Effects of preceding stand age on nutrient availability in postharvest jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands

Abstract

Because of the long time periods involved, empirical data on the effects of preceding stand age on nutrient availability in the succeeding stand are scarce. We took advantage of a unique management situation in the jack pine forests of northern Lower Michigan to assess the effects of preceding stand age (24-76 years) on postharvest soil nutrient availability. We found that potentially mineralizable nitrogen (N) and extractable phosphorus (P) increased with increasing age of the preceding stand. In contrast, we observed no response of total organic carbon (C) and N or extractable base cations to preceding stand age. Together, our results demonstrate that harvesting these forests at younger ages results in decreased availability of N and P immediately following harvest. © 2009 by the Society of American Foresters.