PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2: Forest Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Influence of species and geography on soil properties of natural oak forests in Korea.

Kim, Rae Hyun^*,, Son, Yowhan, Yi, Myong Jong, Jin, Hyun O, Kim, Dong Yeob, Park, In Hyeop,

ABSTRACT- We compared soil physical and chemical properties of native oak forests at Kangwon, Jungbu, Nambu, and Urban regions. In each region three study stands dominated by Quercus variabilis and Q. mongolica were selected. Soil samples were collected from the three soil depths (0-10, 10-20, and >20cm). Differences in soil pH and C:N ratio among regions were significant. Mean soil pH ranged from 4.3 in Urban to 5.6 in Jungbu while C:N ratio ranged from 10.7 in Jungbu to 20.8 in Kangwon. Exchangeable cation concentrations showed the same pattern. Soil organic C and total N concentrations differed significantly among stands and regions at all soil depths, except for total N among regions at >20cm soil depth. At 0-10cm soil depth mean soil organic C concentration was highest for Q. mongolica in Kangwon (7.3) and lowest for Q. variabilis in Jungbu (0.8) while total N concentration was highest for mixed stands in Nambu (0.5) and lowest for Q. variabilis in Nambu (0.1). Also there were significant differences in CEC among stands and regions. In general, soil pH was less acidic and nutrient concentrations were higher for Q. mongolica or mixed stands than those for Q. variabilis stand. Climatic and geographic factors such as temperature and aspect appeared to influence species composition within a region. Our results indicated that differences in species composition influenced soil physical and chemical characteristics.

Key words: Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, soil property, Korea