| Net and gross soil nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification were quantified for uncut and cut areas of three upland forests following harvest disturbance. In the first growing season after disturbance, net N mineralization and nitrification did not differ detectably between uncut and cut plots in two aspen stands, and rates were within the range expected for this forest type. In contrast, net N mineralization was lower (X 2 > 27.2, P < 0.01) and net nitrification was higher (X2 > 37.2, P < 0.001) in cut than uncut plots of an aspen/conifer stand, and rates were among the lowest reported in the literature. In the second growing season, gross and net N mineralization and nitrification in the aspen/conifer stand did not differ detectably between uncut and cut plots, however, gross mineralization was very high compared to rates reported in the literature, while gross nitrification rates were very low or below detection. |
