Interaction of land use history, earthworms, soil chemistry and tree species on soil carbon distribution in managed forests in Vermont, USA

Ross, Donald S.; Knowles, Meghan E.; Juillerat, Juliette I.; Görres, Josef H.; Cogbill, Charles V.; Wilmot, Sandy; D'Agati, Kristen Mary

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119049

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…However, earthworm activity, which we did not observe at any of our sites in either sampling year, would probably also result in a loss of Oa horizons, leaving A horizons as the dominant horizon at the top of the profile. Furthermore, earthworm activity is rare in soils with such low pH and base saturation [43]. The increase in the mass of the Oa and A horizons, coupled with an increase in the organic carbon is inconsistent with an increase in earthworm activity.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Recovery From Acidificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Soil Cation Dynamics and Increases in Carbon on the Allegheny Plateau, PA, USA Following a Period of Strongly Declining Acid Deposition

2021

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Reductions in exchangeable calcium and magnesium and increase in exchangeable aluminum concentrations have been shown in soils impacted by acid deposition, including at four sites on the Allegheny Plateau, PA, USA, sampled in 1967 and 1997 during a period of peak deposition. We repeated sampling at these sites in 2017 to evaluate changes in soils during the more recent period when there has been a strong decline in acid deposition. The uppermost horizons, including the Oa and A horizons where humified organic matter transitions to mineral soil, were thicker, had higher concentrations of organic carbon and exchangeable calcium and magnesium, and lower concentrations of exchangeable aluminum in 2017 compared to 1997, approximating values measured in 1967. Below the Oa/A horizons, 2017 soil chemistry was more similar to the 1997 results, with some reduction of Ca in the recent measurements. These results suggest recovery of base cation–aluminum balance in surface horizons and may indicate a reduction of aluminum mobilization and increased efficiency of vegetation recycling of nutrients with decreased acid anion concentrations. These changes are consistent with a partial recovery from acid deposition. However, the increase in humified soil organic matter may also be affected by coincident increases in temperature and soil moisture.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Recovery From Acidificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Soil Cation Dynamics and Increases in Carbon on the Allegheny Plateau, PA, USA Following a Period of Strongly Declining Acid Deposition

2021

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“…All of these plots received the lime treatment. No other earthworms were found and, in general, the low pH of soils in this study suggests that earthworm activity is likely to be limited (Ross et al 2021). Charcoal was found in two samples from two plots in the CS4 replication suggesting some but limited evidence for past fires (see S1 for details of land use history).…”

Section: Forest Floor Organic and A Horizonsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Thirty-year effects of liming on soil and foliage chemistry and growth of northern hardwoods in Pennsylvania, USA

et al. 2022

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The longevity of a single 22.4 Mg ha-1 application of dolomitic limestone at four northern hardwood stands was evaluated over thirty years (1986-2016) to determine whether changes in soils, foliage, and tree growth were sustained on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau in northern Pennsylvania, USA. In limed plots, soils, sampled to 45-55 cm depth, and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) foliage had significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) greater concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) through 2016 compared with samples from unlimed plots. Calcium and Mg capitals (g m-2) in the Oi through A horizon combined were greater on limed plots than unlimed plots, largely due to increases in the thickness and nutrient concentration in the A horizon. Over 30-years, sugar maple basal area increment (cm2 yr-1 BAINC) ) was greater in limed plots, American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) BAINC was unaffected, and black cherry BAINC was reduced in limed plots compared with unlimed plots. The sustained effect of this one-time lime treatment shows the strong role of efficient nutrient cycling in forests and suggests that the benefits over a substantial portion of a stand rotation may increase the feasibility of operational liming.

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“…Although not yet widely observed, one mechanism for these interactions is the potential for coupled vegetation-microbial “mining” of N-rich SOM due to simultaneous increases in primary production and N limitation [ 55 – 57 ]. Climate change is also increasing nonnative earthworm populations and associated invasive species in the Northeast, significantly altering soil C stocks and their vertical distribution [ 58 , 59 ]. In the context of these synergistic global change drivers, regional reductions in soil C stocks, particularly in O horizons, appear likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land use change and forest management effects on soil carbon stocks in the Northeast U.S.

Nave,

DeLyser,

Domke

et al. 2024

Carbon Balance Manage

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Background In most regions and ecosystems, soils are the largest terrestrial carbon pool. Their potential vulnerability to climate and land use change, management, and other drivers, along with soils’ ability to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, makes them important to carbon balance and management. To date, most studies of soil carbon management have been based at either large or site-specific scales, resulting in either broad generalizations or narrow conclusions, respectively. Advancing the science and practice of soil carbon management requires scientific progress at intermediate scales. Here, we conducted the fifth in a series of ecoregional assessments of the effects of land use change and forest management on soil carbon stocks, this time addressing the Northeast U.S. We used synthesis approaches including (1) meta-analysis of published literature, (2) soil survey and (3) national forest inventory databases to examine overall effects and underlying drivers of deforestation, reforestation, and forest harvesting on soil carbon stocks. The three complementary data sources allowed us to quantify direction, magnitude, and uncertainty in trends. Results Our meta-analysis findings revealed regionally consistent declines in soil carbon stocks due to deforestation, whether for agriculture or urban development. Conversely, reforestation led to significant increases in soil C stocks, with variation based on specific geographic factors. Forest harvesting showed no significant effect on soil carbon stocks, regardless of place-based or practice-specific factors. Observational soil survey and national forest inventory data generally supported meta-analytic harvest trends, and provided broader context by revealing the factors that act as baseline controls on soil carbon stocks in this ecoregion of carbon-dense soils. These factors include a range of soil physical, parent material, and topographic controls, with land use and climate factors also playing a role. Conclusions Forest harvesting has limited potential to alter forest soil C stocks in either direction, in contrast to the significant changes driven by land use shifts. These findings underscore the importance of understanding soil C changes at intermediate scales, and the need for an all-lands approach to managing soil carbon for climate change mitigation in the Northeast U.S.

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Interaction of land use history, earthworms, soil chemistry and tree species on soil carbon distribution in managed forests in Vermont, USA

Cited by 14 publications

References 64 publications

Forest Soil Cation Dynamics and Increases in Carbon on the Allegheny Plateau, PA, USA Following a Period of Strongly Declining Acid Deposition

Forest Soil Cation Dynamics and Increases in Carbon on the Allegheny Plateau, PA, USA Following a Period of Strongly Declining Acid Deposition

Thirty-year effects of liming on soil and foliage chemistry and growth of northern hardwoods in Pennsylvania, USA

Land use change and forest management effects on soil carbon stocks in the Northeast U.S.

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