We can begin by looking at the soil. The forest soil contains nutrients, many microorganisms, tiny creatures that feed on and break down the leaf litter, and somewhat larger creatures such as salamanders that are important parts of the food web. The way trees are harvested can affect all of these components. For example, scientists at the USDA Forest Experiment Station in Durham, N.H., analyzed data from six different sites in the eastern United States, including sites in Maine and New Hampshire. Magnesium and potassium are also in danger of depletion.
Nutrients also leach from the soil after it is exposed by clear-cutting.
The level of organic matter in the soil is important for nutrient cycling, water-holding ability, and other properties important for plant growth. In addition to nutrient loss, research at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire showed that aluminum ions in levels toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms were released into streamwaters draining clearcut sites. These effects on water chemistry persisted for three to four years after the harvest. Unfortunately, some of the large industrial landowners are making extensive use of this method of harvest. Champion International for example, is using whole-tree clearcutting on short rotations on forty percent of its lands in Maine, or approximately 360,000 acres.