Version 1
: Received: 24 July 2023 / Approved: 24 July 2023 / Online: 25 July 2023 (05:41:28 CEST)
How to cite:
Khadka, S.; He, H.S.; Bardhan, S.; Khalyani, A.H. Identifying Spatial Pattern of White Oak (Quercus alba) Mortality and its Relationship with Soil Properties across the Eastern United States. Preprints2023, 2023071644. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1644.v1
Khadka, S.; He, H.S.; Bardhan, S.; Khalyani, A.H. Identifying Spatial Pattern of White Oak (Quercus alba) Mortality and its Relationship with Soil Properties across the Eastern United States. Preprints 2023, 2023071644. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1644.v1
Khadka, S.; He, H.S.; Bardhan, S.; Khalyani, A.H. Identifying Spatial Pattern of White Oak (Quercus alba) Mortality and its Relationship with Soil Properties across the Eastern United States. Preprints2023, 2023071644. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1644.v1
APA Style
Khadka, S., He, H.S., Bardhan, S., & Khalyani, A.H. (2023). Identifying Spatial Pattern of White Oak (Quercus alba) Mortality and its Relationship with Soil Properties across the Eastern United States. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1644.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Khadka, S., Sougata Bardhan and Azad Henareh Khalyani. 2023 "Identifying Spatial Pattern of White Oak (Quercus alba) Mortality and its Relationship with Soil Properties across the Eastern United States" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1644.v1
Abstract
White oak mortality is a significant concern in forest ecosystems due to its impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Understanding the factors influencing white oak mortality, particularly the soil properties, is crucial for effective forest management and conservation efforts. In this study, we aimed to investigate the spatial pattern of white oak mortality and examine the influence of soil properties on mortality rates. Multicycle Forest Inventory and Analysis data were compiled to capture all white oaks across the eastern US. White oak tree mortality data were collected across plot systems that utilized Diameter at Breast Height between two periods. Soil variables were analyzed to assess soil properties. Spatial analysis techniques, including geostatistics and regression modeling, were used to analyze the relationship between white oak mortality and soil characteristics. Results found clustered spatial patterns of white oak mortality across a broad scale depicting the significant effects of coarser soil textures (p = 0.00), nutrient-deficient sites, and extreme soil moisture levels (p <0.1). Our findings demonstrated the importance of soil properties in shaping the spatial pattern of white oak mortality rate. This idea can inform forest management practices for the conservation of white oak populations. Future research is needed for comprehensive soil assessment including biotic and abiotic factors for forest management strategies at a broader scale aimed at mitigating white oak mortality.
Keywords
white oak mortality; soil properties; soil moisture; spatial patterns; clustered
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
