Quantitative classification of soil nutrient regimes of some mesothermal Douglas-fir ecosystems

Previous attempts to classify nutrient regimes of forest soil have been qualitative evaluations utilizing vegetation and/or physiographic site characteristics, morphological soil properties, and parent material. The major objective of this study was to describe and classify the soil nutrient regimes (SNR) of some Pseudotsuga menziesii ecosystems on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The order of increasing variability for forest floor properties was pH(H₂0) <TC <TN <TS <TP <exMg <exCa <exK <exMn <minN. The order of increasing variability for mineral soil properties was pH(H₂0)=pH(CaC1₂) <TN <TC <exP = exMg <S0₄ <minN = exK <exCa