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Soil Conditions Under Old Field and Forest Cover in Southern Illinois
Author(s) -
Rolfe Gary L.,
Boggess W. R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1973.03615995003700020040x
Subject(s) - seral community , bulk density , environmental science , old field , organic matter , soil organic matter , hydraulic conductivity , soil science , field experiment , soil water , hydrology (agriculture) , agronomy , geology , ecology , ecological succession , biology , geotechnical engineering
A comparison of soil conditions under pine plantations and old fields of the same age was made for three loess‐derived soil types in southern Illinois. Native hardwood stands were used for comparing soil changes under the pine and old‐field seral stages. Characteristics studied included bulk density; hydraulic conductivity; organic content; pH; and exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na, K, and H. Under native hardwoods organic matter, pH, and exchangeable bases were higher, while bulk density was lower than under pine or old‐field cover. Under pine cover bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, and exchangeable base levels were improved over old‐field conditions, but organic matter was higher under the old‐field vegetation. No significant differences were noted in pH. The introduced pine seral stage has considerably ameliorated soil conditions since abandonment from agriculture, and there appears to be a trend toward conditions typical of native hardwood stands.