1University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5722
2University of Southern Maine, Department of Environmental Science, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME, 04038
3University of Southern Maine, Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME, 04104-9300
*E-mail: Langley@usm.maine.edu
The organic carbon content of soils is an important factor in the assessment of soil health. Soil organic matter (SOM) increases soil's ability to adsorb and transport essential plant nutrients; increases water holding capacity; and buffers against compaction. Increasing organic carbon levels in urban park soils, therefore, may result in soils requiring less maintenance, such as fertilization or seeding. The objective of this study was to assess variability of total organic carbon (TOC) in three urban parks in Portland, Maine, and to compare TOC levels in turf grass dominated areas of the park with soil properties and land use intensity. TOC levels varied between 40–50 g/kg, consistent with values found in other urban settings, and the park with the highest foot traffic volume had the lowest TOC values. There were no consistent significant relationships between the various soil properties and TOC, but there was a strong correlation between TOC and above ground biomass (R = 0.79) in one park. Thus, biomass left on-site through grounds management may represent the greatest potential to increase organic carbon in these urban park soils.
organic carbon, soil organic matter, urban soils, urban greenspace, urban soil management, park management, greenspace management
