Soil Quality:
Soil Quality The capacity of a soil to FUNCTION within ecosystem boundaries to:
Promote root growth
Accept, hold, and supply water
Hold, supply, and cycle nutrients
Promote optimal gas exchange
Promote biological activity
Key Soil Quality Indicators:
Key Soil Quality Indicators Physical Properties
Bulk Density
Macroporosity
Depth of A Horizon
Chemical Properties
Total C, N, and P
Mineralizable Nitrogen
pH
C:N
Post Harvest Effects: Soil Physical Properties:
Post Harvest Effects: Soil Physical Properties Soil compaction increases bulk density
Decrease in soil porosity
Change in surface hydrology
Effects are worse for wet-harvested sites
Slide5:
Yi-Jun Xu et al. 2002
Slide6:
Kelting et al. 1990 Least Limiting Water Range
Take Home Message:
Take Home Message Tree harvesting can negatively impact key indicators of soil quality
Increase in bulk density/reduction in porosity can have long term effects on water availability
LLWR is a sensitive indicator for monitoring soil water dynamics in plantation forestry