Title:

Effect of management activities on forest soil properties in the Rocky Mountains: III. Soil core data

Author(s):

Jain, Theresa B.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Graham, Russell T.

Publication Year:

2021

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Jain, Theresa B.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Graham, Russell T. 2021. Effect of management activities on forest soil properties in the Rocky Mountains: III. Soil core data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0064

Abstract:

As the demand for forest products and the ability to utilize more fiber increases, less material is being left on the forest floor after harvesting and salvage operations. These operations, in combination with past practices of slash disposal and site preparation, have effectively reduced organic material in and on the forest floor, making coarse woody debris (CWD) management critical (Harvey et al. 1987). CWD is such an important component of a functioning ecosystem that a portion of this material must be maintained after fuels are removed to uphold forest productivity.

Site preparation when applied (hand or mechanical methods) in the western United States often has two objectives: 1) modify the soil, litter, or surface vegetation to create microclimates that favor the establishment and growth of desired tree species and 2) to remove excess surface fuel to decrease the fire hazard. Between 1989 and 1992, data were collected from 11 national forests across the Rocky Mountains (Idaho, Montana, and Airzona) in moist and dry mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests to address the effects of soil modifications. Depending on the forest, the study sampled stands that were harvested and followed by either no site preparation, such as in the case of whole-tree harvest, prescribed fire, or dozer pile site preparation. Each harvested stand also was paired with an adjacent untreated stand on a similar aspect, slope, and habitat type.

This data publication contains soil core data on the following soil horizons: litter, humus, buried wood residue, shallow mineral soil (0 to 10 centimeters (cm)) and deep mineral soil (> 10 cm up to 30 cm). Measurements taken for each data point included layer thickness, percent organic matter, number of mycorrhiza in each horizon (counted later in the laboratory), root weight, moisture content, pH, habitat type, and silvicultural treatment.

Keywords:

geoscientificInformation; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Fire; Fire ecology; Fire effects on environment; Soil; broadcast burning; charcoal; coarse woody debris; disturbance (effect on organic matter); disturbance (effect on soil fauna); disturbance (effect on soil); fire effects (soil fauna) litter; fire effects (soil); fungi; invertebrates; humus; mechanical disturbance (dozer); mineral soil; mycorrhiza; organic layers; soil flora; soil wood; Arizona; Idaho; Montana; Boise National Forest; Helena/Deerlodge National Forest; Lolo National Forest; Nez Perce National Forest; Payette National Forest; Salmon National Forest; Targhee National Forest

Related publications:

• Harvey, A. E.; Jurgensen, M. F.; Larsen, M. J.; Graham, R. T. 1987. Relationships among soil microsite, ectomycorrhizae, and natural conifer regeneration of old-growth forests in western Montana. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 17(1): 58-62. https://doi.org/10.1139/x87-011
• Graham, Russell T.; Harvey, Alan E.; Jurgensen, Martin F.; Jain, Theresa B.; Tonn, Jonalea R.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S. 1994. Managing coarse woody debris in forests of the Rocky Mountains. Research Paper. INT-RP-477. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 12 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/INT-RP-477
• Jain, Theresa B.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Graham, Russell T. 2021. Effect of management activities on forest soil properties in the Rocky Mountains: I. Understory vegetation. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0062
• More (7 total)

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