FOREST SOILS INTEREST GROUP
Program Description
The Forest Soils interest group in the School of Forest Resources is uniquely structured to provide a flexible
program covering many aspects of soil science and environmental studies. Students are involved in basic and applied
research relating to such topics as forest resources, restoration (see also the Restoration
Ecology and Environmental Horticulture interest group), and waste applications. Students are exposed to a variety of interests and perspectives
by drawing on the broad background of the soils faculty. Students will develop expertise in one or more fields of soil
science including management of forest soils, biosolids applications, soil chemistry, pedology, soil microbiology,
biogeochemical cycling, or phytoremediation. Course
work is flexible to cover the diversity of interests within the interest group.
Current Research
Forest soils research in the School of Forest Resources is conducted by individual faculty and is related to a
variety of environmental topics. Students are often hired as research assistants. Below are examples of the diverse
projects currently under study. Students interested in graduate work in forest soils are encouraged to contact
appropriate faculty members for complete information about current research areas.
- • Altering soils to encourage growth of target native plant communities
(Ewing)
- • Coarse woody debris decomposition and nutrient conservation
(Vogt, D.,
Edmonds)
- • Ecosystem restoration using blended residuals
(Brown)
- • Effects of organic amendments on soil quality
(Harrison)
- • Fate of nutrients and trace metals in soil amendments
(Brown,
Zabowski)
- • Influence of forest edges on fruiting of mycorrhizal fungi
(Edmonds)
- • Land-use legacy effects on soil carbon and nitrogen
(Vogt, D.)
- • Long-term productivity of forest soils
(Harrison,
Zabowski,
Vogt, D.)
- • Nutrient cycling in an old-growth forest watershed, Olympic Peninsula, WA.
(Edmonds)
- • Phytoremediation and groundwater remediation
(Strand)
- • Recycling waste materials in forest ecosystems
(Hinckley,
Harrison)
- • Soil carbon quantity and composition
(Zabowski)
- • Soil modification for native plant restoration and weed suppression
(Ewing)
- • Tropical soils
(Vogt, D.,
Harrison)
- • Whole tree and stand water use
(Hinckley)
- • Wildfire effects on soils, soil nutrients, soil organisms
(Zabowski,
Edmonds)
- • Using plants and bacteria as green solutions to polluted soil and water
(Strand)
For current funded grants in this interest group, click here.
| Faculty | Areas of Interest |
|
Sally Brown
| In situ remediation of soils; Use of biosolids; Phytoremediation of heavy metals |
|
Robert Edmonds
| Forest soil microbiology; Biology of forest diseases; Air pollution |
|
Kern Ewing
| Wetland plant ecology; Restoration ecology |
|
Robert Harrison
| Forest nutrition; mineral cycling; long-term forest productivity; organic waste utilization; carbon sequestration |
|
Thomas Hinckley
| Woody plant ecophysiology; Stress and carbon physiology; Subalpine-alpine systems; Old-growth to plantations; Mountain communities |
|
Stuart Strand
| Phytoremediation; Joint apppointment; primary appointment in College of Engineering |
|
Daniel Vogt
| Soil and ecosystem ecology; Natural, disturbed, and sustainable ecosystems |
|
Darlene Zabowski
| Forest soils and soil genesis and classification; Biogeochemical cycling of forest soils |
For further information:
Interest Group Coordinator: Dr. Darlene Zabowski
School of Forest Resources
Box 352100
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-2100
email zabow@u.washington.edu;FAX 206-685-3091; Phone 206-685-9550
For admissions packet:
Office of Student Services
School of Forest Resources
Box 352100
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-2100
email sfradv@u.washington.edu; FAX 206-685-0790; Phone 206-543-7081