Subject: Did the El Nino rains in June leach out the nitrogen from the soil?
From: "dhs" <dhs@mit.edu>
Organization: Massachvsetts Institvte of Technology
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 98 22:03:35
Message-ID: <MOD$980923.14391@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
We had 13 inches of rain in June here in Massachusetts, and a lot before
too... The sugar maples in particular, have smallish leaves, sometimes
1/3rd of the normal size. The leaves here are usually out mid may, and they
continue to grow in June. I have heard as an explanation that the rains of
May and June leached out the nitrogen from the soil, and it is the lack of
nitrogen which causes this small size. I also have heard that the lack of
sun stunted the leaf growth, which didn;t catch up. Both could be true, but
is it really possible that El Nino rains leach the nitrogen from the soil?
I can hardly believe it!
Doubtful in MA Lisa