Current Research

My work supports the research of Research Soil Scientist Dr. Debbie Dumroese. Current efforts are focused on evaluating soil properties and recovery following slash pile burning, a common way to remove excess biomass after harvest. An alternative to slash burning is pyrolysis which produces a char product which has potential as a soil amendment. Debbie's field trials are investigating the effect of biochar amendments on the physical, chemical and biological properties of forest soils and in the recovery of decommissioned forest roads. As part of ongoing studies, I also analyze soils and vegetation from the Long Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) sites in Region 1 (Priest River EF), Region 4 (Council RD) and Region 6 (Umpqua NF) to enhance their respective long term data sets and evaluate soil condition over time. We continue to examine decomposition under different site conditions and management practices. In 2012., we collaborated with the Northern Research Station to install a number of urban field sites which will characterize microbial processes in these unique forest fragments. My analytical work produces data for University of Idaho graduate students working with the Inland Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative (IFTNC) and pursuing forest nursery studies, and also supports the research of other FWE, GSD and AWAE scientists.

Research Interests

I find soil fascinating, not just it's physical and chemical properties but the fact that it is alive with organisms that cycle and recycle nutrients.

Past Research

My past work was directed by Research Plant Pathologist Dr. Paul Zambino and involved the greenhouse cultivation of various Ribes species and inoculation of their leaves with White Pine Blister Rust (WPBR). I assisted Paul with his research on the preservation and storage of WPBR spores and his research of Armillaria root rot and his efforts to induce fruiting of differrent Armillaria cultures. My graduate thesis work focused on mycorrhizal inoculations of pine seedlings in a bare root nursery while my graduate research assistantship focused on wetland soil response to management.

Why This Research is Important

When the soil is viewed as a living entity, we can understand that there are conditions necessary to keep it functioning, healthy and productive.  By studying the soil and the impacts that certain management activities or practices have on it and its recovery, we can help sustain the productivity of the forests.  Forest soil is highly heterogeneous and it has the ability to support diverse populations of microorganisms that function together to sustain the flora growing in and above it.

Education

• Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ, B.A. Linguistics 1992
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton, B.S. Biological Sciences 1998
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton, M.S. Forestry Sciences 2001

Professional Experience

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Jurgensen, Martin; Abbott, Ann; Rice, Tom; Tirocke, Joanne; Farley, Sue; DeHart, Sharon. 2006. Monitoring Changes in Soil Quality from Post-fire Logging in the Inland Northwest.
• Rippy, Raini C.; Stewart, Jane E.; Zambino, Paul J.; Klopfenstein, Ned B.; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Kim, Mee-Sook; Thies, Walter G. 2005. Root diseases in coniferous forests of the Inland West: potential implications of fuels treatments.

Publications

• James, Jason ; Page-Dumroese, Deborah ; Busse, Matt ; Palik, Brian ; Zhang, Jianwei ; Eaton, Bob ; Slesak, Robert ; Tirocke, Joanne ; Kwon, Hoyoung . 2021. Effects of forest harvesting and biomass removal on soil carbon and nitrogen: Two complementary meta-analyses.
• Lalande, Bradley ; Abdo, Zaid ; Hanna, John W.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Warwell, Marcus V; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Kim, Mee-Sook ; Klopfenstein, Ned B.; Stewart, Jane E. 2019. Metagenomic approaches to determine soil microbial communities associated with Armillaria root disease.
• Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Jurgensen, Martin F.; Miller, Chris A.; Pickens, James B.; Tirocke, Joanne M. 2019. Wildfire alters belowground and surface wood decomposition on two national forests in Montana, USA.
• Wang, Weiwei ; Page‑Dumroese, Deborah ; Jurgensen, Martin ; Tirocke, Joanne ; Liu, Yong . 2018. Effect of forest thinning and wood quality on the short-term wood decomposition rate in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation.
• Blanco, Juan A.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Jurgensen, Martin F.; Curran, Michael P.; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Walitalo, Joanna. 2018. Modelling the management of forest ecosystems: Importance of wood decomposition.
• Page-Dumroese, D. S.; Ott, M. R.; Strawn, D. G.; Tirocke, J. M. 2018. Using organic amendments to restore soil physical and chemical properties of a mine site in northeastern Oregon, USA.
• Jurgensen, Martin F.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Brown, Robert E.; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Miller, Chris A.; Pickens, James B.; Wang, Min. 2017. Estimating carbon and nitrogen pools in a forest soil: Influence of soil bulk density methods and rock content.
• Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Busse, Matt D.; Overby, Steven T.; Gardner, Brian D.; Tirocke, Joanne M. 2015. Impacts of forest harvest on active carbon and microbial properties of a volcanic ash cap soil in northern Idaho.
• Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Jain, Terrie; Sandquist, Jonathan E.; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Errecart, John; Jurgensen, Martin F. 2015. Reburns and their Impact on carbon pools, site productivity, and recovery Chapter 13.
• Page-Dumroese, D. S.; Robichaud, P. R.; Brown, R. E.; Tirocke, J. M. 2015. Water repellency of two forest soils after biochar addition.
• Ross-Davis, Amy L.; Stewart, Jane E.; Hanna, John W.; Shaw, John D.; Hudak, Andrew T.; Jain, Theresa B.; Denner, Robert J.; Graham, Russell T.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Tirocke, Joanne M.; Kim, Mee-Sook; Klopfenstein, Ned B. 2014. Forest soil microbial communities: Using metagenomic approaches to survey permanent plots.
• Han, Han-Sup; Page-Dumroese, Debbie; Han, Sang-Kyun; Tirocke, Joanne. 2006. Effects of slash, machine passes, and soil moisture on penetration resistance in a cut-to-length harvesting.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
RMRS-2017-201	Restoring abandoned mine soil with organic amendments Restoring abandoned mine sites with no environmental hazard or chemical contamination can be expensive because of the inhospitable (hot, dry) en ...	2017