Forest Nutrition & Fertilization
Optimizing Forest Nutrition for Sustainable Productivity
For more than two decades, I have investigated how Douglas-fir and western hemlock forests respond to nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and other nutrients across the Pacific Northwest. My research integrates field experiments, soil analyses, and statistical modeling to improve fertilizer recommendations and identify the site conditions that influence forest productivity. This work has contributed to operational fertilization practices and improved understanding of nutrient limitations in managed forests.
Long-Term Soil Productivity
Maintaining Soil Productivity Following Intensive Forest Management
As part of the Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) network, I have evaluated how organic matter removal, vegetation control, fertilization, and liming influence soil properties, nutrient cycling, and Douglas-fir growth over periods exceeding twenty years. These studies help forest managers balance timber production with long-term soil sustainability and ecosystem health.
Forest Soils & Site Productivity
Understanding the Soils that Support Productive Forests
My research examines how soil properties, parent materials, water availability, and climate interact to influence forest productivity. By combining field measurements with spatial analysis and predictive modeling, I have developed tools that help identify site productivity and improve management decisions throughout the coastal Pacific Northwest.
Climate Resilience & Water Availability
Forest Responses to Climate and Water Availability
Climate is becoming an increasingly important driver of forest productivity. My work has investigated relationships among soil water availability, drought, forest growth, and stable isotopes to better understand how Douglas-fir forests respond to changing environmental conditions and future climates.
Soil Health Monitoring
Measuring Soil Nutrient Availability
Accurate assessment of nutrient availability is essential for predicting forest growth. My research has evaluated innovative field techniques, including ion exchange membranes, for monitoring soil nutrient dynamics and improving our ability to assess fertilizer response and site productivity.
Forest Carbon & Ecosystem Processes
Forest Carbon Cycling and Ecosystem Function
My research has quantified biomass allocation, carbon storage, nutrient pools, and forest carbon dynamics under different management practices. Recent collaborations have also addressed global questions surrounding branch turnover and forest carbon accounting.
Statistical Modeling & Decision Support
Turning Complex Data into Better Decisions
I develop statistical models and analytical tools that help explain variation in forest productivity across landscapes. My work has included mixed-effects modeling, machine learning approaches, spatial analyses, and growth prediction models that support both scientific research and operational forest management.
