SOIL-MOISTURE STORAGE IN MATURE AND REPLANTED SUBHUMID BOREAL FOREST STANDS

Soil moisture profiles at two mature forest sites (Pine and Mixed-Wood ) and two plantations (1981 Pine and 1992 Mixedwood) in central Saskat chewan were studied in conjunction with soil properties, precipitation , interception and evapotranspiration. Sampling locations within each stand were chosen to highlight differences in soil moisture due to int erception, evapotranspiration and soil physical properties. Soil moist ure storage to I-m depth was greatest on the 92-Plantation where trans piration and interception of precipitation were less than the other si tes. Moisture storage in the 81-Plantation was similar to that in the mixed-wood stand. The Pine stand had the lightest textured soils and s tored least water to 1-m depth. Variability in moisture storage was al so observed within stands and was associated with canopy structure and density, water extraction patterns and mechanical site preparation. I n the furrows at the 92-Plantation, wet soils in combination with low infiltration rates and transpiration may have lead to the generation a nd channelling of rainfall runoff during a major rainfall event.