Spatial and Seasonal Variations in Soil, Litter and Ground Vegetation in some Lake District Woodlands

Abstract

In two semi-natural oak woods and one larch plantation, which appeared relatively nomogeneous, the ground vegetation, litter and upper mineral soil were sampled intensively at monthly intervals over a 13 month period. In each woodland, sampling was restricted to a single site of 400 or 800 sq. m/ in area, samples being taken as 10 cm. cores. The dry weights of the organic matter per unit area and the contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, P and N in the vegetation, litter and mineral soil were determined. In addition determinations were made of the pH of the organic matter and mineral soil, the ash content of the organic matter, the Si content of the vegetation and loss on ignition of the mineral soil. After examining the results statistically it is suggested that the surprisingly large spatial variability within each site obscures possible monthly differences in spite of the intensive sampling procedure followed. The application of the results to the general problems of sampling woodland ecosystems is considered.