ESRM 410 Forest Soils & Site Productivity INSTRUCTORS Daniel Vogt Office Hours: M&F 1:30-3:00 & by appt and Rob Harrison Office Hours: by appt 1

Class Hours: 12:30-1:20 MWF (107 Wink) TEXT: Ecology & Management of Forest Soils by Fisher and Binkley, 2000, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2

REQUIREMENTS Exam 1 25% Exam 2 30% Presentation/Paper-group research 30% Field Trip Paper 15% 3

Field Trips Matlock (Oct 6) Cedar River – group research projects (Oct 27) 4

Edaphology The science that deals with the influence of SOILS on living things, particularly plants, including human use of land for plant growth. Eg, physical, chem and bio properties of soils, processes occur in soils, nutrient supply to plants, AND land use impacts (esp Management), and how soils function as a part of the ecosystem. 5

Forest Soil Topics Forest Soils and Vegetation Development, Forest Biome Soils Physical Properties of Forest Soils Biology of Forest Soils (roots, fungi & mycorrhizas, bacteria, invertebrates) Soil Chemistry & Nutrient Uptake Soil Organic Matter Forest Biogeochemistry 6

Forest Soil Topics (cont’d) Forest Productivity Fire Effects Forest Soil &Nutrition Mgmt –nutrient limitations, –fertilization, –biological N fixation) Long-term Productivity Field & Lab Methods for quantifying productivity of forests & soils ????? 7

Forest soil ecology & management includes unavoidable uncertainty that derives from a lack of understanding and site-specific information. Uncertainty is unavoidable, so it needs to be included as a key aspect of management. and (Fisher & Binkley 2000) 8

We present some basic points about hypothesis testing and decision analysis in the hope of stirring creative skepticism among readers about the material we present and about the state of knowledge of forest soil ecology and management. (Fisher & Binkley 2000) You, Us & Guests!!! 9

Soil patterns vary across the landscape? Soil = f (cl, r, o, t, p) and in response to disturbances Eg= - ?? = + ?? MANAGEMENT!! 10

The 1 st rule of intelligent forest management? TAKE CARE OF THE SOIL!! (Fisher & Binkley 2000) The 1 st rule of intelligent sustainable resource management? TAKE CARE OF THE SOIL!! (Vogt & Harrison 2007) 11

Fact: > 99% diversity of life in forest ecosystems Resides in the SOIL!!!! 12

What is a Forest? 13

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Forest Soil? Soil that has developed under forest cover –Deep rooting by trees, tipovers –Organisms associated w/ Forest vegetation Litter layer –Eluviation promoted by decomp of litter which is SOIL GENESIS or development 22

Forest Soil So currently various forest types cover ~1/3 of the world’s land surface.So currently various forest types cover ~1/3 of the world’s land surface. Many of the former forest soils are now devoted to agricultural, urban or industrial uses.Many of the former forest soils are now devoted to agricultural, urban or industrial uses. Forest soils and their legacies may cover ~½ of the earth’s land surface!!!Forest soils and their legacies may cover ~½ of the earth’s land surface!!! 23

Forest Soils Conditions that promote forestry over agriculture? –The need for timber and their products –Poor drainage –Steep slopes –Rocky soils 24

Forest Soil So currently various forest types cover ~1/3 of the world’s land surface. U.S.? 25

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Forest Land in U.S. today? As more efficient farming developed in the Midwest, agricultural fields were abandoned (esp in East). By 1950 forested lands increased to ~1/3 total land area in U.S. (was ~½ in 1620) Today??? Perhaps unchanging, due to? –Increasing urban and industrial development,...., but balanced by increasing restoration, afforestation,...!!! 27

Forest Soils Forest soils differ from agricultural soils? Intensively managed forest soils differ from agricultural soils? 28

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Forest Soils differ from ag soils? Tree canopy shades soil and makes cooler during the day and warmer at night than cultivated soils. Canopy & forest floor (litter layer) also result in uniform moisture conditions. Water flow different on steeper slopes. Forest soils have more diverse and active soil fauna and flora than ag soils. (nutrient cycling?) Hydro- and nutrient pumping by deeper tree roots? 30

Do intensively managed forest soils differ from agricultural soils? Today’s intensively managed forests (ie, disturbances) have decreased many soil differences normally found between many non-disturbed forests and croplands. (eg, harvesting, clear-cutting?, thinning, fertilization, …) 31

Forest Soils Important We depend upon forests Differ from Ag soils Forest soils have: –Organic surface layer (FF) –Diverse fauna & flora –Interactions (structure & functions) –May be wet or steep, shallow to bedrock, or stony –Trees depend upon lower horizons vs ag soils We need to manage not only our trees & crops but also our soils!! 32