THE INFLUENCE OF SOILS AND MICROCLIMATE ON VEGETATION OF FORESTED SLOPES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY

Soils, microclimate, and vegetation differed greatly between two contrasting northeast- and southwest-facing slopes in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky. Silt loam Shelocta soils had developed on the northeast slopes, while sandy loam Rigley soils had developed on the southwest slopes. Air temperature, through-fall, soil temperature, and the annual cycle of soil temperature fluctuations were all significantly greater on the southwest than on the northeast slope. Available soil moisture and relative humidity were greater on the northeast slope. Vegetation of the northeast slope was more diversified in numbers of species and tended towards the mixed mesophytic type including yellow poplar, basswood, and cucumber magnolia. The southwest slope supported a less diverse plant community with mixed oak and hickory as the dominant trees.