ABSTRACT
Forest productivity in British Columbia depends partly on the availability of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, in the soil. Timber harvesting has been shown to affect ecosystem nutrient status and generally increase losses of nutrients through the soil via leaching (e.g., Perry et al., 1989). Theoretically, partial cutting, which leaves some trees standing and able to utilize soil nutrients following harvesting of adjacent trees, should result in decreased leaching losses of nutrients compared to clearcutting. However, neither Stark (1979) nor McLur-kin et al. (1987) found consistent relationships between soil solution 242nutrient levels and cutting intensity, although Stark reported that clear-cutting generally had a greater impact on nutrient levels than did partial (shelterwood) cutting.
