• Shanley, Jamie
  U.S. Geological Survey, Vermont
  

Calcium is a critical plant nutrient found in forest soils. Acidic deposition causes leaching of calcium out of soil and can free up aluminum, which can make calcium unavailable for plant uptake. NSRC researchers studied hardwood and coniferous forests under contrasting conditions of soil calcium at three sites: Hubbard Brook and Cone Pond in New Hampshire and Sleepers River in Vermont. Researchers combined existing data and new measurements to compute annual nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) fluctuations in throughfall (water falling from leaves), leaf litterfall, and aboveground biomass, as well as to account for the belowground biomass component. The major new effort in this project was directed at measurements of root turnover or cycle or production and decay.