Important Soil Characteristics for Restoration Planning and Management

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Important Soil Characteristics for Restoration
Planning and Management
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Physical Properties

• Texture
• Structure
• Porosity
• Bulk Density
• Temperature
• Aeration

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Texture

• Sand
• Largest particle size 0.05 2.0 µm
• Silt
• Middle particle size 0.002 0.05 µm
• Clay
• Smallest particle size lt 0.002 µm

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Texture

• Drives moisture holding capacity
• Clay holds most water
• Sand holds least water
• Factor in ease of erosion
• Sands are most easily eroded

http//www.dahlias.net/dahwebpg/Soil/Soil_07.htm
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Structure

• How closely bound soil particles are
• Aggregate
• Different shapes allow for different density of
  compaction
• Ex. Platy structure packs more particles than
  blocky

http//www.soils.agri.umn.edu/academics/classes/so
il2125/doc/s3chap1.htm
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Structure

• Soil structure is important for root penetration
  nutrient retention
• Influences erodibility

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Profile

• How soil stratifies over time
• Different for different plant communities
• MULL
• Forms under hardwoods
• MOR
• Forms under conifers

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Bulk Density

• The mass of soil per unit volume
• Kg/m3
• As compaction occurs bulk density increases
• More soil in the same area
• High bulk density makes rooting harder

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Temperature

• Important for optimum root growth
  aerobic/anaerobic processes
• A factor of moisture and aeration
• As temperature increases, so does respiration

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Chemical Properties

• pH
• Fertility
• Soil Water
• Leaching/Weathering
• Soil Organic Matter

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Porosity

• The total volume of space in a given volume of
  soil occupied by air or water
• Air space between soil particles pore space

http//www.mmm-tech.de/data/pix/bodenquer_en.jpg
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Soil pH

• Log 1/H
• Plants grow best at 6.5-7.5
• To decrease pH
• Lime
• Fish meal
• Wood ash

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Fertility

• Fertility depends on nutrient status
• Soils require specific ratios of nutrients
• Key nutrients for fertility are N, P K
• If soil is impaired by acid deposition
• Use soil amendments such as Ca or Mg which can
  raise soil pH

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Soil Water

• Water retained within soil pores
• Depends on soil
• Texture
• Porosity
• Bulk density
• Contains nutrients for plant intake

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Leaching Weathering

• How nutrients are added and removed from the soil
  over time
• Soil parent material inputs nutrients through
  weathering
• When inputs decrease stress or pollution present

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Soil Organic Matter

• Made up of decomposed organic material
• Important for moisture retention
• Nutrients for plants
• CN ratio
• As C increases, N is depleted by decomposers

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Biological Properties

• Macroflora
• Plant roots
• Microflora
• Bacteria
• Fungi

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Macroflora

• Plant roots in soil
• Coarse
• Fine

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Microflora

• Bacteria
• Rhizobium
• Fix nitrogen
• Azotobacter
• Members of the rhizobium family
• Nitrosumonus

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Microflora

• Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi!
• Ectomycorhizae
• Endomycorrhizae

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Ectomycorrhizae

• Provides pathogen resistance
• Pinaceae
• Pine, Spruce, Firs
• Fagaceae
• Beech, Oak

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Endomycorrhizae

• Does not provide pathogen resistance
• Vascular Arbuscular (VAM)
• Most in NE
• Aceraceae
• Maple
• Betulaceae
• Birch
• Juglandaceae
• Walnut, hickory, butternut
• Salicaceae
• Willow, poplar