Soil Microclimate and Chemistry of Spruce-Fir Tree Islands in Northern Utah

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Soil Science Society of America Journal

Volume

64

Issue

4

Publisher

American Society of Agronomy

Publication Date

2000

Keywords

soil microclimate, chemistry, spruce-fir, tree islands, northern Utah

First Page

1515

Last Page

1525

Abstract

The objective was to investigate differences in soil properties in high-elevation tree islands composed of subalpine fir [Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.] and Engelmann spruce [Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.] relative to semiarid meadows in Northern Utah. We compared snow depths, surface soil temperature and moisture, and soil chemical properties (0–30 cm) between tree islands and the surrounding meadow. Snow accumulated evenly around the tree islands. Snow depth differences developed during snowmelt when shaded areas to the north of the islands retained snow longer. Less snow accumulated inside and at the edge of the tree islands. In summer, canopy shading inside the islands slowed soil moisture loss and decreased the magnitude and fluctuation of soil temperatures relative to the exposed meadow. Tree islands affected O horizon mass and chemistry: 6 to 10 kg m-2 of O material, with higher macronutrient concentrations and lower C/N ratio, had accumulated under tree canopies; 3 kg m-2 in the island interior; and /N ratio. The pH of meadow soils was constant with depth (6.22–5.95). Below the trees, the pH in the upper soil was 0.1 to 0.3 units higher than in the meadow and decreased 0.8 to 0.9 pH units with depth. The presence of tree islands significantly modified the soil microclimate and nutrient distribution relative to the surrounding meadows.

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Originally published by the American Society of Agronomy. Publisher's PDF and HTML fulltext available through remote link.

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