Effects on the Forest Floor of Whole-Tree Harvesting in an Appalachian Oak Forest

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Abstract
The size of the forest floor nutrient pool and degree of mineralization from this pool (as measured by nutrient concentrations in the soil solution) were compared between a clear-cut and an adjacent forested site. Forest floor dry weights and nutrient contents were monitored for 28 months following the whole-tree harvest. Soil solution nutrient concentrations, temperature at a depth of 2.5 cm, and percent moisture in the top 10 cm of mineral soil were also monitored following cutting. Immediately following cutting, the forest floor was significantly heavier in the cut area due to logging residue, but after 28 months the clear-cut area forest floor had a dry weight of 10,500 kg ha-1 compared to 15,400 kg ha-1 in the uncut area. Following cutting concentrations of NH4+-N, NO3--N and K were higher in the soil solution of the cut area, whereas concentrations of P, Ca and Mg were similar in both areas. The higher concentrations in the clear-cut were attributed to more rapid decay of logging slash and forest floor material and reduced vegetative uptake.