Soil losses across LTEP
stands
The amount of soil lost
was estimated by assuming that rocks (soil particles >4-mm diameter) would
not be affected by water or wind erosion. Thus, when more rocks are found in upper
horizons after the fire than before, the amount
of associated smaller mineral and organic matter can be assumed to have been lost. Quantitative volumetric sampling across
stands permits stand-scale interpretations.
The organic (O) horizon was entirely lost from all stands
burned at the Panther Lake block.
The uppermost mineral horizon (A) was lost from 5 of 7
stands.
Even some of the lower mineral soil (B1) was lost from 4 of
7 stands.
Observed temperatures are weakly related to soil loss.