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Decomposition Processes:

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Microbial Processes > Decomposition Processes > Tour: 2 - Treatments

Forest Treatments (Organic Matter and Compaction)

  1. UnC - Uncut - forest left undisturbed as control group.
  2. OM0C0 - Low organic removal: trees harvested and bole removed, but slash is left (slash = tops of trees with trunks less than 6 inches in diameter and branches); no compaction.
  3. OM0C2 - Low organic removal: trees harvested and bole removed, but slash is left (slash = tops of trees with trunks less than 6 inches in diameter and branches); heavy compaction.
  4. OM2C0 - Heavy organic removal: total tree and forest floor removal; no compaction.
  5. OM2C2 - Heavy organic removal: total tree and forest floor removal; heavy compaction.

The treatments at the Priest River Experimental Forest were installed in October 1997 and May 1998.

NOTE: The preparation pictured below was for the Long-Term Soil Productivity Study (LSTP). Not all decomposition study sites have the same preparation.

HarvestingHarvesting Trees
[view medium photo - 67K]
[view large photo - 131K]


Bole removalBole removal
[view medium photo - 46K]
[view large photo - 90K]


Bole and slash removalBole and slash removal
[view medium photo - 62K]
[view large photo - 120K]


Slash remainingSlash remaining
[view medium photo - 61K]
[view large photo - 120K]


Compacting soilCompacting soil
[view medium photo - 67K]
[view large photo - 133K]



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