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Changes In Forest Soils Following Clearcutting Of Pine Forests In The Ouachita Mountains Of Arkansas, Harlan R. Stoin, Bajuri Bin Kadmin, Lyell F. Thompson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Soil characteristics of the mineral surface soil (0-6 cm) on three small watersheds in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas from which the pine forests have been clearcut, crushed, and burned for site preparation were studied for the first two years following clearcutting and compared to soils from adjacent uncut pine forest watersheds. Following clearcutting and burning, soil pH was generally higher than in uncut forest soils. The greatest pH differences occurred within several months of burning and generally decreased through the end of the second year. Soil organic matter content was lower immediately following clearcutting and burning and increased to …