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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

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Effect of Organic Matter Quantity on Ectomycorrhizae<br />

The relative percentage of a soil profile that was occupied by organic matter<br />

affected the numbers of active ectomycorrhizal root tips-found <strong>in</strong> that profile.<br />

The govern<strong>in</strong>g variable appeared to be moisture content of the organic matter<br />

result<strong>in</strong>g from the prevail<strong>in</strong>g climate. For example, large quantities of organic<br />

matter were less related to numbers of ectomycorrhizal tips <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g than <strong>in</strong><br />

summer or fall (fig. 14). Similarly, large volumes of organic matter were less<br />

important <strong>in</strong> moist sites than <strong>in</strong> dry sites (fig. 15). Large quantities of wood<br />

appeared to be more effective <strong>in</strong> susta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g ectomycorrhizal activity than large<br />

quantities of humus (fig. 16). However, <strong>in</strong> no case did quantities greater than 45<br />

percent of any type of organic matter (top 12 <strong>in</strong>ches [30 cm ] o f soil ) result <strong>in</strong><br />

higher numbers of ectomycorrhizal tips (figs. 14, 15 and 16) ..<br />

0-15 15-30 30-45 45 +<br />

PERCENT ORGANIC MAnER VOLUME CLASS<br />

Figwle 14. -- Avemge nwnbers of active ecto-<br />

rnycorrh~xal root tips <strong>in</strong> samples repre-<br />

sentative of various organic matter eontent<br />

cZasses, data from throughout the grow

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