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Harvesting activities are known to decrease forest floor carbon pools, but the response varies with harvest intensity. We examined partial harvesting (33–55% of basal area removed) effects on the forest floor at four northern hardwood sites in Vermont, USA. Six baseline quantitative samples were taken at each site and 9–36 new locations were sampled 1.5–2.6 years after harvesting. Forest soil disturbance was estimated, and basal area was tallied pre- and post-harvest. The forest floor consisted primarily of Oi and Oe horizons. The pre-harvest site means in carbon stock ranged from 6.8 to 12.3 Mg ha-1 and were not significantly different after harvesting. The pre-harvest site means in depth ranged from 2.8 to 4.5 cm and, post-harvest, there was significantly decreased thickness at one site and significantly greater density at two sites postharvest. This compaction was also visually observed in the field. Partial harvesting, which included single-tree and group selection, created highly variable conditions that challenged our experimental design. However, the two sites with the higher number of resampling locations (35–36) had relatively low variability in forest floor metrics and showed significant responses in thickness and density. Continued monitoring is needed to determine long-term trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are valuable ecosystems because they are highly productive, support a wide range of wildlife, and serve as hotspots for biogeochemical cycling. Historically, vast areas of wetlands in the United States (US) were drained and converted to agriculture. Efforts are currently underway to restore wetland and floodplain functioning across the US and elsewhere. Re-wetting historically drained and farmed soils can potentially liberate legacy phosphorus (P) to surface waters as soluble reactive P (SRP), offsetting P retained by sedimentation during floods. A better understanding of the controls on SRP release is needed to estimate net P retention in these settings. Soil P saturation ratio (PSR) and soil P storage capacity (SPSC) are two proxies for SRP runoff risk that have shown promise for characterizing restored wetlands but require further testing. In this study, we examined soils at 42 riparian sites ranging from active farms to mature wetlands in the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain Basin (USA), where phosphorus load reduction is a critical goal to achieve in-lake water quality targets. We additionally quantified potential SRP release to overlying water using intact soil cores from 20 plots spanning 14 sites. Final SRP concentrations in intact cores spanned two orders of magnitude and were predicted well by SPSC and PSR. SRP release was greatest at more recently and frequently farmed sites. Several soil properties, including PSR and SPSC, were correlated with farming frequency and time since farming, indicating that SRP release could be mapped using existing geodata for soils, hydrology and land use. Our findings confirm that soil SRP release during flooding needs to be considered in estimates of net P balance for restored riparian wetlands in agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In headwater catchments, surface groundwater discharge areas have unique soil biogeochemistry and can be hot spots for solute contribution to streams. Across the northeastern United States, headwater hillslopes with surface groundwater discharge were enriched in soil Mn, including Watershed 3 of Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Soils of this site were investigated along a grid to determine extent of Mn‐rich zone(s) and relationships to explanatory variables using ordinary kriging. The O and B horizons were analyzed for total secondary Mn and Fe, Cr oxidation potential, total organic C, moisture content, wetness ratio, and pH. Two Mn hot spots were found: a poorly drained, flowing spring (Location A); and a moderately well‐drained swale (Location B). Both had ∼6,000–9,000 mg Mn kg–1 soil. However, Location A had high Cr oxidation potential (a measure of Mn reactivity), whereas Location B did not. Location C, a poorly drained seep with slow‐moving water, had lower Mn content and Cr oxidation potential. Manganese‐rich soil particles were analyzed using X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure and micro‐X‐ray diffraction; the dominant oxidation state was Mn(IV), and the dominant Mn oxide species was a layer‐type Mn oxide (L‐MnO2). We propose input of Mn(II) with groundwater, which is oxidized by soil microbes. Studies of catchment structure and response could benefit from identifying hot spots of trace metals, sourced mainly from parent material but which accumulate according to hydropedologic conditions. Small‐scale variation in Mn enrichment due to groundwater and microtopography appears to be more important than regional‐scale variation due to air pollution. Core Ideas: Hot spots of soil Mn accumulate according to hydropedologic conditions and may influence surface water chemistry.Small‐scale variation in soil Mn is more important than regional‐scale variation from air pollution.Variation in Mn oxide reactivity may occur over short distances due to changes in hydropedologic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term monitoring of forest soils is necessary to understand the effects of continued environmental change, including climate change, atmospheric deposition of metals, and, in many regions, recovery from acidic precipitation. A monitoring program was initiated in 2002 at five protected forest sites, primarily Spodosol soils, in Vermont, northeastern USA. Every 5 years, ten soil pits were sampled from random subplots in a 50 × 50-m plot at each site. Samples were taken by genetic horizon and, to reduce variability and improve comparability, from four specific layers: the combined Oi/Oe layer, the combined Oa/A layer, the top 10 cm of the B horizon, and 60–70 cm below the soil surface (usually the C horizon). The samples were archived and a subset analyzed for carbon, nitrogen, and exchangeable cations. After four sampling campaigns, the average coefficients of variation (CVs) at each site had a broad range, 10.7% for carbon in the Oa/A horizon to 84.3% for exchangeable Ca2+ in the B horizon. An investigation of variability within the upper 10 cm of the B horizon across a 90-cm soil pit face showed similar CVs to the entire site, emphasizing the need for consistent and careful sampling. After 15 years, temporal trends were significant in the Oa/A and B horizons at two of the five sites, with one site showing an increase in carbon concentration in both layers along with increases in both exchangeable Ca2+ and Al3+ in the B horizon, perhaps linked to recovery from acidification. The monitoring program plans to continue at 5-year intervals for the next century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core Ideas Electron probe microanalysis mapping successfully quantified primary mineral content. Core Ideas X‐ray diffraction did not detect trace minerals or identify solid solution minerals. Core Ideas Accurate inventory of primary minerals is needed for soil process studies. --> Although mineral dissolution is a fundamental soil forming process, primary mineral content of soils is rarely inventoried or quantified. Concerns about maintenance of forest soil nutrient stocks require better mineralogic data. In particular, to understand recovery from Ca losses induced by acid deposition and sustainability of intensive forest harvest, better inventory of primary Ca minerals is needed. We developed a method based on electron probe micro‐analysis to quantify primary mineral concentrations in soil. Samples analyzed from three sites in the glaciated northeastern United States spanned a bulk Ca concentration of 0.03 to 0.94%. Plagioclase was the dominant Ca‐bearing mineral at two sites while apatite was the only Ca‐bearing mineral found in all three samples and was the dominant calcium source at one site. A variety of other Ca silicate minerals were found in trace amounts. Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) proved more sensitive in detecting minor and trace Ca bearing minerals than standard XRD procedures. The Ca‐bearing minerals detected by EPMA matched those expected based on the lithologic composition of the glacial till and were consistent with measured bulk soil Ca content by lithium‐borate fusion. Taking into account the Ca concentration in each mineral and each mineral's abundance in the sample, this inventory provided a complete accounting of Ca sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement of sediment, and associated phosphorus, from stream banks to freshwater lakes is predicted to increase with greater frequency of extreme precipitation events. This higher phosphorus load may accelerate harmful algal blooms in affected water bodies, such as Lake Champlain in Vermont, New York, and Québec. In the Mad River, a subwatershed in central Vermont's Lake Champlain Basin, extreme flooding from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 caused extensive erosion. We measured stream channel change along the main stem between 2008 and 2011 by digitizing available prestorm and poststorm aerial imagery. Soils were sampled post Irene at six active stream erosion sites, using an experimental design to measure differences in soil texture and phosphorus both with depth (90 cm) and distance from the stream. In addition to total phosphorus (TP), we determined bioavailable (soil test) phosphorus (STP) and the degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS). The six sites represented a 0.87‐km length of stream bank that contributed an estimated 17.6 × 103 Mg of sediment and 15.8 Mg of TP, roughly the same as average annual watershed export estimates. At four sites, the STP and DPS were low and suggested little potential for short‐term phosphorus release. At two agricultural sites where the lateral extent of erosion was high, imagery showed a clear loss of well‐established riparian buffer. Present‐day near‐stream soils were elevated in STP and DPS. An increase in these extreme events will clearly increase sediment loads. There will also be increasing concentration of sediment phosphorus if stream banks continue to erode into actively managed agricultural fields. Plain Language Summary: Extreme precipitation events can cause streams to swell above their banks and erode near‐stream soil. Because stream bank soils contain phosphorus, increased erosion can increase the transport of phosphorus into lakes, leading to harmful algal blooms. Our study occurred in central Vermont along the Mad River, which flows into Lake Champlain. Tropical Storm Irene delivered a record amount of rainfall to much of Vermont. Soils were already wet and streams quickly flooded, causing drastic stream channel changes. We used aerial photography to measure the change in stream channel and calculated the amount of soil lost. We also sampled soil at six erosion sites, measuring various forms of phosphorus. These measurements suggest that one extreme event delivered as much sediment and phosphorus into the stream as is normally exported over an entire year. Bioavailable phosphorus was low in most soil samples. However, high erosion along two agricultural fields removed large trees that formed a buffer with the stream and pushed present‐day stream banks well back into the farmland. These soils had elevated amounts of bioavailable phosphorus and would likely contribute more toward downstream eutrophication if erosion continues. The effect of this one extreme event will continue to be felt for years to come. Key Points: Extreme event‐induced stream bank movement along six eroding sites generated sediment loads equivalent to average annual watershed exportsPhosphorus loads were also high, but short‐term phosphorus release may be limited because of low bioavailability in the eroded sedimentStripping of riparian buffers and lateral bank retreat into actively managed agricultural fields may enhance future phosphorus losses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many climate predictions suggest that the frequency and intensity of large storm events might increase in the coming decades, few studies document the full impact of such events along their path. Here, we synthesize information on the impact of Hurricane Irene (formed August 21 2011) and Tropical Storm Lee (formed August 30, 2011) on erosion and sediment transport, lake metabolism, riparian hydrology and biogeochemistry, and stream water quality, from North Carolina to Maine. In almost all cases, these storms generated unprecedented changes in water quality (concentrations, loads), from tenfold increases in DOC and 100-fold increases in POC in Maryland, to 100-fold increases in TSS concentrations in Pennsylvania. Overbank flooding and up to 200-year streamflow events were recorded in New York and Vermont. In many cases, particulate loads (e.g. POC, PP, TSS) occurring during Irene and Lee represented more than 30% of the annual load. The dominance of particulate exports over solutes during Irene and Lee is consistent with the mobilization of normally immobile sediment pools, and massive erosion as reported at many locations across the Northeastern US. Several studies reported long lasting (> 1 year) effects of Irene and Lee on cyanobacterial blooms, erosion, or stream suspended sediment concentrations. However, this review also highlighted the lack of a consistent strategy in terms of methods, and measured water quality parameters. This strongly hinders our ability to fully assess the large-scale impact of such events on our environment, and ultimately their impact on our economy and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorimetric P determination mainly reflects inorganic P, whereas inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) measures all P in solution. We compared Morgan extractable P for ICP (MP-ICP) and colorimetry (MP-Color) using dairy farm field samples (0 to 20 cm) across northern New York (n = 250) and hayfield transect samples (0–15, 15–30, 45–50 cm; n = 164). Soil organic matter, pH, and extractable cations were also measured. Mean ratio of MP-ICP: MP-Color was 1.46 and differed significantly among Morgan P categories, ranging from 1.89 for low to 1.06 for very high. The numeric difference between MP-ICP and MP-Color ranged from 0 to 12.9 mg kg−1. Organic matter, Al, and pH jointly accounted for 55% of the variability between methods across samples. Fertilizer P recommendations differed based on the two methods, suggesting results from both methods should be reported, particularly in the responsive range. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Measurements of soil water potential and water table fluctuations suggest that morphologically distinct soils in a headwater catchment at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire formed as a result of variations in saturated and unsaturated hydrologic fluxes in the mineral soil. Previous work showed that each group of these soils had distinct water table fluctuations in response to precipitation; however, observed variations in soil morphology also occurred above the maximum height of observed saturation. Variations in unsaturated fluxes have been hypothesized to explain differences in soil horizon thickness and presence/absence of specific horizons but have not been explicitly investigated. We examined tensiometer and shallow groundwater well records to identify differences in unsaturated water fluxes among podzols that show distinct morphological and chemical differences. The lack of vertical hydraulic gradients at the study sites suggests that lateral unsaturated flow occurs in several of the soil units. We propose that the variations in soil horizon thickness and presence/absence observed at the site are due in part to slope-parallel water flux in the unsaturated portion of the solum. In addition, unsaturated flow may be involved in the translocation of spodic material that primes those areas to contribute water with distinct chemistry to the stream network and represents a potential source/sink of organometallic compounds in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads have been widely studied as sources of runoff and sediment and identified as pollutant production sources to receiving waters. Despite the wealth of research on logging roads in forested, upland settings, little work has been conducted to examine the role of extensive networks of rural, low-volume, unpaved roads on water quality degradation at the catchment scale. We studied a network of municipal unpaved roads in the northeastern US to identify the type and spatial extent of 'hydro-geomorphic impairments' to water quality. We mapped erosional and depositional features on roads to develop an estimate of pollutant production. We also mapped the type and location of design interventions or best management practices (BMPs) used to improve road drainage and mitigate water quality impairment. We used statistical analyses to identify key controls on the frequency and magnitude of erosional features on the road network, and GIS to scale up from the survey results to the catchment scale to identify the likely importance of unpaved roads as a pollutant source in this setting. An average of 21 hydro-geomorphic impairments were mapped per kilometer of road, averaging 0.3 m3 in volume. Road gradient and slope position were key controls on the occurrence of these features. The presence of BMPs effectively reduced erosion frequency. Scaled up to the watershed and using a conservative estimate of road-stream connectivity, our results for the Winooski River watershed in the northeastern US suggest that roughly 16% and 6% of the average annual sediment and phosphorus flux, respectively, of the Winooski River may be derived from unpaved roads. Our study identifies an under-appreciated source of water quality degradation in rural watersheds, provides insights into identifying 'hot spots' of pollutant production associated with these networks, and points to effectiveness of design interventions in mitigating these adverse impacts on water quality. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global mercury contamination largely results from direct primary atmospheric and secondary legacy emissions, which can be deposited to ecosystems, converted to methylmercury, and bioaccumulated along food chains. We examined organic horizon soil samples collected across an elevational gradient on Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack region of New York State, USA to determine spatial patterns in methylmercury concentrations across a forested montane landscape. We found that soil methylmercury concentrations were highest in the midelevation coniferous zone (0.39 ± 0.07 ng/g) compared to the higher elevation alpine zone (0.28 ± 0.04 ng/g) and particularly the lower elevation deciduous zone (0.17 ± 0.02 ng/g), while the percent of total mercury as methylmercury in soils decreased with elevation. We also found a seasonal pattern in soil methylmercury concentrations, with peak methylmercury values occurring in July. Given elevational patterns in temperature and bioavailable total mercury (derived from mineralization of soil organic matter), soil methylmercury concentrations appear to be driven by soil processing of ionic Hg, as opposed to atmospheric deposition of methylmercury. These methylmercury results are consistent with spatial patterns of mercury concentrations in songbird species observed from other studies, suggesting that future declines in mercury emissions could be important for reducing exposure of mercury to montane avian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical podzolization studies assumed vertical percolation and pedon-scale horizon development. However, hillslope-scale lateral podzolization also occurs where lateral subsurface water flux predominates. In this hydropedologic study, 99 podzols were observed in Watershed 3, Hubbard Brook experimental forest, new Hampshire. Soil horizon samples were extracted with citrate--dithionite (d) and acid ammonium oxalate (o) to quantify fed, Mnd, Alo, and Feo. Optical density of oxalate extract (ODOe) was measured to assess spodic c. Amorphous organometallic complexes (AOC) were observed in thin section, for which Al, Fe, Mn, and c were quantified using scanning electron microscopy--energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Porosity and AOC/mineral ratio were calculated for thin section images using ImageJ. Laterally developed spodic horizons were twice as thick as vertically developed spodic horizons and contained higher concentrations of Al and Mn but lower fe and c. Vertically developed spodic horizons had crumb microstructure with higher porosity, while laterally developed spodic horizons were more infilled. Aluminum + 0.5Fe and ODOE in the surface of laterally developed podzols were high and lacked contrast with the spodic horizon, making spodosol classification problematic. Vertically developed spodic horizons form by solutional translocation and precipitation of AOC under unsaturated conditions. However, laterally developed spodic horizons could form via lateral translocation of solutes or physical transport and deposition of colloidal AOC with unsaturated or saturated flow. This study demonstrates the importance of lateral podzolization in producing soils with distinctive morphology, composition, and classification. future studies or mapping efforts in podzolized catchments should incorporate these different pedogenic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil manganese oxides are highly reactive and can strongly influence soil chemical transformations even when present in relatively minor concentrations. The continued reactivity of these oxides is dependent on regeneration, yet the mechanisms of Mn(II) oxidation in soils are not completely understood. We examined oxidation of added Mn(II) in four soils with a reducible Mn content ranging from 9.1 to 319 mmol kg-1 (0.05-1.75%). The Mn in these soils was concentrated in manganiferous oxide coatings or concretions ~50-100 µm in diameter. The progress of oxidation of Mn(II) was measured by both Mn K-edge XANES spectroscopy and the ability of the soil to oxidize added Cr(III)Cl3 to Cr(VI) (Standard Net Cr Oxidation Test). Addition of Mn(II) to a soil sample caused an initial decrease in the energy position of the main absorption edge in XANES spectra collected from areas of high Mn concentration, showing sorption of the added Mn(II). Repeated scans over 30-50 h showed movement of the main edge to a higher energy, close to that of the soil before treatment, demonstrating oxidation. Chromium oxidation initially decreased due to blockage of reactive sites by sorbed Mn(II). It then increased linearly over the same time period to values higher than the untreated soil, confirming the oxidation of the added Mn(II) and an increase in overall Mn oxide reactive sites. Oxidation continued even after exposure to strongly ionizing X-rays, suggesting a coupled biotic/abiotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Lake Champlain Basin, phosphorus (P) loading from streambank erosion and cropland are both important P sources, and a better understanding of the factors affecting riparian P loss is needed to help prioritize riparian restoration efforts. We utilized solution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and an enzyme hydrolysis method to characterize P and assess bioavailability in 14 commonly mapped riparian soils from northwestern Vermont. Surface horizons were sampled from distinct series at two riparian restoration sites to capture a range of soil properties. Samples were extracted with sodium hydroxide-ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (NaOH-EDTA) and analyzed by solution 31P NMR to speciate and quantify P compounds, and commercially available phosphatase enzymes were used to fractionate water-extractable molybdate unreactive P (MUP) into labile orthophosphate monoesters and orthophosphate diesters. Phosphorus extracted by NaOH-EDTA ranged from 74 to 510 mg P kg-1 (representing 14.2 to 31.9% of total soil P), of which 58 ± 13% was identified as organic P. Phosphorus compounds identified in all samples included myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (myo-IHP), scyllo-IHP, neo-IHP, chir-IHP, glycerophosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, mononucleotides, choline phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, DNA, pyrophosphate, and orthophosphate. Orthophosphate monoesters accounted for 53.7 ± 12.3% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P and 93 ± 3% of the NaOH-EDTA organic P, indicating the importance of organic P in these soils. Stereoisomers of IHP accounted for 29 ± 7% of NaOH-EDTA extractable Po. For the water extractions, 78 ± 13% of total P was MUP, of which 18 ± 6% was labile orthophosphate monoesters and 31 ± 15% was orthophosphate diesters. Results suggest that analytical indices of riparian P loss potential should consider both organic and inorganic P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is an atmospheric pollutant that, in forest ecosystems, accumulates in foliage and upper soil horizons. The authors measured soil and litterfall Hg at 15 forest sites (northern hardwood to mixed hardwood/conifer) throughout Vermont, USA, to examine variation among tree species, forest type, and soils. Differences were found among the 12 tree species sampled from at least two sites, with Acer pensylvanicum having significantly greater litterfall total Hg concentration. Senescent leaves had greater Hg concentrations if they originated lower in the canopy or had higher surface:weight ratios. Annual litterfall Hg flux had a wide range, 12.6 to 28.5 µg/m2 (mean, 17.9 µg/m2), not related to forest type. Soil and Hg pools in the Oi horizon (litter layer) were not related to the measured Hg deposition flux in litterfall or to total modeled Hg deposition. Despite having lower Hg concentrations, upper mineral soil (A horizons) had greater Hg pools than organic soil horizons (forest floor) due to greater bulk density. Significant differences were found in Hg concentration and Hg/C ratio among soil horizons but not among forest types. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of site history and the benefits of collecting litterfall and soils simultaneously. Observed differences in forest floor Hg pools were strongly correlated with carbon pools, which appeared to be a function of historic land-use patterns. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1720-1729. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest soils hold large stores of carbon, with the highest concentrations in the surface horizons. In these horizons, both the total C mass and the C/N ratio may respond more rapidly to changes in tree species than lower horizons. We measured C and C/N ratios in the Oa or A horizon from 12 watersheds at 8 established forested research sites in the northeastern United States. The dominant tree species included Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, Picea rubens, and Tsuga canadensis. In 710 plots, both soil C (50-530 g kg-1) and the C/N ratio (11.6-45.3) had a wide range. In all but the Cone Pond watershed, both N concentration and the C/N ratio were strongly related to C content. For these 11 watersheds, the average C/N ratio = 9.5 + 0.030 × C g kg-1 (R2 = 0.97, P < 0.001). Ratios at Cone Pond were much higher than would be predicted from this equation and charcoal was found in numerous samples, suggesting a source of recalcitrant C. Averaged by watershed, C concentration was also significantly related to C pools. The carbon concentration of the horizons sampled was negatively related to A. saccharum + B. alleghaniensis dominance and positively related to conifer +F. grandifolia dominance. The strong relationships between C, C/N ratio, and species suggest predictable patterns in C accumulation in near-surface soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling disturbance has been shown to rapidly increase net nitrification rates in some forest soils. To gain insight on mechanisms, we investigated both gross and net rates of ammonification and nitrification in intact cores and mixed composite samples. Using the isotope pool dilution method, we studied samples from two northeastern USA watersheds, Brush Brook and Sleepers River in Vermont, where previous work had found high net nitrification rates. Gross ammonification was usually not significantly different between intact cores and mixed samples. However, gross and net nitrification rates in mixed samples were similar (mean ∼24 µmol N kg−1 hr−1 or ∼8 mg N kg−1 d−1) and significantly higher than in intact cores (7.7 and 3.4 µmol N kg−1 h−1 for means of gross and net respectively). Nitrate consumption was decreased somewhat by disturbance but did not account for the large differences in net rates. Because there were similar gross ammonification rates in both treatments, increased nitrification in these disturbed soils must be a result of an increase in the utilization of ammonium by the ammonia oxidizers at the expense of other ammonium consumption pathways. Different mechanisms may operate in different soils; increased nitrification appears to be the primary pathway in these soils with high N cycling rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure nutrient analysis is an important component of nutrient-management planning on dairy farms. The University of Vermont Agricultural and Environmental Testing Laboratory analyzed more than 2,300 dairy manure samples from 1992 to 2006. Means of nutrient content were consistent with published values, but variability among the sample results supports the need for laboratory analysis to determine manure application rates. Phosphorus (P) content of manure decreased by about 30% from 1992 to 2004, presumably reflecting a shift in dairy diets to avoid feeding excess P, but P content increased in the following 2 years. The copper (Cu) content of liquid manure increased four-fold, mostly after 1998, a change attributed to increased use of copper sulfate (CuSO4) in foot baths. While not reliable for making nutrient-management decisions on individual farms, long-term summaries can be useful to detect trends and to put individual analytical results in context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated N deposition is continuing on many forested landscapes around the world and our understanding of ecosystem response is incomplete. Soil processes, especially nitrification, are critical. Many studies of soil N transformations have focused on identifying relationships within a single watershed but these results are often not transferable. We studied 10 small forested research watersheds in the northeastern USA to determine if there were common factors related to soil ammonification and nitrification. Vegetation varied between mixed northern hardwoods and mixed conifers. Watershed surface soils (Oa or A horizons) were sampled at grid or transect points and analyzed for a suite of chemical characteristics. At each sampling point, vegetation and topographic metrics (field and GIS-based) were also obtained. Results were examined by watershed averages ( n = 10), seasonal/watershed averages ( n = 28), and individual sampling points ( n = 608). Using both linear and tree regression techniques, the proportion of conifer species was the single best predictor of nitrification rates, with lower rates at higher conifer dominance. Similar to other studies, the soil C/N ratio was also a good predictor and was well correlated with conifer dominance. Unlike other studies, the presence of Acer saccharum was not by itself a strong predictor, but was when combined with the presence of Betula alleghaniensis. Topographic metrics (slope, aspect, relative elevation, and the topographic index) were not related to N transformation rates across the watersheds. Although found to be significant in other studies, neither soil pH, Ca nor Al was related to nitrification. Results showed a strong relationship between dominant vegetation, soil C, and soil C/N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotope signatures in soil-derived N03 provide an opportunity for environmental source tracing, but rapid changes in N transformation rates caused by sampling disturbance may create an artifact in the signature of extracted N03. To study this, we measured net nitrification and ammonification rates and the ~`5N and ~18Q of N03 in soils from a water- shed in Camels Hump State Forest, Vermont, known to be sensitive to sampling disturbance. Eleven Oa and one A horizon samples (C/N ratio 15-25, pH 3.3-4.2) had N03 extracted for isotope analysis approximately 30 mm after sampling and again after a 2- to 3-d incuba- tion period at 10°C. Net nitrification rates during incubation were rapid and linear (0.9- 15.3 pmol L1 soil h'), with increases in N03 detectable within 1 h after sampling. The ~15N and ~18O of soil N03 changed dramatically between field extraction and extraction after the incubation period. Soils that were initially relatively enriched in 615N03 became more depleted after incubation, as much as l3.5%o lighter. Soils that were initially relatively depleted in 6'5N03 became more enriched after incubation, as much as 16.5%o heavier. The latter had high net nitrification rates and low final NH4~ concentrations, probably caus- ing the enrichment of 15N in N03 due to a diminishing substrate pool. The 6180 of soil N03 showed little change during incubation and changes were not significantly related to changes in the 15N of N03, suggesting that denitrification was not a primary mechanism. Added enriched 15NH4CI (11 l.9%o) was rapidly incorporated into the soil N03 pool in a pattern supportive of a mechanism due to increased nitrification rates. Soil sampling disturbance can dramatically alter the isotopic signature of soil N03, and the isotopic signature of extracted N03 may not be a reliable environmental tracer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic trends in surface water chemistry and leaf tissue nutrients may reflect gradients of nutrient limitation and broad-scale anthropogenic inputs. In 24 rain-fed (ombrotrophic) peatland bogs in Massachusetts and Vermont, we measured nutrient and metal concentrations in pore-water and in leaf tissues of three common bog plant genera - leather leaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), northern pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), and peat moss (Sphagnum spp.). The concentrations of N, P, and K were low in leaf tissues of all three plant genera, as were the concentrations of many trace heavy metals, including Cr, Cu, Co, Cd, Mo, and Pb. Stoichiometric ratios of macronutrients (N:P, P:K, and N:K) in plant leaves suggested that plant growth in the sampled bogs was limited by P, or was co-limited by all three macronutrients. N:P and N:K nutrient ratios of Sarracenia purpurea and Sphagnum spp. increased toward the northwest and with elevation, but stoichiometric ratios of Chamaedaphne calyculata did not show any clear geographic trends. A principal components analysis revealed additional distinct differences among the three plant genera in their nutrient and metal concentrations. Furthermore, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), Cu, Mg, NO3, Al, and K in porewater increased from the northwest (northwestern Vermont) to the southeast (Cape Cod and eastern Massachusetts near Boston), a gradient of increasing human population density and urbanization. In contrast, pore-water concentrations of SO4 and Al were highest in the western sites, and SO4 concentrations increased with elevations. These patterns may reflect atmospheric inputs from the Ohio River Valley leading to increased acidic deposition, causing AI to be leached from soils. Because bogs are naturally low in nutrients and do not receive substantial inputs from surrounding groundwater, the chemical signatures and nutrient stoichiometry of specific bog plant species or genera may provide useful indicators for assessing spatiotemporal changes in atmospheric deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wetlands are major sources of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases released during microbial degradation. Despite the fact that decomposition is mainly driven by bacteria and fungi, little is known about the taxonomic diversity of bacterial communities in wetlands, particularly Sphagnum bogs. To explore bacterial community composition, 24 bogs in Vermont and Massachusetts were censused for bacterial diversity at the surface (oxic) and 1 m (anoxic) regions. Bacterial diversity was characterized by a terminal restriction fragment length (T-RFLP) fingerprinting technique and a cloning strategy that targeted the 16S rRNA gene. T-RFLP analysis revealed a high level of diversity, and a canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated marked similarity among bogs, but consistent differences between surface and subsurface assemblages. 16S rDNA sequences derived from one of the sites showed high numbers of clones belonging to the Deltaproteobacteria group. Several other phyla were represented, as well as two Candidate Division-level taxonomic groups. These data suggest that bog microbial communities are complex, possibly stratified, and similar among multiple sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace metal accumulation by Mn in synthetic oxides and soil nodules has been attributed to specific adsorption and oxidation at Mn oxide surfaces, yet little is known about trace metal interactions with Mn in bulk soil. We investigated competitive effects of trace metal pretreatment on Cr oxidation in well-aerated, high-Mn soils, as well as accumulation of added Pb, Co, and Cu by soil Mn using microfocused synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (µSXRF). Short-term equilibrations of divalent Mn, Co, Pb, Cu, and Ni with soil samples weighed to contain equivalent amounts of NH2OH·HCl-extractable Mn resulted in substantial interference in Cr oxidation, confirming metal interactions with Cr-oxidizing sites on Mn oxide surfaces. Interference by Cu and Pb was greatest in samples likely to be low in competing sorbents, that is, low-pH soils and smaller samples of higher Mn soils, respectively. Strongest interference in Cr oxidation resulted from Mn and Co addition, suggesting specific affinity for soil Mn oxide surfaces, and was greatest in high-pH, high-Mn-valence soils previously shown to have the greatest Cr oxidation capacity. Nickel showed the weakest effect. Micro-SXRF scans revealed substantial spatial correlation of soil Mn with added Co and Pb, but Pb microdistribution was equally correlated with soil Fe. Only modest overlap of soil Mn with added Cu was observed. Our data suggest that specific affinity of Pb, Cu, and Ni for soil Mn oxides was weaker than that of Mn and Co. Higher Mn oxide valence may enhance sorption and subsequent oxidation of these oxidizable metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high, degree of reactivity, Mn oxides in soil systems may exert a greater influence on trace metal chemistry than that suggested by their relatively low abundance. In particular, Mn is the only known oxidizer of trivalent Cr in soils. We investigated soil properties that influence the Cr oxidizing capacity of Mn oxides in eight well-aerated high Mn soils. Total and easily reducible Mn abundance were quantified by extraction with 1.5 M NH2OH-HCl and 0.02 M hydroquinone. Relative average Mn oxidation state in soil samples was determined by x-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (Mn-XANES) main edge energy position. Soils ranged in percentage of NH2OH-HCl-extractable Mn between 0.14 and 1.27, pH between 4.4 and 7.2, and percentage of C between 9.0 and 27.2. Manganese- XANES spectra showed that most of the study soils had a high Mn(IV)/Mn(III) ratio with edge energy position intermediate to that of a synthetic birnessite and a synthetic pyrolusite. In these high Mn soils, Mn-XANES edge energy was positively correlated with soil pH, suggesting a linear increase, over the normal range of soil pH, in the Mn(IV)/Mn(III) ratio of soil oxides. Soils with more total reducible Mn generally demonstrated greater net Cr(VI) production, but this pattern was moderated by soil pH and relative Mn oxidation state. High Mn soils with low pH and Mn oxidation state were weaker Cr oxidizers than their Mn abundance would suggest. Our data provide evidence that greater Mn abundance and greater Mn(IV)/Mn(III) ratio in soil Mn oxides enhances Cr oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the periareolar injection of technetium 99m sulfur colloid to identify axillary sentinel nodes and compare the number of sentinel lymph nodes identified with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to intraoperative biopsy using a handheld gamma probe. A total of 104 consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer participated in this prospective study, with 81 patients receiving an intradermal periareolar injection and 23 patients receiving an intradermal peritumoral injection of filtered technetium 99m sulfur colloid. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was performed for sentinel node mapping and localization. In addition to selective sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection was performed on all patients to determine false-negative rates. Routine histologic staining was performed on all identified nodes, along with immunohistochemical staining of sentinel nodes negative on initial routine staining. With an intradermal periareolar injection, the sentinel node identification rate was 91.4% (74/81), axillary metastatic rate 35.1% (26/74), sentinel node positive only 61.5% (16/26), and false negative 3.8% (1/26). With an intradermal peritumoral injection, the sentinel node identification rate was 91.3% (21/23), axillary metastatic rate 42.9% (9/21), sentinel node positive only 88.9% (8/9), and false negative 0% (0/9). A total of 241 sentinel nodes were identified with biplanar lymphoscintigraphy and 173 sentinel nodes were harvested during surgery, yielding a 28.2% increase in sentinel nodes identified with lymphoscintigraphy. This study demonstrates that intradermal periareolar injection of filtered technetium 99m sulfur colloid is successful in identifying axillary sentinel nodes with a low false-negative rate. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy aids in the identification and surgical planning of sentinel node biopsy and provides an objective measure of surgical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details a series of experiments illustrating the extent of net nitrification increases in the Brush Brook watershed in Vermont. Small-scale impact disturbance in the field resulting in a tripling of nitric oxide concentrations after a two-week incubation; Ammonium concentrations increasing over the first ten hours.

The incidence of metachronous colorectal cancer has been reported to be 1 to 5 percent, with most of the cases being discovered within ten years of the initial cancer. A retrospective review of all colorectal cancer patients was conducted at the Southern Illinois University Affiliated Hospitals to determine the incidence of metachronous colorectal cancer at the authors' institution. In this study, a metachronous cancer was defined as a second colorectal primary occurring at least three years following discovery of the initial lesion. Between 1978 and 1984, there were 24 patients with metachronous colorectal cancer identified in an operative series of 707 patients for a frequency of 3.4 percent. These metachronous cancers were discovered at intervals ranging from 3 to 35 years. Sixteen (67%) metachronous lesions occurred 11 years of more after the original cancer. Synchronous or interval adenomatous colorectal polyps were noted in 17 (71 percent) of the patients. Thirteen of the metachronous cancers appeared in the right colon, while six were distributed throughout the transverse and descending colon, and five were in the rectosigmoid region. The incidence of late-appearing metachronous colorectal cancers and the propensity to occur in the right colon underscores the need for evaluation of the entire colon as part of lifelong follow-up of the colorectal cancer patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was undertaken into how headwater tributaries of Brush Brook, Vermont, could have average pH differences of almost two units (4.75 and 6.7). Sampling along four tributaries revealed that most of one tributary, below an area of seeps, had consistently higher pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+, and lower Al than other sites. Bedrock mapping showed numerous fractures in vicinity of the seeps. A portion of this tributary's watershed and a portion of an acid tributary's watershed were intensively mapped for soil depth. Sampling showed the widespread existence of dense basal till in the watershed of the acid tributary but none in that of the near-neutral stream. Lateral flow, found above the dense till, was chemically similar to that of the acid tributary and to solutions sampled from soil B horizons. There were no differences in the average pH of nonseep soils sampled from either watershed. Flow paths are hypothesized to be through the B horizons in the acid tributaries and from below the soil profile in the near-neutral tributary. The acid catchment should be more sensitive to environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the role of exchangeable hydrogen on the pH of spodosol Oa horizons. Chemistry of extremely acid Oa horizons; Relations between the pH in water or dilute salt solutions and soil characteristics; Differences in the chemical behavior of Oa horizons from geographical sites and vegetation types.

A response from the author of the article "Chemical and Morphological Distinctions between Vertical and Lateral Podzolization at Hubbard Brook" in the 2014 issue is presented.