Soil Management

Soils are an important component of forest ecosystems that directly influence various aspects of forest management. Changes to soil processes and properties such as nutrient cycling, water movement, gas exchange and microbial communities can significantly impact forest productivity in both the short term and long term. Researchers at EMEND studied the relationship between soil and forest ecosystems by investigating how aspects of harvesting and forest succession shape important soil properties.

Key Findings

Key findings related to soils at EMEND include:

  1. Soil disturbance influences nutrient availability more than removing trees via harvesting, emphasizing the need to minimize excessive disturbance during and after harvest to maintain soil stability and health.

  2. Site preparation techniques strike a balance between disturbance and soil health, supporting optimal nutrient availability for successful reforestation.

  3. Site preparation methods like mounding, mixing, scalping and slash burns should be tailored to site-specific conditions, considering factors such as competing vegetation and soil nutrient levels to optimize soil nutrient management and vegetation development.

  4. Maintaining forest heterogeneity, including diverse cover types in various successional stages, preserves a range of soil properties and supports diverse plant communities.

Soil Management Briefing Note

A series of briefing notes were developed to synthesize EMEND research over the past 17 years, covering various topics including biodiversity, soil management, carbon dynamics, and silvicultural strategies. These briefing notes provide a comprehensive overview of key findings for each topic and include management implications for forest managers to inform decision-making and sustainable forest management practices.

Additionally, several EMEND infographics and Sustainable Forest Management Network research notes have been produced throughout the years. Find summaries of the briefing notes, direct links to each note, and links to related EMEND Insights, infographics and research notes on each topic page.

For a complete list of references for the EMEND Soils briefing note, click here.

Learn More

Click on the links below to learn more about the soil findings at EMEND.

Research Note #70: Influence of cover type and variable retention harvesting on soils in the EMEND Experiment