Nitrogen fertilizer effects on black cherry (prunus serotina ehrh) regeneration in allegheny hardwood forests

TLDR: In this article, Nitrogen fertilizer effects on black cherry regeneration in Allegheny Hardwood Forests were studied in the area of the Allegheny Plateau in the US state of Pennsylvania.

Abstract: ....................................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1. Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 1 Background of Study Area: Allegheny Plateau .............................................................................. 1 Geology and Climate of Allegheny Plateau ............................................................................ 1 Soils of the Allegheny Plateau ................................................................................................ 2 History of Black Cherry and Nitrogen Deposition on the Allegheny Plateau ................................ 5 History of Nitrogen Deposition ............................................................................................... 8 The Nitrogen Cycle and Deposition ............................................................................................. 11 Changes in Black Cherry Vitality and Regeneration .................................................................... 13 Atmospheric Deposition Changes ................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 2. Manuscript: Nitrogen fertilizer effects on black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh) regeneration in Allegheny Hardwood Forests .............................................................................. 19 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 19 Methods......................................................................................................................................... 24 Site Establishment – Low N-Fertilized Sites ......................................................................... 24 Site Establishment –High N-Fertilized Areas ....................................................................... 25 Field Methods and Data Collection .............................................................................................. 26 Treatment – Low N-Fertilized Sites ...................................................................................... 26 Treatment – High N-Fertilized Areas ................................................................................... 26 Regeneration Measurements – Low N-Fertilized Sites ......................................................... 27 Regeneration Measurements – High N-fertilized Areas ....................................................... 27 iv Soil Measurements – Low N-Fertilized Sites ........................................................................ 27 Soil Measurements – High N-Fertilized Areas ..................................................................... 29 Overstory MeasurementsLow N-Fertilized Sites ................................................................ 29 Overstory Measurements – High N-Fertilized Areas ........................................................... 30 Experimental Design and Statistical Analyses ............................................................................. 31 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Regeneration – Low N-Fertilized Sites ................................................................................. 32 Regeneration – High N-Fertilized Areas .............................................................................. 33 Soil Measurements – Low N-Fertilized Sites ........................................................................ 34 Soil Measurements – High N-Fertilized Areas ..................................................................... 35 Overstory MeasurementsLow N-Fertilized Sites ................................................................ 36 Overstory Measurements – High N-Fertilized Areas ........................................................... 37 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Regeneration ......................................................................................................................... 37 Soil and Overstory ................................................................................................................ 40 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 44 References ..................................................................................................................................... 62 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 73 Vita ................................................................................................................................................ 86