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Organic Matter Production and Distribution in Slash Pine (Pinus Elliottii) Plantations
Author(s) -
Gholz Henry L.,
Fisher Richard F.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1940124
Subject(s) - slash pine , slash (logging) , pinus <genus> , pine forest , ecology , distribution (mathematics) , environmental science , organic matter , agroforestry , forestry , geography , biology , botany , mathematics , mathematical analysis
The production and accumulation of total system organic matter (to 100 cm soil depth) in plantations of slash pine were analyzed using three replications of stands 2, 5, 8, 14, 26 and 34 yr old. Maximum leaf area occurred at 5 yr. After this point aboveground net primary production (NPP) continued to increase to a maximum at 26 yr and then declined. After 5 yr stem biomass production composed a constant 50% of NPP. The forest floor increased at a constant rate through 34 yr, although total detritus (forest floor plus soil organic matter) was relatively constant at °160 Mg/ha. Live vegetation mass was less than detritus mass until °25 yr, the current harvest rotation length. Total system organic matter showed no indication of a decline after site preparation, and was still increasing at 34 yr (340 Mg/ha). During site preparation °30 Mg/ha organic matter were host through burning and decomposition. This loss was small enough to be completely offset by increases in live vegetation and forest floor over °3 yr following site preparation, which may be important in limiting losses of nutrients from these sites after a disturbance.