Soil and forest pattern of Saltwater Forest

Abstract

We are familiar with effects of soil type on forest compositions, particularly in natural forests. Species organise themselves in the landscape in part according to their competitiveness in different conditions of soil fertility and drainage. Variations of species composition in plantation forests are usually imposed by forest managers but soil variation still expresses itself by way of differences in mortality and growth rates.

In this article we are going to delve into the interaction between soils and the natural rimu dominated podocarp forest of Saltwater Forest in South Westland. We will find familiar forest compositional changes caused by differences in soil fertility: but we will also see more subtle patterns of structural and compositional change related to how forest disturbance regime varies on different soil types. We are familiar with effects of soil type on forest compositions, particularly in natural forests. Species organise themselves in the landscape in part according to their competitiveness in different conditions of soil fertility and drainage. Variations of species composition in plantation forests are usually imposed by forest managers but soil variation still expresses itself by way of differences in mortality and growth rates.

In this article we are going to delve into the interaction between soils and the natural rimu dominated podocarp forest of Saltwater Forest in South Westland. We will find familiar forest compositional changes caused by differences in soil fertility: but we will also see more subtle patterns of structural and compositional change related to how forest disturbance regime varies on different soil types.