Aspect: 180 South
Slope Position: back slope
Temperature: 16 degree Celsius
Landform: cove
This site contains a variety of trees including: The chestnut oak, hickory, red maple, and the northern red oak. All these trees tend to grow in moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soil. Water from the runoff that flows from different directions off the back slope keeps the soil moist. Sunlight passes through the trees just enough so that the soil is not too moist which allows it to drain at a faster pace. Slightly acidic soil is needed because acid contains phosphorus, which at the right ph level (between 6.5 and 7), is dissolved by water and is soaked up by plant roots. This is important because phosphorus is one of three macronutrients plants need to thrive. The way the land is shaped, being blocked out by the opposite side of the cove which puts up some what of a wall, sets up the foundation for its moist, well-drained and acidic soil. Its back slope allows all the runoff water to move quickly, making the soil less acidic because the water is dissolving the acid, and the amount of sunlight allows it to drain faster. This being on the East facing part of the cove it is blocked out by the West facing end of cove and does not get beat down by sunlight, but still receives enough to let plants grow, as well as all of the nutrient run off from the other end of the cove.
Citation: http://organicgardening.about.com/od/soil/qt/What-Is-Acidic-Soil.htm
"What Is Acidic Soil?" About.com Organic Gardening. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
