Date of Award

1996

Degree Name

Biological Sciences

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Frank S. Gilliam

Second Advisor

Mary Beth Adams

Third Advisor

Dan K. Evans

Fourth Advisor

Jeffrey D. May

Abstract

Increasing awareness of the potential effects of acidic deposition prompted a watershed manipulation project at the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF), West Virginia, in 1987. In this project, an acidifying agent, (Nf4)2S04 , was applied to an entire watershed to better understand ecosystem responses to simulated acid deposition in excess of ambient levels. In ecosystems receiving elevated N levels, increased soil N may contribute to soil acidification, lead to nutrient imbalances in plants, increase rates of nitrification, increase leaching of No3• and pollute surface waters. This study was designed to assess changes of three watersheds that received varied N inputs. The null hypotheses in this thesis were:

1) Nitrogen amendments will not have an effect on extractable N03. and NH4 + pools in the 02 and mineral soil horizons of three watersheds;

2) N amendments will not have an effect on net N mineralization and nitrification in the 02 and mineral soil horizons of three watersheds;

3) N amendments will not have an effect on pH and H+ production in the 02 and mineral soil horizons of three watersheds;

4) the influence of abiotic factors on N mineralization will not be affected by N amendments in the 02 and mineral soil horizons of three watersheds.

Subject(s)

Forest ecology -- Effect of acidic deposition on.

Soils -- Nitrogen content.

Fernow Experimental Forest (Tucker County, W. Va.)

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