Article
Soil carbon distribution and quality in a montane rangeland-forest mosaic in northern Utah
Forest Ecology and Management
(2005)
Abstract
Relatively little is known about soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in montane ecosystems of the semi-arid western U.S. or the stability of current SOC pools under future climate change scenarios. We measured the distribution and quality of SOC in a mosaic of rangeland-forest vegetation types that occurs under similar climatic conditions on non-calcareous soils at Utah State University's T.W. Daniel Experimental Forest in northern Utah: the forest types were aspen [Populus tremuloides] and conifer (mixture of fir [Abies lasiocarpa] and spruce [Picea engelmannii]); the rangeland types were sagebrush steppe [Artemisia tridentata], grass-forb meadow, and a meadow-conifer ecotone. Total SOC was calculated from OC concentrations, estimates of bulk density by texture and rock-free soil volume in five pedons. The SOC quality was expressed in terms of leaching potential and decomposability. Amount and aromaticity of water-soluble organic carbon (DOC) was determined by water extraction and specific ultra violet absorbance at 254Â nm (SUVA) of leached DOC. Decomposability of SOC and DOC was derived from laboratory incubation of soil samples and water extracts, respectively.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2005
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.08.017
Citation Information
Helga Van Miegroet. "Soil carbon distribution and quality in a montane rangeland-forest mosaic in northern Utah" Forest Ecology and Management Vol. 220 Iss. 1-3 (2005) p. 284 - 299 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/helga_vanmiegroet/182/