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Effects of Clearfelling and Site Preparation on Nitrogen Mineralization in a Southern Pine Stand¹

ABSTRACT

A clearcut forest site (45-year-old natural stand of Pinus elliottii Engelm. and Pinus palustris Mill.) was subjected to different intensities of site preparation to determine management impacts on N availability. Using a laboratory aerobic soil incubation technique, N mineralization potentials (N mineralizable over time) (N_o) were determined to be 25.0, 23.3, and 17.7 µg/g for soils from an uncut control area; a burned and chopped area; and a bladed, disced, and bedded area, respectively. The N_o of soil from the intensively treated area was significantly lower than the others when measured in the laboratory; however, simulations of field conditions indicated that more N may be mineralized in soils from intensively treated sites due to more favorable soil moisture and temperature conditions. Mineralization rates for these three areas, however, were not significantly different, and C/N ratios (28 and 26 for the chopped and bladed sites, respectively) for the clearcut and prepared areas did not suggest a difference in N availability. Ratios of organic matter/soluble carbon (OM/C_a) increased from 79 to 136 with treatment intensity and suggest that the N associated with the organic matter remaining on the most intensively treated site may be more resistant to decomposition. Nitrogen availability is a function of substrate quality and microenvironmental conditions. Harvesting and site treatment affected both of these. Laboratory determinations of N_o appear to be a better index of nitrogen availability than C/N, C_s, or total N, but do not adequately account for differences in mineralization due to treatment-induced changes in the soil environment.

¹ Contribution from the Forestry Dep., Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061, and the Soil Science Dep., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

² Assistant Professor of Forest Soils, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg VA 24061, and Professor of Forest Soils, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, respectively.

Received for publication November 7, 1983. Accepted for publication July 8, 1984.

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