The influence of understory vine maple on forest floor and mineral soil properties in coastal temperate forests

Abstract

Tashe, N. C. and Schmidt, M. G. 2003. The influence of understory vine maple on forest floor and mineral soil properties in coastal temperate forests. Can. J. Soil Sci. 83: [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. In coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, vine maple (Acer circinatum Pursh) is a common understory tree species. We studied the influence of vine maple, growing in the understory of a stand of Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] and western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (RAF.) Sarg.], on forest floor and mineral soil properties. Fifteen (in a 75-yr-old stand) and 12 (in a 130-yr-old stand) plots containing vine maple were compared to paired plots without the influence of vine maple. Mull humus was dominant under vine maples, while mor humus was mainly found under conifers at the 130 yr-old stand. Common to both stands in the upper mineral soil were greater mineralizable N and total exchangeable bases under vine maple. At the 75-yr-old stand, the forest floor had a higher pH and greater total exchangeable base concentration, while the mineral soil had a lower C:N ratio, greater NO 3 -availability and lower available P concentration and content under vine maple compared to conifers. The 130-yr-old stand had less available P content and greater concentrations of mineralizable N and exchangeable Mg in the forest floor under vine maple. Results suggest that the presence of vine maple may enhance the availability of N and exchangeable bases, but may adversely affect P availability. -disponible et une plus faible concentration de P disponible là où pousse l'érable circiné, comparativement aux endroits où il n'y avait que des conifères. Le sol du peuplement de 130 ans contenait moins de P disponible et une plus grande concentration de N minéralisable et de Mg échangeable là où l'érable circiné s'était implanté. Ces résultats donnent à penser que l'érable circiné peut accroître l'apport de N et de bases échangeables, mais réduire la concentration de P disponible.

Spatial patterns of forest floor properties and litterfall amounts associated with bigleaf maple in conifer forest of southwestern British Columbia

“…Greater N availability beneath bigleaf maple may be due to rapid rates of decomposition (Harmon et al 1990) and relatively high N concentrations of bigleaf maple litter (Valachovic et al 2004). The finding of potentially greater N availability beneath bigleaf maple in our study is similar to findings of previous researchers (Tashe and Schmidt 2003;Turk 2006).…”

“…Differences in litter inputs between broadleaves and conifers can lead to differences in forest floor properties and possibly nutrient availability. Many studies comparing the influence of broadleaves and conifers on soil properties have used an approach where soil properties were compared on plots beneath the canopies of broadleaves and conifers (Fried et al 1990;Ogden and Schmidt 1997;Tashe and Schmidt 2003;Turk 2006). These studies indicate whether a broadleaf species has an effect on properties of the soil, but they do not provide information about the spatial extent of that influence.…”

Contribution of aboveground litter, belowground litter, and rhizosphere respiration to total soil CO2 efflux in an old growth coniferous forest

“…One of the plots with No Litter treatment was excluded from the analyses because it is surrounded by vine maple (Acer circinatum Pursh), which has been shown to dramatically alter soil pH, C, and N content (Tashe and Schmidt 2003). We also found that respiration values from this plot were fundamentally different from other plots of this treatment.…”

The influence of bigleaf maple on forest floor and mineral soil properties in a coniferous forest in coastal British Columbia

“…Ogden and Schmidt (1997) found that vine maple plots had significantly thinner forest floors than conifer plots. Tashe and Schmidt (2003) found vine maple plots to have significantly thicker Ah horizons than conifer plots, although no statistical differences were observed for the L, F or H horizons.…”

“…Krajina et al (1982) suggested Mulls are typical of bigleaf maple litter. Tashe and Schmidt (2003) observed Mulls beneath vine maple and abundant Mors and Moders beneath conifer plots. Occasionally Mors were also observed under vine maple (Tashe and Schmidt, 2003).…”