Nutrient Cycling in Aspen Ecosystems : Aspen Symposium 1989

1990

zahlr. Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

3343

200042025

The cycles of nutrients in aspen ecosystems from the Great Lakes region to Alaska have been intensively studied by researchers since the early 1970s. These studies have revealed several patterns common to most aspen stands. In general, aspen rapidly takes up large quantities of nutrients and stores them in woody tissues, particularly bole bark and bole wood. The small amounts of nutrients that are returned in leaf litter are released relatively rapidly during decay. The net result is that aspen retains nutrients effectively within the ecosystem, leaching losses are minimal and decrease quickly after fire or clearcutting, and soil fertility is improved. However, nutrient removals in harvested biomass can be quite high, particularly when whole tree harvests are combined with short rotations.