On variation in forest floor thickness across four red pine plantations in Pennsylvania, USA

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 219; no. 1/2; pp. 57 - 69
• Main Authors: Koide, R.T, Shumway, D.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.01.2000; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid soils; acidification; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Creeks; Decomposition; degradation; Evergreen trees; F layer; Forest floor; forest floor thickness; Forest litter; forest plantations; Forest soils; Forestry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Mycorrhizas; nitrogen; Organic matter; orientation; phenolic compounds; Phenols; phosphorus; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Pine trees; Pinus resinosa; Plant roots; Plantations; saprophytes; saprotrophs; soil fertility; soil pH; Soil pollution; Soil science; Soil types; spatial variation; tannins; thickness; Trenching; USA, Pennsylvania; Weight loss; Pennsylvania; USA, Pennsylvania; Microbial activity; Organic matter; Pinus resinosa; Litter; Decomposition; Forest soil; Biogeochemical cycle; Inorganic element; Thickness; Artificial forest stand; Mineralization; Soil horizons; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Mycorrhiza; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Saprophytism
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1004748220856
• ISSN: 0032-079X

We studied variation in forest floor thickness in four plantations of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) which were similar in age, soil type and associated vegetation. The plantations were located (west to east) in the Clear Creek, Moshannon, Sproul and Tiadaghton State Forests of Pennsylvania, USA. A gradient in forest floor thickness exists across these plantations; the forest floor is thickest in the west and it becomes progressively thinner toward the east. Decomposition of imported litter increased from west to east, suggesting that the variation in forest floor thickness is related to variation in the rate of decomposition. Decomposition rates were related to saprotroph abundance. Variation in forest floor N and phenolic concentrations, in overall mycorrhiza density and in the relative proportions of three common mycorrhiza morphotypes could not explain the variation in decomposition rate. The P concentrations and pH of the forest floor were significantly lower at Clear Creek and Moshannon, where decomposition rates were lowest, compared to Sproul and Tiadaghton, where decomposition rates were most rapid. This suggests that P concentration and pH may have exerted some control on decomposition.