Peter Schauer
ABSTRACT|
Soil temperature and moistures
were recorded on five different habitat types in areas near Priest River and
Athol, Idaho. The habitat types listed in decreasing order of soil
temperatures and increasing percentages (by volume) of soil moisture were:
Pseudotsuga menziesii/Physocarpus malvaceous (Douglas fir-Ninebark),
Abies grandis/Pachistima myrsinites (Grand fir-Pachistima), Tsuga
heterophylla/Pachistima myrsinites (Western Hemlock-Pachistima),
Abies lasiocarpa/Xerophyllum tenax (Subalpine fir-Beargrass), and
Abies lasiocarpa/Menziesia ferruginea (Subalpine fir-Menziesia). Soil moisture values were higher in the Priest River area than in the Athol area for both summers, and higher in 1975 in both areas than in 1974. The use of the neutron probe, at 15 cm intervals to 91 cm in depth, proved to be an efficient and accurate method of accessing soil moisture regimes with a minimum amount of calculations. Soil temperature (MSST and MAST at 50 cm) recorded on each study area were warmer in Priest River than in the Athol area for both summers, and cooler in 1975 in both areas than in 1974. The only exception was the Abies lasiocarpa habitat types in both areas were warmer in 1975 than in the previous year. Aspectural differences affected soil temperatures more than soil moistures on these high subalpine fir habitat types. MSST and MAST at 20 cm were warmer in the Priest River area than in the Athol area. |