Effects of Thinning on Nutrient Input by Rainfall and Litterfall in Natural Hardwood Forest at Mt. Joongwang, Gangwon-do

• Published in: Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer Vol. 41; no. 1
• Main Authors: Jung, M.H. (Rock Engineering Team, Technology Research Center Mine Reclamation Corporation, Coal Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea), E-mail: jungmh2@hanmail.net, Lee, D.K. (Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Um, T.W. (Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea), Kim, Y.S. (Korea Forest Research Institute, Pocheon, Republic of Korea), Kwon, K.C. (Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Jung, K.H. (National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2008
• Subjects: ACLAREO; AGUA DEL SUELO; EAU DU SOL; ECLAIRCISSAGE; Litterfall; Nutrient Input; SOIL WATER; Stemflow; THINNING; Throughfall
• ISSN: 0367-6315

The objectives of this study were to compare nutrient natural input between thinned and unthinned natural hardwood stands at Mt. Joongwang, Pyongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. Throughfall, stemflow, A-layer and B-layer soil water as well as litterfall were sampled at two-week intervals during the period of June to October from 2002 to 2004. The amount of rainfall interception in thinned and unthinned natural hardwood stands was as 12% and 18%, respectively. The results indicated that there was no difference in annual nutrient input by rainfall between thinned and unthinned stands. Na+, Cl- and SO₄²- concentrations of A-layer soil water in the unthinned stand were higher than those in the thinned stand. In the B-layer soil water, Ca²+, Cl-, NO₃- and SO₄²- concentrations in the unthinned stand were higher than those in thinned stand. Mean annual litterfall input was 2,706 kg ha-¹ in unthinned stand and 2,589 kg ha-¹ in thinned stand. Total-N input from litterfall was 50.28 kg ha-¹ yr-¹ in the unthinned stand and 36.81 kg ha-¹ yr-¹ in the thinned stand, while there was no difference in exchangeable cation input from litterfall between thinned and unthinned stands. Thus, the difference in nutrient inputs except for N by throughfall, stemflow and litterfall between the two stands was not influenced by thinning.