Comparing Soil Chemical Properties between Deciduous and Coniferous Tree Stands.

Due to forestry management practices, there has been a dramatic increase in the area of conifer plantations in Arkansas which may have a significant effect on soil chemistry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in soil chemistry in adjacent deciduous and coniferous tree stands. Soil was collected from 10 locations in the Ozark National Forest from adjacent deciduous and coniferous tree stands grown on similar topography, parent material, and soil series, and management practices. Ten replicates of soil were collected from the 0- to 5- and 5- to 15-cm depth interval per tree stand per site. Water soluble and Mehlich-3 extractable plant nutrients and trace elements, soil pH (water and 1N KCl), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total acidity, KCl extractable NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-, soil organic matter (SOM), and total C and N were measured on all soil samples. Aboveground leaf and needle litters were also collected and analyzed for pH (1:10 water:litter slurry), total C and N, and water and acid extractable nutrients and trace elements.