Forest soil sulphur research was a continuing interest for Dr. Paul Sanborn for more than 30 years, beginning at UBC in the mid-1980s when he took a graduate course in Forest Soils from Dr. Tim Ballard. Among the things that he learned was that soils in much of BC were deficient in sulphur (S). Simultaneously, he became aware of the large amount of research on prescribed fire in BC forests, with broadcast burning being the main method of site preparation across much of the province at that time.
Sanborn undertook various projects in this area of research:
During a year away from studies in 1987-88, Dr. Paul Sanborn developed a successful grant proposal to the Science Council of BC (SCBC) to pursue a postdoctoral project with Dr. Tim Ballard in relation to sulphur-deficient soils in BC and prescribed fire. This project built on an existing broadcast burning study conducted by Macmillan Bloedel Ltd. near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, led by Bill Beese (later at Vancouver Island University). Dr. Sanborn's work addressed sulphur forms and amounts in the soils at these sites, and the chemical processes influencing sulphur availability in relation to prescribed fire.
Only one part of this work was eventually published:
Sanborn, P.T. and T.M. Ballard. 1991. Combustion losses of sulphur from conifer foliage: Implications of chemical form and soil nitrogen status. Biogeochemistry 12: 129–134.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001810
The remainder of the work was documented in this Project Completion Report to SCBC, dated February 28, 1990, and entitled "Effects of Prescribed Fire on Sulphur in Forest Soils".
During a year away from studies in 1987-88, Dr. Paul Sanborn developed a successful grant proposal to the Science Council of BC (SCBC) to pursue a postdoctoral project with Dr. Tim Ballard in relation to sulphur-deficient soils in BC and prescribed fire. This project built on an existing broadcast burning study conducted by Macmillan Bloedel Ltd. near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, led by Bill Beese (later at Vancouver Island University). Dr. Sanborn's work addressed sulphur forms and amounts in the soils at these sites, and the chemical processes influencing sulphur availability in relation to prescribed fire.
Only one part of this work was eventually published:
Sanborn, P.T. and T.M. Ballard. 1991. Combustion losses of sulphur from conifer foliage: Implications of chemical form and soil nitrogen status. Biogeochemistry 12: 129–134.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001810
The remainder of the work was documented in this Project Completion Report to SCBC, dated February 28, 1990, and entitled "Effects of Prescribed Fire on Sulphur in Forest Soils".
Thirty-four data files were selected for archival retention. There is some redundancy of content among these, with some formatted for incorporation as tables in the report appendices, and others containing some of the same data, but set up as input files for a statistics program. These account for almost all of the data listed in the Project Completion Report appendices. No glossary of variable names is provided, but these should be identifiable by referring to the Report.
Sanborn, P. and R. Brockley. 2005. Sulphur deficiencies in lodgepole pine: occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment. Ext. Note 71. B.C. Min. For., Res. Br., Victoria, B.C.
This document file "Cluculz Creek Fertilization Research Site.pdf" contains a field description and basic characterization data for a representative pedon at the E.P. 886.10 site.
Data sets associated with the Cluculz retrospective study (E.P. 886.10):
Unpublished results for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) were presented in annual reports to the funding agencies, including this FRBC 2001 Preliminary Final Report from April 2002.
Unpublished results for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) were presented in annual reports to the funding agencies, including this FII Final Report from April 2003.
Unpublished results for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) were presented in annual reports to the funding agencies, including this "Sulphur Fertilization of Lodgepole Pine: A Stable Isotope Tracer Study (Ministry of Forests E.P. 886.15) - Project Y051210 - Technical Report" from April 2005.
Unpublished results for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) were presented in annual reports to the funding agencies, including this Final Technical Report from April 2007.
Document is a BC Ministry of Forests update on proposed research for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) from March 1998.
Document is a research installation layout map for the Holy Cross Creek site of the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15).
Document is a research installation layout map for the Kenneth Creek site of the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15).
Data sets for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) include:
While at the Ministry of Forests, Dr. Paul Sanborn carried out two retrospective studies which examined soil chemical properties at long-term silvicultural research sites where different vegetation types had been created, either as planned or unplanned experiments. These studies were Experimental Project (EP) 660 and a research project at the Archie Creek site.