The Effects of Soil Composition on the Health of Tree Species in the Southern Piedmont Region of the US

Abstract

Soil is the foundation for plant life and development. The micro-nutrients found in soil are keyindicators for forest health and response to environmental and human-caused disturbances (Page- Dumroese et al, 2008). Through the evaluation of soil, land managers, botanists, foresters, and soil scientists could gain beneficial insight from monitoring the levels of soil micro-nutrients. Some common micro-nutrient being, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, potassium, and carbon (Wongprom et al, 2020). These nutrients contribute to the pH level, sustainability of microbial biomass, and the movement of nutrients from topsoil to plant life. The identification of soils that may be lacking in key nutrients, could benefit the future of forest health analyses (Page- Dumroese et al, 2008). The survey samples collected in this study will help identify areas that are of concern for tree health, conservation needs of struggling tree stands, and highlight the diversity of soil matrices throughout the southern Piedmont region. The evaluation of micronutrients, pH, temperature, water content, compaction, and identification of soils will be mapped and linked to surveyed forested areas. The health of these trees will then be cross-examined with the composition of soil and compared by region using excel functions and RStudio. Methods of mapping and the identification of the relationship between soil composition and tree health be at the forefront of forest conservation. It is my hypothesis that sandy clay-based soil has the most effect on tree health in regards to diameter at breast height and height (DBH).