As fundamental elements of forest ecosystems, soils and hydrology are critical components in developing longterm strategies to ensure forest integrity and productivity. Topics in these areas include the dynamics and sustainability of nutrient capital, watershed management, stream and groundwater quality, and the distribution and function of forest communities, soils, and water in relation to landscape level processes.
The program in forest soils and hydrology at MSU focuses on understanding soil and hydrological principals and mechanisms, as well as on the classification and survey of forest lands based on integrated ecological factors and landscape processes. Training and research emphasize the design and improvement of sustainable management systems that protect biodiversity and environmental health. At MSU, research has ranged from assessing the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils in upland and wetland forests, to the role forests play in producing consistent yields of highquality water and minimizing erosion and pollution, to monitoring the risks of herbicide leaching in forest soils and groundwater.