Characterization of soil functions following forest conversion
EMSL Project ID
60846
Abstract
The objective of this proposal is to characterize changes in soil functions associated conversion of the forest cover type from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) to longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). This treatment is a major goal in the southeastern U.S to restore millions of hectares of longleaf pine forest communities. This watershed-scale experiment is being conducted on the Santee Experimental Forest (SEF), which is representative of the lower SE Atlantic coastal plain. A paired watershed approach is being employed. The reference watershed (WS-80) is unmanaged (60+ years), the treatment watershed (WS-77) was loblolly pine and managed using traditional silviculture and prescribed fire. WS-77 was harvested in 2022 and planted to longleaf pine in 2023. This long-term, watershed-scale experiment is designed to address questions about the effects of conversion to longleaf pine on water and carbon balance, and the associated ecosystem services. The experiment is part of the Southern Research Stations long-term monitoring and assessment, which provides hydrologic, meteorological, vegetation and soil monitoring. Each of the watershed have been instrumented with eddy-covariance towers. Detailed field-based measurements of the soil water storage are being used to validate remote sensing data (via a NASA project). Baseline data and samples exist for major milestones during the stand conversion process.
The watersheds have been monitored for over 60 years with respect to ecohydrology and vegetation. Recent work as focused on the effects of prescribed fire on DOC export, as well as the interactions with MeHg production. WS-77 has lower DOC export than WS-80, but there’s higher concentration of MeHg in aquatic biota on WS-77 as compared to WS-80. Ongoing work supported by DOE-ESS is considering the effects of the altered hydrologic regime on MeHg production following harvesting. Wetlands in each of the watershed are hot-spots for greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, the plan is to sample both upland and wetland soils.
Participation in the MONET Soil Function will add a new and warranted dimension to the soil functional analyses. It will enhance insights into endpoints into current measurements of soil properties and processes. All monitoring and measurement data from the SEF are available.
Project Details
Project type
MONet
Start Date
2023-05-04
End Date
N/A
Status
Active
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members