# Soil Moisture and vegetation cover patterns after logging and burning an old-growth Douglas-fir forest in the Andrews Experimental Forest, 1960-1983

## Dataset

- **Database Code:** SP002

- **Title:** Soil Moisture and vegetation cover patterns after logging and burning an old-growth Douglas-fir forest in the Andrews Experimental Forest, 1960-1983

- **Abstract:**

This soil moisture study was initiated in 1960 to investigate the effects of patch clearcut logging and slash burning (1962-63) in an old-growth Douglas-fir forest in the Oregon Cascade Range. Since soil moisture and vegetation sampling continued regularly until 1980, this is a unique data set that represents nearly two decades of post-treatment information.

Plant cover exerts a profound influence on soil moisture levels through its effects on interception, infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration. In the Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, clearcut logging and slash burning are common practices that can dramatically alter plant cover and soil moisture. Logging can increase soil moisture by temporarily reducing cover and associated water use, and burning may further augment soil moisture levels by suppressing the survival and regrowth of vegetation. Indeed, part of the rationale for slash burning in the region is to control shrubs and other vegetation that would otherwise compete with conifer seedlings for available moisture, light, and nutrients. Within a few years after burning, however, invading vegetation may deplete soil moisture to levels comparable to forested areas. Such observations point to the value of long-term information to better understand dynamic soil moisture and plant cover responses to forest practices.


- **Keywords:** interception; water content; trophic structure; soil moisture; water balance; analytical tools; neutron probe; disturbance; evapotranspiration; clearcutting; inorganic nutrients; vegetation; Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER); gavimetric sampling; moisture stress; disturbance; inorganic nutrients

- **Temporal coverage:** 1960-04-18 to 1983-11-21

- **Principal Investigator:** Alfred B. Levno


## Data Entities

1. SP00201
2. SP00202
3. SP00203
4. SP00204
5. SP00205
6. SP00206

## Entity 1: SP00201

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  1.0000  1.0000, number

Entity number


- **SITECODE** — varchar, enum

Site code

  - **WS03** — Andrews watershed 3: clearcut L141, forest NW of L141


- **DATE** — datetime, freetext

Date of measurement


- **DEPTH** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.5000  3.0000, feet

Soil depth


- **PLOT1** — numeric(0.100000), range  9.6000  63.7000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 1


- **PLOT2** — numeric(0.100000), range  9.4000  66.7000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 2


- **PLOT3** — numeric(0.100000), range  7.7000  61.7000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 3


- **PLOT4** — numeric(0.100000), range  8.6000  62.4000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 4


- **PLOT5** — numeric(0.100000), range  9.9000  50.8000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 5


- **PLOT6** — numeric(0.100000), range  6.9000  48.6000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 6


- **PLOT8** — numeric(0.100000), range  6.9000  57.4000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 8


- **PLOT9** — numeric(0.100000), range  7.8000  66.7000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 9


- **PLOT10** — numeric(0.100000), range  8.6000  61.7000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 10


- **PLOT11** — numeric(0.100000), range  6.6000  52.8000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 11


- **PLOT12** — numeric(0.100000), range  5.7000  48.8000, percent

Moisture content of soil at plot 12


## Entity 2: SP00202

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  2.0000  2.0000, number

Entity number


- **PLOTCODE** — varchar, enum

Specifies if sample from plots 2-6 (forest) or plots 8-12 (clearcut)

  - **1** — Plots 2-6, in forest
  - **2** — Plots 8-12, in clearcut


- **DATE** — datetime, freetext

Date of measurement


- **STEMP061** — numeric(1.000000), range  31.0000  68.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=.5 ft


- **STEMP062** — numeric(1.000000), range  30.0000  67.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=.5 ft


- **STEMP063** — numeric(1.000000), range  30.0000  73.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, depth=.5 ft


- **STEMP064** — numeric(1.000000), range  29.0000  69.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=.5 ft


- **STEMP065** — numeric(1.000000), range  28.0000  64.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=.5 ft


- **STEMP181** — numeric(1.000000), range  31.0000  69.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=1.5 ft


- **STEMP182** — numeric(1.000000), range  30.0000  68.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=1.5 ft


- **STEMP183** — numeric(1.000000), range  31.0000  72.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, deplth=1.5 ft


- **STEMP184** — numeric(1.000000), range  30.0000  66.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=1.5 ft


- **STEMP185** — numeric(1.000000), range  31.0000  70.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=1.5 ft


- **STEMP361** — numeric(1.000000), range  29.0000  65.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=3.0 ft


- **STEMP362** — numeric(1.000000), range  29.0000  63.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=3.0 ft


- **STEMP363** — numeric(1.000000), range  28.0000  64.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, depth=3.0 ft


- **STEMP364** — numeric(1.000000), range  29.0000  61.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=3.0 ft


- **STEMP365** — numeric(1.000000), range  34.0000  64.0000, degrees Fahrenheit

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=3.0 ft


## Entity 3: SP00203

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  3.0000  3.0000, number

Entity number


- **DATE** — datetime, freetext

Date of measurement


- **TRANS1A** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  20.8200, inches

Forest raingage A


- **TRANS1B** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  14.3800, inches

Forest raingage B


- **TRANS1C** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  8.4800, inches

Forest raingage C


- **TRANS1D** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  10.5000, inches

Forest raingage D


- **TRANS1E** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  5.9400, inches

Forest raingage E


- **TRANS2A** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  14.9300, inches

Clearcut raingage A


- **TRANS2B** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  14.8200, inches

Clearcut raingage B


- **TRANS2C** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  8.8200, inches

Clearcut raingage C


- **TRANS2D** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  6.9700, inches

Clearcut raingage D


- **TRANS2E** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  5.6700, inches

Clearcut raingage E


- **CLIMATE2** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0200  144.0000, inches

Climatic Station #2 raingage


- **FORKS** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0200  16.6000, inches

Forks raingage


- **MGAGE** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0300  16.4000, inches

M3 raingage (on M-road as part of early ws 1, 2, 3 rain network)


- **SITESRG** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  8.8000, inches

On site standard raingage (in plot 11) serves as standard for all soil moist ure plots


## Entity 4: SP00204

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  4.0000  4.0000, number

Entity number


- **YEAR** — datetime, freetext

Year of survey


- **VEGTYPE** — varchar, enum

Vegetation type

  - **1** — Herbaceous
  - **2** — Woody


- **SPECIES** — varchar, enum

Vegetation genus, species acronym according to Garrison et all., 1972

  - **ACCI** — Acer circinatum
  - **ANMA** — Anaphalis margaritacea
  - **ANDE** — Anemone deltoidea
  - **BENE** — Berberis nervosa
  - **CESA** — Ceanothus sanguineus
  - **CEVE** — Ceanothus velutinus
  - **CIRSI** — Cirsium
  - **CIAR** — Cirsium arvense
  - **CIBR** — Cirsium brevifolium
  - **CIVU** — Cirsium vulgare
  - **COLA** — Coptis laciniata
  - **COCA** — Cornus canadensis
  - **CONU** — Cornus nuttallii
  - **COCO** — Cotula coronopifolia
  - **DIFO** — Dicentra formosa
  - **EPILO** — Epilobium
  - **EPMI** — Epilobium minutum
  - **EPPA** — Epilobium paniculatum
  - **EPWA** — Epilobium watsonii
  - **FEOC** — Festuca occidentalis
  - **FRSP** — Frasera speciosa
  - **GATR** — Galium triflorum
  - **GASH** — Gaultheria shallon
  - **HIAL** — Hieracium albiflorum
  - **HODI** — Holodiscus discolor
  - **HYPE** — Hypericum perforatum
  - **LIBO** — Listera borealis
  - **LOMI** — Lotus micranthus
  - **LUCO** — Luzula comosa
  - **MAMA** — Madia madioides
  - **POMU** — Polystichum munitum
  - **PSME** — Pseudotsuga menziesii
  - **RHPU** — Rhamnus purshiana
  - **RHMA** — Rhododendron macrophyllum
  - **RISA** — Ribes sanguineum
  - **RULE** — Rubus leucodermis
  - **RUPA** — Rubus parviflorus
  - **RUUR** — Rubus ursinus
  - **SAMBU** — Sambucus
  - **SESY** — Senecio sylvaticus
  - **TABR** — Taxus brevifolia
  - **TRLA** — Trifolium latifolium
  - **TROV** — Trillium ovatum
  - **TSHE** — Tsuga heterophylla
  - **VAPA** — Vaccinium parvifolium
  - **WHMO** — Whipplea modesta
  - **CACH** — Castanopsis chrysophylla
  - **EPAN** — Epilobium angustifolium
  - **GNMI** — Gnaphalium microcephalum
  - **GRAMIN** — Gramin


- **COVER_8** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  41.2800, percent

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 8


- **COVER_9** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  72.5000, percent

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 9


- **COVER_10** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  66.5000, percent

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 10


- **COVER_11** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  45.0000, percent

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 11


- **COVER_12** — numeric(0.010000), range  0.0000  75.0000, percent

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 12


## Entity 5: SP00205

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  5.0000  5.0000, number

Entity number


- **YEAR** — datetime, freetext

Year of survey


- **PLOT** — numeric(1.000000), range  8.0000  12.0000, number

Macro plot number


- **PLOTQUAD** — varchar, enum

Plot quadrant (ne, nw, se, sw)

  - **NE** — Northeast quadrant of plot
  - **NW** — Northwest quadrant of plot
  - **SE** — Southeast quadrant of plot
  - **SW** — Southwest quadrant of plot


- **COVERTYPE** — varchar, enum

Cover type

  - **BG** — Bare ground
  - **LI** — Litter
  - **LO** — Logs
  - **MO** — Moss
  - **SL** — Slash
  - **SO** — Stones
  - **SU** — Stumps
  - **UN** — Unknown = % cover of herbaceous and some woody species on microplot (1964 - 1967 only) - probably best to recategorize as 'litter'.


- **COVER1** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 1


- **COVER2** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 2


- **COVER3** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 3


- **COVER4** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 4


- **COVER5** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 5


- **COVER6** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 6


- **COVER7** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 7


- **COVER8** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 8


- **COVER9** — numeric(1.000000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover in microplot 9


## Entity 6: SP00206

### Attribute list

- **STCODE** — varchar, enum

Study code

  - **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code


- **FORMAT** — numeric(1.000000), range  6.0000  6.0000, number

Entity number


- **YEAR** — datetime, freetext

Year of survey


- **COVERTYPE** — varchar, enum

Cover type

  - **BG** — Bare ground
  - **LI** — Litter
  - **LO** — Logs
  - **MO** — Moss
  - **SL** — Slash
  - **SO** — Stones
  - **SU** — Stumps
  - **UN** — Unknown = % cover of herbaceous and some woody species on microplot (1964 - 1967 only) - probably best to recategorize as 'litter'.


- **COVTYPE_8** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.0000  99.9000, percent

Percent cover type in plot 8


- **COVTYPE_9** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.0000  100.0000, percent

Percent cover type in plot 9


- **COVTYPE_10** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.0000  94.9000, percent

Percent cover type in plot 10


- **COVTYPE_11** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.0000  99.4000, percent

Percent cover type in plot 11


- **COVTYPE_12** — numeric(0.100000), range  0.0000  95.0000, percent

Percent cover type in plot 12


## Attribute Definitions

**CLIMATE2**

Climatic Station #2 raingage


**COVER1**

Percent cover in microplot 1


**COVER2**

Percent cover in microplot 2


**COVER3**

Percent cover in microplot 3


**COVER4**

Percent cover in microplot 4


**COVER5**

Percent cover in microplot 5


**COVER6**

Percent cover in microplot 6


**COVER7**

Percent cover in microplot 7


**COVER8**

Percent cover in microplot 8


**COVER9**

Percent cover in microplot 9


**COVERTYPE**

Cover type


**COVER_8**

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 8


**COVER_9**

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 9


**COVER_10**

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 10


**COVER_11**

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 11


**COVER_12**

Percent vegetation cover by species on plot 12


**COVTYPE_8**

Percent cover type in plot 8


**COVTYPE_9**

Percent cover type in plot 9


**COVTYPE_10**

Percent cover type in plot 10


**COVTYPE_11**

Percent cover type in plot 11


**COVTYPE_12**

Percent cover type in plot 12


**DATE**

Date of measurement


**DEPTH**

Soil depth


**FORKS**

Forks raingage


**FORMAT**

Entity number


**MGAGE**

M3 raingage (on M-road as part of early ws 1, 2, 3 rain network)


**PLOT**

Macro plot number


**PLOT1**

Moisture content of soil at plot 1


**PLOT2**

Moisture content of soil at plot 2


**PLOT3**

Moisture content of soil at plot 3


**PLOT4**

Moisture content of soil at plot 4


**PLOT5**

Moisture content of soil at plot 5


**PLOT6**

Moisture content of soil at plot 6


**PLOT8**

Moisture content of soil at plot 8


**PLOT9**

Moisture content of soil at plot 9


**PLOT10**

Moisture content of soil at plot 10


**PLOT11**

Moisture content of soil at plot 11


**PLOT12**

Moisture content of soil at plot 12


**PLOTCODE**

Specifies if sample from plots 2-6 (forest) or plots 8-12 (clearcut)


**PLOTQUAD**

Plot quadrant (ne, nw, se, sw)


**SITECODE**

Site code


**SITESRG**

On site standard raingage (in plot 11) serves as standard for all soil moist ure plots


**SPECIES**

Vegetation genus, species acronym according to Garrison et all., 1972


**STCODE**

Study code


**STEMP061**

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=.5 ft


**STEMP062**

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=.5 ft


**STEMP063**

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, depth=.5 ft


**STEMP064**

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=.5 ft


**STEMP065**

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=.5 ft


**STEMP181**

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=1.5 ft


**STEMP182**

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=1.5 ft


**STEMP183**

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, deplth=1.5 ft


**STEMP184**

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=1.5 ft


**STEMP185**

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=1.5 ft


**STEMP361**

Soil temperature at plot 2 or 8, depth=3.0 ft


**STEMP362**

Soil temperature at plot 3 or 9, depth=3.0 ft


**STEMP363**

Soil temperature at plot 4 or 10, depth=3.0 ft


**STEMP364**

Soil temperature at plot 5 or 11, depth=3.0 ft


**STEMP365**

Soil temperature at plot 6 or 12, depth=3.0 ft


**TRANS1A**

Forest raingage A


**TRANS1B**

Forest raingage B


**TRANS1C**

Forest raingage C


**TRANS1D**

Forest raingage D


**TRANS1E**

Forest raingage E


**TRANS2A**

Clearcut raingage A


**TRANS2B**

Clearcut raingage B


**TRANS2C**

Clearcut raingage C


**TRANS2D**

Clearcut raingage D


**TRANS2E**

Clearcut raingage E


**VEGTYPE**

Vegetation type


**YEAR**

Year of survey


## Enumerated Domains

### STCODE

- **SP002** — FSDB Database Study Code

### SITECODE

- **WS03** — Andrews watershed 3: clearcut L141, forest NW of L141

### PLOTCODE

- **1** — Plots 2-6, in forest

- **2** — Plots 8-12, in clearcut

### VEGTYPE

- **1** — Herbaceous

- **2** — Woody

### SPECIES

- **ACCI** — Acer circinatum

- **ANMA** — Anaphalis margaritacea

- **ANDE** — Anemone deltoidea

- **BENE** — Berberis nervosa

- **CESA** — Ceanothus sanguineus

- **CEVE** — Ceanothus velutinus

- **CIRSI** — Cirsium

- **CIAR** — Cirsium arvense

- **CIBR** — Cirsium brevifolium

- **CIVU** — Cirsium vulgare

- **COLA** — Coptis laciniata

- **COCA** — Cornus canadensis

- **CONU** — Cornus nuttallii

- **COCO** — Cotula coronopifolia

- **DIFO** — Dicentra formosa

- **EPILO** — Epilobium

- **EPMI** — Epilobium minutum

- **EPPA** — Epilobium paniculatum

- **EPWA** — Epilobium watsonii

- **FEOC** — Festuca occidentalis

- **FRSP** — Frasera speciosa

- **GATR** — Galium triflorum

- **GASH** — Gaultheria shallon

- **HIAL** — Hieracium albiflorum

- **HODI** — Holodiscus discolor

- **HYPE** — Hypericum perforatum

- **LIBO** — Listera borealis

- **LOMI** — Lotus micranthus

- **LUCO** — Luzula comosa

- **MAMA** — Madia madioides

- **POMU** — Polystichum munitum

- **PSME** — Pseudotsuga menziesii

- **RHPU** — Rhamnus purshiana

- **RHMA** — Rhododendron macrophyllum

- **RISA** — Ribes sanguineum

- **RULE** — Rubus leucodermis

- **RUPA** — Rubus parviflorus

- **RUUR** — Rubus ursinus

- **SAMBU** — Sambucus

- **SESY** — Senecio sylvaticus

- **TABR** — Taxus brevifolia

- **TRLA** — Trifolium latifolium

- **TROV** — Trillium ovatum

- **TSHE** — Tsuga heterophylla

- **VAPA** — Vaccinium parvifolium

- **WHMO** — Whipplea modesta

- **CACH** — Castanopsis chrysophylla

- **EPAN** — Epilobium angustifolium

- **GNMI** — Gnaphalium microcephalum

- **GRAMIN** — Gramin

### PLOTQUAD

- **NE** — Northeast quadrant of plot

- **NW** — Northwest quadrant of plot

- **SE** — Southeast quadrant of plot

- **SW** — Southwest quadrant of plot

### COVERTYPE

- **BG** — Bare ground

- **LI** — Litter

- **LO** — Logs

- **MO** — Moss

- **SL** — Slash

- **SO** — Stones

- **SU** — Stumps

- **UN** — Unknown = % cover of herbaceous and some woody species on microplot (1964 - 1967 only) - probably best to recategorize as 'litter'.