Effects of whole-tree harvest on soil-water chemistry at five conifer sites in Sweden

Logging residues, such as tops and branches, can provide a useful biofuel for large-scale energy production. However, increasing the harvest intensity may affect the soil nutrient stores and water quality. Here, effects on soil-water chemistry after stem-only and whole-tree harvesting were investigated using data from five experimental sites in Sweden, representing medium- to high-fertility sites. They were located in recharge areas on mineral soil and harvested between the years 1995 and 2001. Soil-water samples had previously been collected from below the main part of the root zone in study plots subjected to stem-only or whole-tree harvest. Soil-water chemistry data from the five sites were jointly analyzed by ANOVA using seasonal mean concentrations from the first six seasons after clear-cutting. The concentrations of NO3–-N, K+, and Mg2+ were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the two harvest regimes, indicating lower levels after whole-tree harvest than after stem-only harvest. No significan...