In a 3-year pilot study, researchers placed sugar maple wood stakes in forest stands to examine the effects of adding nitrogen, phosphorus, both nutrients, and a control on wood decay. Over 273 stakes were distributed across plots with different nutrient additions or a control at 3 sites. The stakes will be collected and analyzed to determine percent mass loss over the study period, with future analysis of nutrients, soil microbes, and their role in wood decay.
Having a stake in nutrient cycling effects of n and p addition on wood decay jenna zukswert
1. HAVING A STAKE IN NUTRIENT CYCLING:
EFFECTS OF N AND P ADDITION ON WOOD DECAY
Jenna Zukswert (University of Maine/SUNY ESF) with Ruth Yanai (SUNY ESF), Shawn Fraver (UMaine),
Melany Fisk (Miami University), Martin Jurgensen (Michigan Tech.), Chris Miller (Michigan Tech.)
Images: Shawn Fraver
PILOT STUDY:
● Acer saccharum wood decay stakes
(oven-dried at 75°C for 8 days)
● 3 mature forest stands at Bartlett (C7, C8, C9)
● N, P, NP, and control plots (and one Ca plot)
(21 stakes per plot, 273 stakes in total)
● Percent mass loss from 2019-22 (3 years)
● Other measurements possible after collection (nutrients,
soil biota, etc.)
● Future proposal led by Melany Fisk on microbial
communities and wood decay
Before
After
Editor's Notes
Design
Implications: could help leverage and provide preliminary data to support future proposals on the topic of wood decay on these plots in the future
