SP013

Soil carbon and nitrogen in old-growth forests in western Oregon and Washington, 1995

• Creator(s): Suzanne M. Remillard, Peter S. Homann
• PI(s): Peter S. Homann
• Originator(s): Suzanne M. Remillard
• Other researcher(s): Bernard T. Bormann, Mark E. Harmon
• Dates of data preparation: Jun 16 1995 - Sep 30 1995
• Data collection status: Study collection is completed and no new collection is planned
• Data access: Online
• Last update: Jul 15 2014 (Version 1)

<Citation>     <Acknowledgement>     <Disclaimer>    

Remillard, S.; Homann, P. 2014. Soil carbon and nitrogen in old-growth forests in western Oregon and Washington, 1995. Forest Science Data Bank. Forest Science Data Bank, Corvallis, OR. [Database]. Available: http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/abstract.aspx?dbcode=SP013. Accessed 2025-05-18.

Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 08-23380), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University.

While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is". The FSDB shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of data sets.

ABSTRACT:
	Soil organic carbon (SOC, kg C m-2) is an important component in evaluating global C stores. The nitrogen (TN, kg N m-2) cycle is closely linked to C and understanding its role is also important. Contents and distributions of SOC and TN in soil profiles, to 1-meter depth, were estimated from 79 soils pits, in old-growth forests, in 7 physiographic provinces in western Oregon and Washington. Soils were sampled in four layers, forest floor, 0- to 20-cm, 20- to 50-cm, and 50- to 100-cm, and analyzed on a LECO CN Analyzer. Material <2-mm was analyzed, as well as C-bearing material >2-mm. Forest floor SOC ranged from 0 to 14 kg C m-2 (mean = 2.7) and forest floor TN ranged from 0 to 0.4 kg N m-2 (mean = 0.07). The SOC of mineral soil ranged from 1.0 to 18 kg C m-2 (mean = 6.6) for 0- to 20-cm depth and 2.2 to 57 kg C m-2 (mean = 17) for 0- to 100-cm depth. The TN of mineral soil ranged from 0.04 to 1.0 kg N m-2 (mean = 0.31) for 0- to 20-cm depth and 0.12 to 3 kg N m-2 (mean = 1.0) for 0- to 100-cm depth. Up to 66% of SOC and TN measured was found below 20-cm, illustrating how failing to sample at depth can grossly underestimate SOC. As much as 44% of SOC and TN measured was found in C-bearing material >2-mm, material for which many methods neglect to account. Longitudinal differences in SOC and TN contents were evident between Coastal, Cascade, and Eastside Cascade sites, implying effects from site and climatic factors. Regression analysis was used to quantify relationships of SOC and TN to site and climatic factors. Response variables included forest floor, forest floor plus 0- to 20-cm, 0- to 20-cm, and 0- to 100-cm layers. Moisture and soil texture played important roles in most cases examined. The results of this study, and of other studies assessing the effects of site and climatic characteristics on the factors controlling soil organic matter accumulation, suggest the relationships are regionally specific.

Study Description

Study Site Map

Download Study Location Information: (CSV)

ENTITY TITLES:
1	Distribution Of Soil Carbon And Nitrogen In Old-growth Forests In Western Oregon And Washington (Jun 15 1995 - Sep 30 1995)	METADATA	Data not online
RELATED MATERIALS:
	Soil volume determination methodology - Methodology for estimating the ratio of mass of rock less than 75-mm to mass of C-bearing material to use in the determination of soil volume.
RELATED DATABASES:
	Soil descriptions and data for soil profiles in the Andrews Experimental Forest, selected reference stands, Research Natural Areas, and National Parks, 1962 & 1996 (SP001)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
	Homann, Peter S., Harmon, Mark, Remillard, Suzanne, Smithwick, Erica A. H. 2005, What the soil reveals: potential total ecosystem C stores of the Pacific Northwest region, USA (Pub. No: 3773)
	Homann, P. S., Remillard, S. M., Harmon, M. E., Bormann, B. T. 2004, Carbon storage in coarse and fine fractions of Pacific Northwest old-growth forest soils (Pub. No: 3756)
	Smithwick, Erica A. H., Harmon, Mark E., Remillard, Suzanne M., Acker, Steven A., Franklin, Jerry F. 2002, Potential upper bounds of carbon stores in forests of the Pacific Northwest (Pub. No: 2833)
	Remillard, Suzanne Marie 1999, Soil carbon and nitrogen in old-growth forests in western Oregon and Washington (Pub. No: 2648)