Nitrogen mineralization in aspen/conifer soils after a natural fire

Michael C. Amacher; Dale L. Bartos; Tracy Christopherson; Amber D. Johnson; Debra E. Kutterer

Treesearch

Nitrogen mineralization in aspen/conifer soils after a natural fire

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Michael C. Amacher, Dale L. Bartos, Tracy Christopherson, Amber D. Johnson, Debra E. Kutterer

Year:

2001

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Binkley, Dan; Bartos, Dale L.; Stohlgren, Thomas J.; Eskew, Lane G., comps. Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO. Proceedings RMRS-P-18. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 415-428.

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Abstract

We measured the effects of the 1996 Pole Creek fire, Fishlake National Forest, Utah, on available soil N and net N mineralization for three summers after the fire using an ion exchange membrane (IEM) soil core incubation method. Fire in mixed aspen/conifer increased the amount of available NH4, and a subsequent net increase in soil nitrification was observed. Release of NH4 from the ash and a net increase in soil nitrification were still observed 3 years after the fire. The fire-caused increase in available soil N provides a source of N for aspen regrowth.

Parent Publication

Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO

Keywords

ecosystem management, ecosystem research, sustainable forests, quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides

Citation

Amacher, Michael C.; Bartos, Dale L.; Christopherson, Tracy; Johnson, Amber D.; Kutterer, Debra E. 2001. Nitrogen mineralization in aspen/conifer soils after a natural fire. In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Binkley, Dan; Bartos, Dale L.; Stohlgren, Thomas J.; Eskew, Lane G., comps. Sustaining aspen in western landscapes: Symposium proceedings; 13-15 June 2000; Grand Junction, CO. Proceedings RMRS-P-18. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 415-428.