Keeping your forest soils healthy and productive.

Abstract

Soils are an integral structural part of your woodland and the larger forest ecosystem. Important forest soil functions include: Providing water, nutrients, and physical support for the growth of trees and other forest plants Allowing an exchange of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gasses that affect root growth and soil organisms Providing a substrate for organisms linked with vital ecosystem processes Harboring root diseases and other pests Affecting water quantity and quality Thus, how you protect and manage forest soils affects your forest's short- and long-term productivity and the water quality of adjoining streams and lakes, including their suitability for fish habitat and other uses. This publication will provide you with: An understanding of soil characteristics important to woodland management Management practices for maintaining and enhancing soil quality A guide for obtaining soil-specific information from USDA soil surveys A list of useful references A glossary of forest soil terminology

Citation

Helgerson, Ole T.; Miller, Richard E. 2008. Keeping your forest soils healthy and productive. Washington State University Extension. EB2019