Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years
This study assesses the impacts of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) versus stem-only harvest (SOH) on two oak-dominated stands located in Northern Wisconsin. Specifically, our study follows up on an experiment designed to better understand the impacts of WTH and whether stands are at risk of long-term nu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1532 |
| _version_ | 1797473302080389120 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert Richard Evan Kane Dustin Bronson Randall Kolka |
| author_facet | Robert Richard Evan Kane Dustin Bronson Randall Kolka |
| author_sort | Robert Richard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assesses the impacts of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) versus stem-only harvest (SOH) on two oak-dominated stands located in Northern Wisconsin. Specifically, our study follows up on an experiment designed to better understand the impacts of WTH and whether stands are at risk of long-term nutrient losses, which could contribute to declines in productivity. The original study assessed: (i) full biomass removal (referred to as WTH), (ii) partial biomass removal (removal to 5 cm diameter bole), (iii) a traditional SOH (removal to 10 cm bole), and (iv) no harvest (control). Our data were collected 93 months after harvest and showed significant decreases (α = 0.05) in the total (soil, woody debris, litter, and tree) Ca between WTH and SOH and for N and K from all harvest types. P and Mg were not significantly different between any of the treatment types. The woody debris was significantly decreased in the WTH in comparison to the SOH across P, K, Ca, Mg, but not N. The differences in the woody debris were initially detected, but a nutrient budget modeling exercise did not show significant declines for the ecosystem. The nutrient budget model assumptions and scale of input terms are discussed. Revisiting the sites at 93 months post-harvest versus the original 1.75 years allowed for the detection of the differences in total N, K, and Ca pool sizes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:12:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1c62da8c80b48fc92bf1db7984f7ae3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:12:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1c62da8c80b48fc92bf1db7984f7ae32023-11-24T00:08:46ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-09-011310153210.3390/f13101532Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven YearsRobert Richard0Evan Kane1Dustin Bronson2Randall Kolka3College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, U.J. Noblet Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USACollege of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, U.J. Noblet Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USAU.S. Forest Service-Northern Research Station, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 54501, USAU.S. Forest Service-Northern Research Station, 1831 Hwy 169 East, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USAThis study assesses the impacts of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) versus stem-only harvest (SOH) on two oak-dominated stands located in Northern Wisconsin. Specifically, our study follows up on an experiment designed to better understand the impacts of WTH and whether stands are at risk of long-term nutrient losses, which could contribute to declines in productivity. The original study assessed: (i) full biomass removal (referred to as WTH), (ii) partial biomass removal (removal to 5 cm diameter bole), (iii) a traditional SOH (removal to 10 cm bole), and (iv) no harvest (control). Our data were collected 93 months after harvest and showed significant decreases (α = 0.05) in the total (soil, woody debris, litter, and tree) Ca between WTH and SOH and for N and K from all harvest types. P and Mg were not significantly different between any of the treatment types. The woody debris was significantly decreased in the WTH in comparison to the SOH across P, K, Ca, Mg, but not N. The differences in the woody debris were initially detected, but a nutrient budget modeling exercise did not show significant declines for the ecosystem. The nutrient budget model assumptions and scale of input terms are discussed. Revisiting the sites at 93 months post-harvest versus the original 1.75 years allowed for the detection of the differences in total N, K, and Ca pool sizes.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1532whole-tree harvestingnutrient budgetoutwash soilsharvest intensityecological modeling |
| spellingShingle | Robert Richard Evan Kane Dustin Bronson Randall Kolka Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years Forests whole-tree harvesting nutrient budget outwash soils harvest intensity ecological modeling |
| title | Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years |
| title_full | Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years |
| title_fullStr | Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years |
| title_short | Whole-Tree Harvest Effects on Macronutrients in an Oak-Dominated System after Seven Years |
| title_sort | whole tree harvest effects on macronutrients in an oak dominated system after seven years |
| topic | whole-tree harvesting nutrient budget outwash soils harvest intensity ecological modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1532 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertrichard wholetreeharvesteffectsonmacronutrientsinanoakdominatedsystemaftersevenyears AT evankane wholetreeharvesteffectsonmacronutrientsinanoakdominatedsystemaftersevenyears AT dustinbronson wholetreeharvesteffectsonmacronutrientsinanoakdominatedsystemaftersevenyears AT randallkolka wholetreeharvesteffectsonmacronutrientsinanoakdominatedsystemaftersevenyears |