Spodosol Development and Nutrient Distribution Under Hydnaceae Fungal Mats

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Abstract
The hyphae of Hydnellum scleropodium Harrison form tough, felt‐like mats at the base of the O horizon in dry jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forests. The effects of these mats on the underlying soil were investigated in forests near Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada. The stands studied contained an average of 100 mats/ha. These mats were approximately 1 m in diameter and covered about 1% of the land area. The O horizon above the mats was thinner than in the adjacent area. The soil profile beneath the mats was more meature than the average profile in the area due to increased movement of organic matter, Fe, Al, and exchangeable bases downward into the B horizon. No evidence of increased clay translocation was found. In the A2 and B2 beneath the mats, total N was lower and extractable N was higher than in the surrounding soil. Both total P and extractable P were lower in the A2 and higher in the B2 beneath the mats. Extractable K was higher in the A horizon beneath the mats than it was in the normal soil. The fungal mats sped soil profile development and increased nutrient availability in the soil directly beneath them.
Funding Information
  • Canada Forestry Service
  • Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station

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