Dry Matter and Nutrient Dynamics in Red Spruce-Fraser Fir and Yellow Birch Ecosystems in the Balsam Mountains, Western North Carolina
Weaver GT. 1972. Dry Matter and Nutrient Dynamics in Red Spruce-Fraser Fir and Yellow Birch Ecosystems in the Balsam Mountains, Western North Carolina. University of Tennessee
The relative importance of dry-matter sinks in 40-50 year old immature spruce-fir and yellow birch ecosystems (elevation 1585-1951 m) and a > 100 year old mature yellow birch ecosystem (elevation 1570-1580 m) were soil (S) > vegetation (V) > forest floor (FF). The relative importance of calcium sinks in the spruce-fir ecosystem were V > FF > S but V = FF > S in both yellow birch ecosystems. The relative importance of potassium, Mg and P sinks were FF > V > S in spruce-fir but FF > V = S in yellow birch ecosystems. Coarse texture, low pH and low nutrient status, except for K, characterized all soils. Above-ground biomass was 180 t/ha, 154 t/ha, and 103 t/ha in spruce-fir, mature yellow birch, and immature yellow birch. Estimates were based on allometric every-tree summation of woody plants > 0.5 m tall and quadrat samples of other strata. Larger proportions of biomass were in foliage and boles in spruce-fir and in branches in yellow birch. Leaf area index was 21, 8, and 5 in spruce-fir, immature yellow birch, and mature yellow birch. Understory strata constituted immature yellow birch > mature yellow birch, but the differences were not significant due to the great specific gravity of yellow birch wood. Net production of understory strata was spruce-fir > mature yellow birch. NAR in spruce-fir stands were more highly correlated with net production than leaf efficiency...
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Weaver, George
- Date of Issue
- 1972-06
- Publisher
- University of Tennessee
- Units
- BLRI
- Keywords
- Dissertation, GRSM-01629
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities