Wednesday, November 15, 2006
297-8

Soil Nutrient Dynamics in Response to Forest Floor Manipulations across a Site Quality Gradient.

Christine Bliss1, David Scott1, and Thomas Dean2. (1) USDA Forest Service, 2500 Shreveport Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360, (2) Louisiana State Univ, 315 Renewable Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Soil and forest productivity may be enhanced through management of the forest floor. The objectives of this study were to determine if forest floor management would alter the quantity of soil nutrient supply. Forest floor treatments included tillage, fertilization, removal, addition, and fertilization and tillage. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling within the surface soil were determined on eight Loblolly plantation sites with differing site qualities.