1. Effects of Experimental Burning and Thinning on Soil Respiration and Belowground Characteristics Soung-Ryoul Ryu 1, Amy Concilio 1, Jiquan Chen 1, Deborah Neher 1, Siyan Ma 1 and Malcolm North 2 1 Department of EEES, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 2 Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA

2. Objectives Evaluate the effects of prescribed burning and thinning on soil chemistry, microclimate, root biomass, and soil respiration within mixed coniferous forest Evaluate the effects of prescribed burning and thinning on soil chemistry, microclimate, root biomass, and soil respiration within mixed coniferous forest Evaluate the primary factors affecting root biomass and soil respiration rate under burning and thinning treatments. Evaluate the primary factors affecting root biomass and soil respiration rate under burning and thinning treatments.

3. Site Description Teakettle Experimental Forest Teakettle Experimental Forest 1300ha of area, located in Sierra National Forest on the west side of the Sierra Nevada range of California. 1300ha of area, located in Sierra National Forest on the west side of the Sierra Nevada range of California. Altitude: 1980 ~ 2590 m Altitude: 1980 ~ 2590 m Precipitation: 1250mm/year, mostly in the form of snow Precipitation: 1250mm/year, mostly in the form of snow Mean air temperature: 1°C(January ) and 14.5°C(July) Mean air temperature: 1°C(January ) and 14.5°C(July)

4. Plot Preparation Eighteen plots (4 ha each) were prepared using variogram and cluster analysis (North et al. 2002). Eighteen plots (4 ha each) were prepared using variogram and cluster analysis (North et al. 2002). California spotted owl (CASPO) thinning, and shelterwood thinning were applied between August 2000 and Summer of 2001 California spotted owl (CASPO) thinning, and shelterwood thinning were applied between August 2000 and Summer of 2001 Prescribed burning followed November 2001 Prescribed burning followed November 2001 Transects (1m spaced) developed at Transects (1m spaced) developed at Burn-CASPO (BC), Burn-Shelterwood (BS), Burn only (BN), Unburn-CASPO (UC), Unburn-Shelterwood (US), and Control (UN) plots Burn-CASPO (BC), Burn-Shelterwood (BS), Burn only (BN), Unburn-CASPO (UC), Unburn-Shelterwood (US), and Control (UN) plots

5. Field Measurement Soil respiration rate (SRR; gCO 2 hr -1 m -2 ): a portable infrared gas analyzer (EGM-2 Environmental Gas Monitor, PP Systems, UK) Soil respiration rate (SRR; gCO 2 hr -1 m -2 ): a portable infrared gas analyzer (EGM-2 Environmental Gas Monitor, PP Systems, UK) Soil temperature at 10cm depth (Ts; ˚C): using a digital thermometer simultaneously with SRR measurement. Soil temperature at 10cm depth (Ts; ˚C): using a digital thermometer simultaneously with SRR measurement. Soil moisture (Ms; %): Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) within 0~10cm depth in mineral soil. Soil moisture (Ms; %): Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) within 0~10cm depth in mineral soil. Litter depth (LD) Litter depth (LD) Measured at least every other week during the growing season of 2002 Measured at least every other week during the growing season of 2002

6. Field Measurement Total nitrogen (TN) and total carbon (TC) content in soil: using CN analyzer (Carlo Erba NA 1500 Series 2) Total nitrogen (TN) and total carbon (TC) content in soil: using CN analyzer (Carlo Erba NA 1500 Series 2) pH: soil:H 2 O = 1:2 pH: soil:H 2 O = 1:2 Fine root biomass ( 2mm; CR) Fine root biomass ( 2mm; CR) Soil samples were collected during June 25 to July 3, 2002 Soil samples were collected during June 25 to July 3, 2002

7. Effect of burning and thinning on the soil chemistry 0.00116.950.020.042burn*thin <.000124.160.060.122thin 0.00398.460.02 1burn pH 0.24161.430.220.452burn*thin <.000113.142.074.132thin <.000123.973.77 1burn CN 0.07872.560.050.092burn*thin 0.06552.750.050.102thin 0.26621.240.02 1burn TC (%) 0.21631.540.00 2burn*thin 0.34751.060.00 2thin 0.00289.110.01 1burn TN (%) Pr > FF ValueMSSSDFSource

8. Effect of burning and thinning on the microclimate 0.02493.7485.52171.042burn*thin 0.11972.1448.9297.842thin <.0001160.183664.78 1burnLD (cm) 0.98050.020.110.222burn*thin 0.00028.5847.6795.352thin 0.00189.9755.42 1burnMs (%) <.000116.450.040.072burn*thin <.0001190.900.430.852thin <.0001118.580.27 1burnTs (˚C) 0.38410.960.010.022burn*thin 0.0026.340.070.132thin <.000199.501.06 1burnSRR (gCO2 hr-1 m-2) Pr > FF ValueMSSSDFSource

9. Effect of burning and thinning on the Root Biomass

10. TN TC CN pH (box-whisker with Anova) ab ab a ab ab b a a b a a ac b ab ab ab a ab ab a ab b ab

11. SRR Ms Ts LD c c c ab a b a a b b a c ab a bc bc ab c c c c b a ab

12. FR CR 010 1020 a a a a a a b ab ab b ab a c bc abc bc a ab b b ab b ab a 0~10 cm 10~20 cm

13. Path Analysis on FR biomass at 0~10 cm 0.40-0.060.06-0.330.330.11 UN -0.250.440.800.300.09-0.09 US -0.49-1.15-0.250.680.170.66 UC -0.150.26-0.400.37-0.17-0.15 BN -0.48-0.18-0.110.060.140.09 BS 0.44-0.500.230.280.780.86 BC LDMsTspHTCTNCorrelation

14. Path Analysis – SRR

15. Conclusions Fine root biomass at 0~10cm was affected more by burning whereas fine root biomass at 10~20cm were more affected by thinning Fine root biomass at 0~10cm was affected more by burning whereas fine root biomass at 10~20cm were more affected by thinning Factors affecting fine root biomass can vary by intensity of thinning as well as the type of management treatments Factors affecting fine root biomass can vary by intensity of thinning as well as the type of management treatments SRR was affected most by root biomass under burning + thinning treatment, while by temperature at thinning only and by LD at burning only. SRR was affected most by root biomass under burning + thinning treatment, while by temperature at thinning only and by LD at burning only.

16. Acknowledgements Teakettle Experimental Forest Teakettle Experimental Forest Forest Service Forest Service Joint Fire Science Program Joint Fire Science Program LEES Lab, Dept of EEES, University of Toledo LEES Lab, Dept of EEES, University of Toledo

17. Questions?

18. Soil respiration rate (SRR; gCO 2 hr -1 m -2 ): a portable infrared gas analyzer (EGM-2 Environmental Gas Monitor, PP Systems, UK) with a SRC-1 Soil Respiration Chamber (PP Systems, UK). Soil respiration rate (SRR; gCO 2 hr -1 m -2 ): a portable infrared gas analyzer (EGM-2 Environmental Gas Monitor, PP Systems, UK) with a SRC-1 Soil Respiration Chamber (PP Systems, UK). Soil temperature at 10cm depth (Ts; ˚C): using a digital thermometer (Taylor Digital Max/Min, Forestry Suppliers, Inc, USA) simultaneously with SRR measurement. Soil temperature at 10cm depth (Ts; ˚C): using a digital thermometer (Taylor Digital Max/Min, Forestry Suppliers, Inc, USA) simultaneously with SRR measurement. Soil moisture (Ms; %): Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR, model 6050XI. Soil Moisture Equipment Corp., Santa Barbara, California, USA) within 0~10cm depth in mineral soil. Soil moisture (Ms; %): Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR, model 6050XI. Soil Moisture Equipment Corp., Santa Barbara, California, USA) within 0~10cm depth in mineral soil.

19. Extra data This forest has three major patches, This forest has three major patches, closed canopy by mixed conifer (CC), closed canopy by mixed conifer (CC), Ceanothus cordulatus Kellogg. shrub dominant areas (CECO) Ceanothus cordulatus Kellogg. shrub dominant areas (CECO) open canopy (OC). open canopy (OC). CC, OC, and CECO occupy the 67.7, 13.4, and 4.7% of the entire study forest respectively (North et al. 2002). CC, OC, and CECO occupy the 67.7, 13.4, and 4.7% of the entire study forest respectively (North et al. 2002). Major conifer species includes Abies concolor Lindl. ex Hildebr, A. magnifica A. Murr, Pinus lambertiana Douglas, P. jefreyi Grev. and Balf, and Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin (North et al. 2002). Major conifer species includes Abies concolor Lindl. ex Hildebr, A. magnifica A. Murr, Pinus lambertiana Douglas, P. jefreyi Grev. and Balf, and Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin (North et al. 2002). Soils are classified as Xerumbrepts and Xeropsamments (North et al. 2002). Soils are classified as Xerumbrepts and Xeropsamments (North et al. 2002).