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Nutrient Export in Stormflow following Forest Harvesting and Site‐Preparation in East Texas
Author(s) -
Blackburn W. H.,
Wood J. C.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1990.00472425001900030009x
Subject(s) - clearcutting , nutrient , environmental science , water quality , hydrology (agriculture) , surface runoff , geology , chemistry , forestry , ecology , geography , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
In December 1979 nine small (2.57 to 2.79 ha) watersheds in East Texas were instrumented to determine the effects on stormflow water quality of: (1) clearcutting, shearing, windrowing and burning; (2) clearcutting, roller chopping, and burning; and (3) undisturbed control. Nutrient losses and concentrations, pH, electrical conductivity, and turbidity were not significantly different for all pre‐treated watersheds. The first year following harvesting and site preparation, most nutrient losses and concentrations were greater from the sheared and chopped watersheds than from the undisturbed watersheds. Most nutrient losses and concentrations during the second and third post‐treatment years were not significantly different from the chopped and undisturbed watersheds, but continued to be significantly greater from the sheared watersheds than from chopped or undisturbed watersheds. During the fifth post‐treatment year all nutrient levels except for K+ losses were not significantly different for all treatments. Although nutrient losses from all treatments were small, shearing and windrowing had the greatest impact on nutrient export. Roller chopping as applied in this study had a minimal impact on stormflow nutrient losses and should not degrade water quality.