilian Eucalyptus plantations under contrasting nitrogen fertilization regimes

Nitrogen fertilization increased largely over the last decade in tropical eucalypt plantations but the behaviour of belowground tree components has received little attention. Sequential soil coring and ingrowth core methods were used in a randomized block experiment, from 18 to 32 months after planting Eucalyptus grandis, in Brazil, in order to estimate annual fine root production and turnover under contrasting N fertilization regimes (120 kg N ha⁻¹ vs. 0 kg N ha⁻¹). The response of growth in tree height and basal area to N fertilizer application decreased with stand age and was no longer significant at 36 months of age. The ingrowth core method provided only qualitative information about the seasonal course of fine root production and turnover. Mean fine root biomasses (diameter <2 mm) in the 0–30 cm layer measured by monthly coring amounted to 0.91 and 0.84 t ha⁻¹ in the 0 N and the 120 N treatments, respectively. Fine root production was significantly higher in the 0 N treatment (1.66 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than in the 120 N treatment (1.12 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), probably as a result of the greater tree growth in the control treatment throughout the sampling period. Fine root turnover was 1.8 and 1.3 year⁻¹ in the 0 N and the 120 N treatments, respectively. However, large fine root biomass (diameter <1 mm) was found down to a depth of 3 m one year after planting: 1.67 and 1.61 t ha⁻¹ in the 0 N and the 120 N treatments, respectively. Fine root turnover might not be insubstantial in deep soil layers where large changes in soil water content were observed.     

Effects of soil moisture and soil depth on nitrogen mineralization process under Mongolian pine plantations in Zhanggutai sandy land, P. R. China

选择章古台地区三块典型樟子松(Pinussylvestrisvar.mongolica)人工固沙林为研究对象,采用实验室好氧培养法测定了不同土壤层次和在不同水分条件下的N矿化过程。结果表明:土壤0-60cm层N净矿化速率垂直变化范围为1.06–7.52mg·kg-1·month-1;土壤层次和含水量及其交互作用对土壤N净矿化速率的影响均达到差异显著(P<0.05);净矿化速率随着土壤层次的加深而明显下降,0-15cm层占总净矿化量的60.52%;半饱和与饱和含水量处理差异不显著,但均高于不加水处理。为此,在半干旱地区必须进一步加强开展调控生态系统N矿化、循环及其收支平衡影响因素的研究。图1表4参20。     

Soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions in agricultural watersheds with agroforestry and grass contour buffer strips

The potential for agricultural soils to act as a sink and sequester carbon (C) or a source and emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) is largely dependent upon the agricultural management system. The establishment of permanent vegetation, such as trees and grass contour buffer strips, may cause accumulation of above- and below-ground C over time, thereby acting as a sink for tropospheric CO₂. However, the effects of contour grass strips and grass-tree strips (agroforestry) on soil CO₂ emissions have not been extensively studied in row-crop watersheds in the temperate regions. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of agroforestry and grass contour buffer strips and landscape position on soil surface efflux rate of CO₂ in three adjacent agricultural watersheds with claypan soils in northeast Missouri. The three watersheds were in a corn-soybean rotation, and contained (1) cropped only (CR), (2) cropped with grass contour strips (GR), or (3) cropped with tree-grass contour strips (AF) management systems. Soil surface CO₂ efflux was measured throughout the 2004 growing season at the upper (UBS), middle (MBS), and lower (LBS) backslope landscape positions within the three watersheds. The cumulative soil CO₂ production was lowest in the CR (0.9 kg CO₂-C m⁻²) compared to the AF (1.5 kg CO₂-C m⁻²) and GR watersheds (1.5 kg CO₂-C m⁻²). The lower backslope position (1.6 kg CO₂-C m⁻²) across all three watersheds produced 32 and 40% greater cumulative soil CO₂ than the upper and middle backslope positions, respectively. A 72-day incubation study determined the effects of 40, 60, 80, and 100% soil water-filled pore space (WFPS) and N rate (0 and 1.39 g KNO₃ kg soil⁻¹) on soil CO₂ efflux from bulk soil collected under each management system. The cumulative CO₂ production was highest in the grass soil (1,279 mg CO₂-C kg soil⁻¹) compared to the agroforestry (661 mg CO₂-C kg soil⁻¹) and cropped (483 mg CO₂-C kg soil⁻¹) soils regardless of WFPS and N rate. The highest cumulative CO₂ production for the grass soil (1,279 mg CO₂-C kg soil⁻¹) occurred at 80% WFPS, and was approximately 2 to 2.6 times greater than the agroforestry and cropped soils at 80% WFPS. The results of this study indicate that conservation management practices, such as grass and grass-tree contour buffer strips, and landscape position affect soil surface CO₂ production and accumulation of soil organic C that may influence soil C sequestration.     

Environmental influences on nitrogen transformation of different quality tree litter under submerged and aerobic conditions

Trees in farming systems can improve fertility of soils through mineralization of N in their litter. This study was to determine the quality parameters (i.e., chemical composition) of organic residues that are associated with N mineralization in soils under submerged and aerobic conditions, and to demonstrate that aeration conditions should be taken into account in categorization of organic residues as N sources in farming systems. Incubation experiments were conducted in Aeric Paleaquult soil under submerged and Oxic Paleustult soil under aerobic conditions. Treatments included litter and some fresh materials from trees as well as rice straw available in farming systems of Northeast Thailand. S. grandiflora and L. leucocephala (32 g kg⁻¹ N) had the highest net N mineralization in both conditions. Some lower-quality (< 20 g kg⁻¹ N) residues did exhibit low net N mineralization during the 16-week period under submerged conditions, but displayed almost no net N mineralization in aerobic conditions. Under submerged conditions, their net N mineralization was higher and more rapid. The nitrogen content of the residues was the most important factor controlling N mineralization under both conditions. Polyphenols exerted the highest negative influence on N mineralization in aerobic conditions, but exhibited no negative effect in submerged conditions. In categorizing organic residues for their effective use in soil fertility management, soil aeration conditions, as well as other environmental factors, should be taken into consideration in addition to residue quality.     

Soil microbial community response to nitrogen enrichment in two scrub oak forests

Microbial communities play a pivotal role in soil nutrient cycling, which is affected by nitrogen loading on soil fungi and particularly mycorrhizal fungi. In this experiment, we evaluated the effects of allochthonous nitrogen addition on soil bacteria and fungi in two geographically distinct but structurally similar scrub oak forests, one in Florida (FL) and one in New Jersey (NJ). We applied allochthonous nitrogen as aqueous NH₄NO₃ in three concentrations (0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (deionized water control), 35 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 70 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) via monthly treatments over the course of 1 yr. We applied treatments to replicated 1 m² plots, each at the base of a reference scrub oak tree (Quercus myrtifolia in FL and Q. ilicifolia in NJ). We measured microbial community response by monitoring: bacterial and fungal biomass using substrate induced respiration, and several indicators of community composition, including colony and ectomycorrhizal morphotyping and molecular profiling using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP). Bacterial colony type richness responded differently to nitrogen treatment in the different sites, but ectomycorrhizal morphotype richness was not affected by nitrogen or location. Both experimental sites were dominated by fungi, and FL consistently supported more bacterial and fungal biomass than NJ. Bacterial biomass responded to nitrogen addition, but only in FL. Fungal biomass did not respond significantly to nitrogen addition at either experimental site. The composition of the bacterial community differed between nitrogen treatments and experimental sites, while the composition of the fungal community did not. Our results imply that bacterial communities may be more sensitive than fungi to intense pulses of nitrogen in sandy soils.     

Soil animals and nitrogen mineralization under sand-fixation planta- tions in Zhanggutai region, China

The effects of soil animals on soil nitrogen （N） mineralization and its availability were studied by investigating soil animal groups and their amounts of macro-faunas sorted by hand, and middle and microfaunas distinguished with Tullgren and Baermann methods under three Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. plantations in Zhanggutai sandy land, China. In addition, soil N mineralization rate was also measured with PVC closed-top tube in situ incubation method. The soil animals collected during growing season belonged to 13 orders, 5 groups, 4 phyla, whose average density was 86 249.17 individuals-m^-2. There were significant differences in soil animal species, densities, diversities and evenness among three plantations. Permanent grazing resulted in decrease of soil animal species and diversity. The average ammonification, nitrification and mineralization rates were 0.48 g：m^-2·a^-1, 3.68 g·m^-2·a^-1 and 4.16 g·m^-2·a^-1, respectively. The ammonification rate in near-mature forest was higher than that in middle-age forests, while the order of nitrification and net mineralization rates was： middle-age forest without grazing 〈 middle-age forest with grazing 〈 near-mature forest with grazing （P〈0.05）. Soil N mineralization rate increased with soil animal amounts, but no significant relationship with diversity. The contribution of soil animals to N mineralization was different for different ecosystems due to influences of complex factors including grazing, soil characteristics, the quality and amount of litter on N mineralization.     

Assessment of repeated application of poultry litter on phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics in loblolly pine: Implications for water quality

The Southeastern United States has a robust broiler industry that generates substantial quantities of poultry litter as waste. It has historically been applied to pastures close to poultry production facilities, but pollution of watersheds with litter-derived phosphorus and to a lesser extent nitrogen have led to voluntary and in some areas regulatory restrictions on application rates to pastures. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forests are often located in close proximity to broiler production facilities, and these forests often benefit from improved nutrition. Accordingly, loblolly pine forests may serve as alternative land for litter application. However, information on the influence of repeated litter applications on loblolly pine forest N and P dynamics is lacking. Results from three individual ongoing studies were summarized to understand the effects of repeated litter applications, litter application rates, and land use types (loblolly pine forest and pasture) on N and P dynamics in soil and soil water. Each individual study was established at one of three locations in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain region. Annual applications of poultry litter increased soil test P accumulation of surface soils in all three studies, and the magnitude of increase was positively and linearly correlated with application rates and frequencies. In one study that was established at a site with relatively high soil test P concentrations prior to poultry litter application, five annual litter applications of 5 Mg ha⁻¹ and 20 Mg ha⁻¹ also increased soil test P accumulation in subsurface soils to a depth of up to 45 cm. Soil test P accumulations were greater in surface soils of loblolly pine stands than in pastures when both land use types received similar rates of litter application. In one study which monitored N dynamics, lower soil organic N, potential net N mineralization, potential net nitrification, and soil water N was found in loblolly pine stands than pastures after two annual litter applications. However, increases in potential net N mineralization, net nitrification, and soil water N with litter application were more pronounced in loblolly pine than in pasture soils. Loblolly pine plantations can be a viable land use alternative to pastures for poultry litter application, but litter application rate and frequency as well as differences in nutrient cycling dynamics between pine plantations and pastures are important considerations for environmentally sound nutrient management decisions.     

Forest management effects on in situ and ex situ slash pine forest carbon balance

In this study we analyzed the effect of silviculture on carbon (C) budgets in Pinus elliottii (slash pine) plantations on the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain. We developed a hybrid model that integrates a widely used growth and yield model for slash pine with allometric and biometric equations determined for long-term C exchange studies to simulate in situ C pools. The model used current values of forest product conversion efficiencies and forest product decay rates to calculate ex situ C pool. The model was validated from a variety of sources, accurately simulating C estimates based on multiple measurement techniques and sites. Site productivity was the major factor driving C sequestration in slash pine stands. On high productivity sites, silvicultural schemes that promote sawtimber-type products are more suitable for increasing C storage (even not taking in account the consequent economical revenues associated with sawtimber production). When rotation length was increased from 22 to 35 years on unthinned and thinned stands, respectively, we estimated net increments of 26 and 20 MgC ha⁻¹ in average C stock of the first five rotations. Even though in situ C pool in slash pine accounts for most of this net increment, C in sawtimber products increased from 8 and 14 to 23 and 24 MgC ha⁻¹, on unthinned and thinned stands, respectively. Thinning effects on net C stock depended on intensity and timing of intervention, mainly due to changes in diameter classes that promote higher proportion of long-lived products. Emissions associated with silvicultural activities, including transportation of logs to the mill, are small compared to the magnitude of net C sequestration, accounting for between 2.2 and 2.3% of gross C stock. This slash pine plantation C sequestration model, based on empirical and biological relationships, is appropriate for use in regional C stock assessments or for C credit verification.     

Post-fire tree stress and growth following smoldering duff fires

Understanding the proximate causes of post-fire conifer mortality due to smoldering duff fires is essential to the restoration and management of coniferous forests throughout North America. To better understand duff fire-caused mortality, we investigated tree stress and radial growth following experimental fires in a long-unburned forest on deep sands in northern Florida, USA. We burned basal fuels surrounding 80 mature Pinus palustris Mill. in a randomized experiment comparing the effects of basal burning treatments on stem vascular meristems; surficial roots; root and stem combinations; and a non-smoldering control. We examined the effects of duration of lethal temperatures (>60 °C) on subsequent pine radial growth and root non-structural carbohydrates (starch and sugar). Duff and mineral soil temperatures in the experimental fires consistently exceeded 60 °C for over an hour following ignition, with lethal temperatures of shorter duration recorded 20 cm below the mineral soil surface. Duff heating was best explained by day-of-burn Oe horizon moisture (P = 0.01), although little variation was explained (R² = 0.24). Post-fire changes in latewood radial increment in the year following fires was related to duration of temperatures >60 °C 10 cm deep in the mineral soil (P = 0.07), but explained little variability in post-fire growth (R² = 0.17). In contrast, changes in non-structural carbohydrate content in coarse roots (2–5 mm diameter) 120 days following burning were more strongly correlated with the duration of lethal heating 5 cm below the mineral soil surface (P = 0.02; R² = 0.53). Results from this study implicate the role of mineral soil heating in the post-fire decline of mature longleaf pine following restoration fires in sandy soils.     

Soil properties under a Pinus radiata – ryegrass silvopastoral system in New Zealand. Part II. C and N of soil microbial biomass, and soil N dynamics

At present, our understanding of the dynamics of microbial biomass and soil N in silvopastoral systems is very limited. In this paper, the effects of understorey management on soil microbial C and N, net N mineralization, and net nitrification were studied in two seven-year-old radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) – pasture systems, consisting of plots with and without ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as an understorey. Mini-plots (1 × 1 m) with animals excluded and herbage repeatedly clipped and removed were used for soil sampling. Three mini-plots formed a transect at each of two positions: 0.9 and 3.5 m north of the tree rows. Measurements were taken from July 1997 to June 1998 about once every 40 days. One composite sample was collected from each of two sampling depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm) at each transect position on each sampling date. Temporal and spatial variability of N mineralization rates and microbial biomass C and N was large. Net mineralization and nitrification rates were higher in the bare ground than in the ryegrass plots for a major part of the year, particularly from late spring to early fall. Net N mineralization and nitrification rates were higher in the 0–10 than in the 10–20 cm soil layers in both the ryegrass and bare ground treatments; however, the depth effect on microbial biomass C and N was only significant in the ryegrass treatment. In the surface soil layer, microbial biomass C and N were substantially greater in the ryegrass than in the bare ground plots. Soil microbial properties and activities were closely linked to pasture root activities, soil depth, and site biophysical conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.