FOREST SOIL STUDIES

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Abstract
Ground leaf samples from table mountain pine (Pinus pungens), beech (Fugus grandiflora), red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), and black walnut (Juglans nigra) were inoculated with a soil suspension from a mixed forest stand and incubated for 32 weeks. Changes in microflora and chemical composition were noted. The pH of all leaves increased during incubation. The highest pH (9.4) and lowest (5.2) were reached in black walnut and red maple. Increase in bacterial numbers was associated with pH. Black walnut showed the most bacteria and red maple the fewest in the early stages of decomposition. Fungi increased rapidly in all samples regardless of pH. The types of microorganisms were the same regardless of the kind of leaf sample. Water-soluble material was principally affected in the early stages, while lignin and cellulose destruction occurred in the latter stages. The highest rate of decomposition occurred at the highest pH values. An increase in lignin content took place during the first eight weeks of the experiment in the case of red oak, yellow poplar, and red maple. Some relationship appeared to exist between lignin and excess base content.