Mineral Nutrient Pool and Cycling in a Missouri Forest

This paper reports on part of an investigation of the composition, structure, productivity, biomass and nutrient cycling in an oak-hickory forest in the Ashland Wildlife Area (AWA) in central Missouri, U.S.A. The study area has been described in previous papers (Rochow 1972, 1974a). Much of the soil consists of 'steep stoney land' derived mainly from limestone on 7-23? slopes or Weldon soils derived mainly from loess on 2-5? slopes. The main forest-type is dominated by Quercus alba L.; however, the steeper slopes and bottomlands are composed of various tree species depending on the aspect. Estimates of biomass, productivity and litter fall have already been published (Rochow 1974a, b). Estimates are presented here for the amounts of macro-nutrients in the above-ground standing crop and for some of the rates of cycling in the ecosystem.