ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

Since the best quantity of organic matter for ectomycorrhizal development can be
determined (fig. 3), the advantage of increasing soil wood or other soil organic
fractions through management of residues can also be estimated. Using the same data
as an example, on a site with half the organic reserves of the Douglas-firhinebark
experimental site depicted in figure 2, doubl ing soil wood content through residues
management might eventually increase the seasonal growth potential of that site by as
much as 19 percent. In terms of cubic feet of stemwood on that habitat type, this
would equal 13 cubic ft/acre/year (0.90 m3/ha/yr) (Pfister and others 1977). In
terms of the future value of the increased wood production, this would amount to a
substantial sum; it also would represent the prevention of a significant loss by
avoiding management practices or wildfires that might have destroyed the soil organic
matter base. Quantifying this concept implies precision that is probably not appro-
priate; however, it serves to demonstrate the potential to quantify soil biological
and physical characteristics in terms of their ability to support tree growth.
Figure 3.--fie relative distr