The Nutrient Status of Subarctic Woodland Soils

Abstract

Five sites are examined near Schefferville, Quebec; two sites represent mature open spruce-lichen woodlands and the remaining three sites are regenerating woodlands. The soils are acid and have very low amounts of available macro-nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P, and N). The nutrient inputs into the soil through precipitation, spruce canopy drip and stemflow are low, as are the leaching losses from the soil. The spruce trees act as the major nutrient accumulators in the ecosystem and the soil around the trees shows increased nutrient availability. Although burning increases the pH and available nutrient status of the soil, this increase is short-lived (less than 5 yr) and smaller than observed in other ecosystems. The soils remain oligotrophic.