Effects of clearcutting and alternative silvicultural systems on rates of decomposition and nitrogen mineralization in a coastal montane coniferous forest

Rates of litter decomposition and N mineralization were measured in an old growth forest and in adjacent areas harvested by clearcut, patch cut, shelterwood and green tree retention systems. The site was a montane forest of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and amabilis fir (Abies amabilis Dougl.) on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. During the first two years after harvesting, weight loss of needle litter was fastest in the old growth forest, possibly owing to higher moisture in surface layers in the uncut forest during the summer. Forest floor material lost about 10% of its initial weight during the two years in all systems. In-situ rates of net N mineralization in the forest floor were greatest in the clearcut and least in the old growth. Concentrations of nitrate were greater in the clearcut than in the other systems or the old growth. The results indicated that alternative silvicultural systems affected N mineralization less than clearcutting, and that the increase in N mineralization and nitrification after clearcutting was not the result of faster decomposition of organic matter. Reduced input of fresh litter and the resulting decline in C availability and immobilization of N into microbial biomass may better explain the increase in N availability alter clearcutting in this ecosystem. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.