Whole-tree clearcutting in New England: manager's guide to impacts on soils, streams, and regeneration

Pierce, Robert S.; Hornbeck, James W.; Martin, Wayne C.; Tritton, Louise M.; Smith, T.; Federer, Anthony C.; Yawney, Harry W.

doi:10.2737/ne-gtr-172

1993

DOI: 10.2737/ne-gtr-172

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Whole-tree clearcutting in New England: manager's guide to impacts on soils, streams, and regeneration

Robert S. Pierce¹,

James W. Hornbeck²,

Wayne C. Martin³

et al.

Abstract: Intensively harvested forests in New England have shifted partially from conventional stem-only clearcutting using chainsaws and skidders to whole-tree clearcutting using harvesting machines. We have studied the impacts of wholetree clearcutting on soil, water, and revegetation in spruce-fir, northern hardwood, and central hardwood forest types. This report summarizes the relevance of our findings to forest management and suggests various management considerations, guidelines, and further readings. The intende… Show more

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Cited by 10 publications

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Effects of a clearcut on the net rates of nitrification and N mineralization in a northern hardwood forest, Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

Burns

Murdoch

2005

Biogeochemistry

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The Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York receive among the highest rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in eastern North America, and ecosystems in the region may be sensitive to human disturbances that affect the N cycle. We studied the effects of a clearcut in a northern hardwood forest within a 24-ha Catskill watershed on the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification in soil plots during 6 years (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999) that encompassed 3-year pre-and post-harvesting periods. Despite stream NO 3 À concentrations that increased by more than 1400 lmol l À1 within 5 months after the clearcut, and three measures of NO 3 À availability in soil that increased 6-to 8-fold during the 1 st year after harvest, the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification as measured by in situ incubation in the soil remained unchanged. The net N-mineralization rate in Ohorizon soil was 1-2 mg N kg À1 day À1 and the net nitrification rate was about 1 mg N kg À1 day À1 , and rates in B-horizon soil were only one-fifth to one-tenth those of the O-horizon. These rates were obtained in single 625 m 2 plots in the clearcut watershed and reference area, and were confirmed by rate measurements at 6 plots in 1999 that showed little difference in N-mineralization and nitrification rates between the treatment and reference areas. Soil temperature increased 1 ± 0.8°C in a clearcut study plot relative to a reference plot during the post-harvest period, and soil moisture in the clearcut plot was indistinguishable from that in the reference plot. These results are contrary to the initial hypothesis that the clearcut would cause net rates of these N-cycling processes to increase sharply. The in situ incubation method used in this study isolated the samples from ambient roots and thereby prevented plant N uptake; therefore, the increases in stream NO 3 À concentrations and export following harvest largely reflect diminished uptake. Changes in temperature and moisture after the clearcut were insufficient to measurably affect the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification in the absence of plant uptake. Soil acidification resulting from the harvest may have acted in part to inhibit the rates of these processes.

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Effects of a clearcut on the net rates of nitrification and N mineralization in a northern hardwood forest, Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

Burns

Murdoch

2005

Biogeochemistry

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Organic horizon and mineral soil mercury along three clear-cut forest chronosequences across the northeastern USA

Richardson

Petrenko

Friedland

2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed pollutant trace metal that has been increasing in terrestrial environments due to rising anthropogenic emissions. Vegetation plays an important role in Hg sequestration in forested environments, but increasing tree removal for biofuels and wood products may affect this process. The long-term effect of clear-cutting on forest soil Hg remains uncertain, since most studies are limited to measuring changes for < 10 years following a single harvest event. The chronosequence approach, which substitutes space for time using forest stands of different ages since clear-cutting, allows for investigation of processes occurring over decades to centuries. Here, we utilized three clear-cut forest soil chronosequences across the northeastern USA to understand Hg accumulation and retention over several decades. Total Hg concentrations and pools were quantified for five soil depth increments along three chronosequences. Our results showed Hg concentrations and pools decreased in the initial 20 years following clear-cutting. Mineral soil Hg pools decreased 21-53% (7-14 mg m) between 1-5-year-old stands and 15-25-year-old stands but mineral soil Hg pools recovered in 55-140-year-old stands to similar values as measured in 1-5-year-old stands. Our study is one of the first to demonstrate a decrease and recovery in Hg pool size. These changes in Hg did not correspond with changes in bulk density, soil C, or pH. We utilized a simple two-box model to determine how different Hg fluxes affected organic and mineral soil horizon Hg pools. Our simple model suggests that changes in litterfall and volatilization rates could have caused the observed changes in organic horizon Hg pools. However, only increases in leaching could reproduce observed decreases to mineral soil Hg pools. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of Hg loss from forest soils following clear-cutting.

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Changes in stream chemistry and nutrient export following a partial harvest in the Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

Wang

Burns

Yanai

et al. 2006

Forest Ecology and Management

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Whole-tree clearcutting in New England: manager's guide to impacts on soils, streams, and regeneration

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Effects of a clearcut on the net rates of nitrification and N mineralization in a northern hardwood forest, Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

Effects of a clearcut on the net rates of nitrification and N mineralization in a northern hardwood forest, Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

Organic horizon and mineral soil mercury along three clear-cut forest chronosequences across the northeastern USA

Changes in stream chemistry and nutrient export following a partial harvest in the Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

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