CANOPY TREE–SOIL INTERACTIONS WITHIN TEMPERATE FORESTS: SPECIES EFFECTS ON pH AND CATIONS

Abstract

We quantified soil acidity and exchangeable cations in the forest floor and upper 7.5 cm of mineral soil beneath the canopies of individual trees of six different species in a mixed-species forest in northwestern Connecticut. Soil pH decreased in a sequence starting with sugar maple (Acer saccharum) > white ash (Fraxinus americana) > red maple (Acer rubrum) > beech (Fagus grandifolia) > red oak (Quercus rubra) > eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). The differences among species were largest in the forest floor and the top 7.5 cm of mineral soil. Exchangeable Ca and Mg in the 0–7.5 cm mineral soil layer were significantly higher beneath sugar maple than all other species, with the exception of white ash. There were negligible differences among species in the quantity of exchangeable Ca and Mg in the forest floor. In the 0–7.5 cm mineral soil layer, exchangeable Ca was positively correlated with the content of unweathered Ca in the parent material, but the relationship differed among species. There was a large increase in exchangeable Ca in the soils beneath sugar maple but a negligible increase in the soils beneath hemlock and red maple. Exchangeable Al and Fe were highest beneath hemlock and lowest beneath sugar maple. The differences in pH and exchangeable cations between sugar maple and hemlock are likely due to interspecific differences in the introduction of acidity (e.g., organic acids) and Ca uptake and allocation. Observing an association between tree species and specific soil chemical properties within mixed-species stands implies that changes in the distribution and abundance of tree species alters the spatial and temporal pattern of soil acidity and cation cycling in this forest.