1977), or to an inhibition of the nitrifiers by mineral 

 salts released during the fire (Heilman 1975). 



The steady decrease in available N levels during the 

 winter and spring months may be attributed to immobiliza- 

 tion and denitrification reactions by the soil microflora, 

 as well as NO3 leaching by snowmelt. Increased NO3 

 concentrations were found in subsurface soil water and in 

 an adjacent stream, but the amounts lost were too low to 

 affect site productivity (Stark 1979). 



Higher levels of available soil N found after prescribed 

 fire may be beneficial for subsequent regeneration (Wells 

 and others 1979), although the potential effects of this 

 added N would appear to be of short duration. Available 

 soil N levels on the clearcut-burned site were comparable 

 to the untreated stand by the next fall following the fire. 

 However, increased organic matter mineralization in the 

 spring, coupled with reduced N uptake due to tree 

 removal, could enhance available N supplies in the early 

 part of the growing season on this site for at least several 

 years. 



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