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Abstract

Bottomland hardwood forest (BLHF) soils provide a myriad of ecosystem services, yet much information is lacking with respect to how soil physical properties influence biogeochemical cycling along topographic gradients. Current patterns of vegetation at a 149ha wetland restoration site in Chicot County, Arkansas, suggest the presence of ecologically significant variation in soil properties within the Perry Clay soil series. A study was initiated in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) to map soil bulk density and texture as well as to identify the interrelationships between soil physical properties, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen. A random grid was used to extract 132 fixed-volume soil cores to a depth of 90cm for bulk density and texture determination. Bulk density was mapped for three depth increments: 0-30cm, 30- 60cm, and 60-90cm, using ordinary kriging. Bulk density differed significantly (α=0.05) by depth with mean densities and 95% CI of 1.37 ± 0.19 Mg m-3 , 1.46 ± 0.22 Mg m-3, and 1.52 ± 0.25 Mg m-3 , respectively. The coefficient of variation at each depth was 7.0%, 7.5%, and 8.5%. Increasing variation with depth can be attributed to surface homogenization during crop production as well as differential accumulation of parent material during pedogenesis in the LMAV. These results presented provide a benchmark and will be used for further quantification of soil nutrient pools during the progression of afforestation of the forested wetland.

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