Soil Charcoal and Nitrogen Cycling in Pinus ponderosa Ecosystems of Western Montana

University Of Montana, Missoula MT

Investigators

Abstract

Charcoal is a natural byproduct of wildland and prescribed fire and is well known as an important biochemical sorbent. Unfortunately, charcoal deposited during fire has received little scientific attention. Ponderosa pine forests are fire dependent ecosystems that are notoriously limited in productivity due to low nitrogen (N) availability. Fire results in a short-term increase in available N, but it appears that charcoal may dictate long-term N availability. We will determine whether charcoal directly or indirectly enhances forest N fertility. We will combine state-of-the-art soil microbiological and biochemical methodologies with fire history research plots (USDA-NRI project) to assess the influence of fire and fire exclusion on quantity and biophysical quality of charcoal. The experiments will provide the first ever look at charcoal as a mediator of nutrient dynamics in the Inland Northwest and are likely to have broad impact as fire and charcoal are common to all temperate ecosystems.