Soil/Abiotic Data	Site 1	Site 2
pH Level	5.6	4.7
Soil Moisture Content	20.4 %	10.9 %
Organic Content	14.2 %	1.8 %
Air Temperature	10 °C	8 °C
Soil Temperature	4 °C	10 °C

      There were great differences found between site one and site two abiotic information collected. The pH level of the soil at site two was more acidic than the pH level at site one due to the coniferous trees located at site two. The pine needles are acidic, these evergreen needles decomposing on the forest floor leave a layer of black, acidic humus which is called peat. When the rain falls in these types of forest it causes the acidity in the needles to seep down and leach the nutrients away from the trees roots and other shrubs and herbs in the area. 

     There was a higher percentage of moisture content at site one compared to site two, this was because of the large amount of shade provided by a naturally regrown forest compared to a planted forest. The sun was not able to dry up the rain at site one the way that it could at site two. 

     The higher organic content found at site one compared to site two was due to the trimming and clearing of branches done at site two. The air temperature at site one was two degrees warmer then the air temperature of site two, this is most likely due to the larger quantity of leaves and branches blocking the wind through the forest. The soil temperature was also looked at and found to be six degrees higher at site two compared to site one. The higher temperature is due to the amount of shade that is provided by the natural regrowth at site one compared to the maintained replanted forest at site two.

Back

Home Join Protocol Enter Data E-pals Research