scholarly journals Measuring changes in stress and vitality indicators in limed sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M Wargo ◽  
Rakesh Minocha ◽  
Betty L Wong ◽  
Robert P Long ◽  
Stephen B Horsley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
North Central ◽  
Tree Vitality ◽  
Molar Ratios ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Allegheny Plateau ◽  
Highly Correlated

A study established in 1985 in north-central Pennsylvania to determine effects of lime fertilization on declining sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) was evaluated in 1993 and showed that liming positively affected growth and crown vitality in sugar maple. This effect of lime on sugar maple offered an opportunity to assess other indicators of tree vitality and their response to lime additions. Foliar polyamines, starch and soluble sugars in root tissues, and cambial electrical resistance (CER) at breast height were evaluated. Foliar putrescine, soluble sugars, and CER decreased, while starch increased in lime-treated trees. Changes in these indicators were correlated with tree growth and crown vitality, which improved in limed plots. However, they were more highly correlated with lime-induced changes in foliar and soil elements and soil pH. Putrescine, soluble sugars, and CER decreased and starch increased, as Ca and Mg and molar ratios of Ca/Al and Mg/Mn increased and as Al and Mn decreased in both soil and foliage, and as soil pH increased. Results showed the beneficial effect of lime on tree vitality that was not reflected in visual assessments of crown vitality and demonstrated the potential utility of these physiological and biochemical measures as indicators of vitality in sugar maple.

scholarly journals Effects of Non-Industrial Wood Ash (NIWA) Applications on Soil Chemistry and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) Seedling Growth in an Acidic Sugar Bush in Central Ontario

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 693
Author(s):  
Holly D. Deighton ◽  
Shaun A. Watmough
Keyword(s):  
Forest Soil ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Chemistry ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Metal Concentrations

Research Highlights: In central Ontario, large quantities of non-industrial wood ash (NIWA) are generated and could be used as a forest soil amendment to counteract soil acidification and base cation depletion caused by decades of acid deposition. Background and Objectives: The properties and biogeochemical responses of NIWA have not been thoroughly explored, and field experiments must be conducted before NIWA can be regulated as a forest soil amendment in Ontario. Materials and Methods: In this study, soil chemistry and sugar maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) seedling growth and chemistry were measured in an acidic sugar bush over twelve months following a NIWA field experiment. Plots (2 m by 2 m) were established with sugar maple, white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) NIWA treatments applied at rates of 6 Mg ha−1 along with untreated control plots. Results: Ash chemistry varied significantly among species and yellow birch ash generally had much higher metal concentrations compared with other species. Following ash application, significant increases in soil pH and calcium and magnesium concentrations were observed, however the level of response varied by treatment. Foliar concentrations of base cations in sugar maple seedlings significantly increased in ash treatments and there was no significant treatment effect on foliar metal concentrations or seedling growth. In roots and shoots, concentrations of several metals (manganese, aluminum, iron, boron, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, chromium, and nickel) increased after ash application, however response was most pronounced in yellow birch ash. Conclusions: These results suggest that application of NIWA can counteract the lasting effects of acid rain by increasing soil pH and base cation concentrations, as well as increasing sugar maple seedling foliar nutrient concentrations, but ashes from species with high metal contents may also increase metal availability to vegetation, at least in the short-term.

Carbohydrate reserves in Acer saccharum trees damaged during the January 1998 ice storm in northern New York

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 668-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Wong ◽  
L J Staats ◽  
A S Burfeind ◽  
K L Baggett ◽  
A H Rye
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Ice Storm ◽  
High Concentrations

To assess the effect of the ice storm of January 1998 on sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) tree health, starch, and soluble sugars in twigs from two damaged sugarbushes (younger: trees 50–100 years old, and older: trees approximately 200 years old) in northern New York were measured throughout the leafless phase (September 1998 – May 1999). Trees severely damaged by the ice storm exhibited signs of recovery during the first growth season (1998), that is, greater numbers of lateral (epicormic) shoots and increased wood production in the current year growth ring of branches at mid-crown, and high concentrations of starch in the twigs at the time of leaf drop. Differences in reserve and soluble sugar profiles between damaged and slightly damaged or undamaged sugar maple trees and between trees of the older sugarbush and those of the younger sugarbush indicate changes in cold season physiology of damaged trees in adapting to or tolerating cold temperature. In damaged trees of the younger and older sugarbushes, the profiles of sucrose, stachyose, raffinose, and xylose were similar to those of corresponding slightly damaged or undamaged trees throughout the cold season, except for late winter sucrose, glucose, and fructose profiles, which exhibited differences in concentration and profile configurations compared with respective slightly damaged or undamaged trees. A lower concentration of sucrose in damaged older tree wood tissue after dehardening in late winter and a lower concentration of "resynthesized" starch just prior to vernal growth were observed. The data indicate that the profiles of individual sugars can provide information on changes in physiological and biochemical processes in damaged trees during the cold season.Key words: starch, sucrose, glucose, fructose, raffinose, stachyose.

Thirty-year effects of liming on soil and foliage chemistry and growth of northern hardwoods in Pennsylvania, USA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Long ◽  
Scott W. Bailey ◽  
Stephen B. Horsley ◽  
Thomas J. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Lime Treatment ◽  
Sustained Effect ◽  
Foliage Chemistry ◽  
Allegheny Plateau

The longevity of a single 22.4 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup> application of dolomitic limestone at four northern hardwood stands was evaluated over thirty years (1986-2016) to determine whether changes in soils, foliage, and tree growth were sustained on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau in northern Pennsylvania, USA. In limed plots, soils, sampled to 45-55 cm depth, and sugar maple (<i>Acer saccharum</i> Marsh.) and black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i> Ehrh.) foliage had significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) greater concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) through 2016 compared with samples from unlimed plots. Calcium and Mg capitals (g m<sup>-2</sup>) in the Oi through A horizon combined were greater on limed plots than unlimed plots, largely due to increases in the thickness and nutrient concentration in the A horizon. Over 30-years, sugar maple basal area increment (cm<sup>2</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> BAINC) ) was greater in limed plots, American beech (<i>Fagus grandifolia</i> Ehrh.) BAINC was unaffected, and black cherry BAINC was reduced in limed plots compared with unlimed plots. The sustained effect of this one-time lime treatment shows the strong role of efficient nutrient cycling in forests and suggests that the benefits over a substantial portion of a stand rotation may increase the feasibility of operational liming.

Influence of nutrition and stress on sugar maple at a regional scale

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2235-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A Hallett ◽  
Scott W Bailey ◽  
Stephen B Horsley ◽  
Robert P Long
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Nutritional Factor ◽  
Decline Disease ◽  
Allegheny Plateau ◽  
Nutritional Imbalance

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) decline disease on the Allegheny Plateau (region 1) resulted in high levels of mortality during the 1990s. Sugar maple was predisposed to decline because of an imbalance in Mg, Ca, and Mn nutrition and incited to decline by repeated defoliation. We sampled 33 stands in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire (region 2) to determine if this model of sugar maple decline applies to a broader region. Low Ca and Mg and higher Mn levels were correlated with poorer tree health in both regions, but region 2 stands had little defoliation and few dead trees, suggesting that both unbalanced nutrition and stress are required for mortality to occur. We predict that stands with low foliar Ca and Mg and high Mn levels would incur increased mortality if stressed. In region 2, relationships between Ca, Mg, and Mn levels and dieback suggested that impacts on sugar maple may be caused by nutritional imbalance alone. Partial correlation analysis suggests that antagonism between Mg and Mn is the most important nutritional factor in region 1, while Mn supply is most important in region 2. We suggest that more research is needed on the interacting roles played by Ca, Mg, Al, and Mn in sugar maple performance.

Trace Metal Detection by X-ray Microanalysis in Vascular Cells of Roots and Leaves from Field-Grown Sugar Maple Seedlings

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 996-997
Author(s):  
C.J. McQuattie ◽  
R.P. Long
Keyword(s):  
Fine Roots ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Freeze Substitution ◽  
Vascular Cells ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Trace Metal Detection ◽  
High Concentrations

The low survival of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings growing in unglaciated acidic forest soils (pH<4.0) in north-central Pennsylvania may be due in part to aluminum (Al) or manganese (Mn) phytotoxicity. Although foliar analysis has shown high concentrations (>2,000 ppm) of Mn, the location of potentially toxic elements in leaves or absorptive fine roots has not been studied in field-grown seedlings. This study of vascular (xylem and phloem) cells was conducted to determine by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) whether Mn and/or Al could be detected in fine root or leaf midvein vascular cells. A secondary objective was to determine if vascular cells prepared by chemical fixation (CF) for conventional TEM or by freeze-substitution (FS) for EDX showed similar ultrastructural characteristics.Four sugar maple seedlings from an unglaciated field site (Potter County PA) were excavated, and roots were washed carefully. Two mm-long segments of fine roots and leaf midveins from each seedling were immersed in 3% glutaraldehyde for 6 hours, transferred to 0.1 M phosphate buffer, and transported to the Delaware Research Lab where tissues were post-fixed in OsO4 (in buffer), dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in PolyBed-Araldite epoxy resin (CF method).

Factors associated with the decline disease of sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1365-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B Horsley ◽  
Robert P Long ◽  
Scott W Bailey ◽  
Richard A Hallett ◽  
Thomas J Hall
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Decline Disease ◽  
Foliage Chemistry ◽  
Structure Density ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
Allegheny Plateau ◽  
Topographic Positions

Mortality of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) has reached unusually high levels across northern Pennsylvania since the early to mid-1980s. We evaluated the influence of glaciation, topographic position, foliage chemistry, defoliation history, and stand characteristics (species composition, structure, density) on the health of sugar maple in 43 stands at 19 sites on the northern Allegheny Plateau. Using percent dead sugar maple basal area as the measure of health, we found that all moderately to severely declining stands were on unglaciated summits, shoulders, or upper backslopes. Stands on glaciated sites and unglaciated lower topographic positions were not declining. The most important factors associated with sugar maple health were foliar levels of Mg and Mn and defoliation history. The lowest foliar Mg, highest foliar Mn, and highest number and severity of insect defoliations were associated with unglaciated summits, shoulders, and upper backslopes. Declining stands had less than ~700 mg·kg-1 Mg and two or more moderate to severe defoliations in the past 10 years; both conditions were associated with moderately to severely declining stands. The decline disease of sugar maple seems to result from an interaction between Mg (and perhaps Mn) nutrition and stress caused by defoliation.

Effects of excess nitrogen deposition and soil acidification on sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in Ontario, Canada: an experimental study

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C Hutchinson ◽  
Shaun A Watmough ◽  
Eric PS Sager ◽  
Jim D Karagatzides
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Soil Leachate ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Impact

The impact of an acidifying fertilizer on litter decomposition, root mycorrhizae, and soil and tree chemistry was assessed in two hardwood forests in central Ontario, Canada. Soil beneath mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees was treated with (NH4)2SO4 granules at application rates of 0, 250, 500, and 1000 kg/ha in May of each year between 1993 and 1994 at Dorset and between 1993 and 1995 at Loring. The fertilizer treatments did not cause visual symptoms of forest decline. At Dorset, SO4 and cation concentrations in soil leachate increased, but no difference in soil pH between treatments was found. An increase in foliar N was recorded at Dorset in treated plots, although there were no other differences in foliar or tree ring chemistry between treatments. At Loring, a decrease in soil pH and an increase in SO4 in soil leachate were found in treated plots. Mycorrhizal infection and litter decomposition were also reduced in plots treated with (NH4)2SO4. Fertilizer application at Loring led to increases in foliar concentrations of N, Mg, Mn, and Cd, along with increases in concentrations of trace metals (As, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn) in tree rings formed during fertilizer application. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) were found between wood (rings formed between 1993 and 1995) and foliage (mean of 1993-1995 values) for Mg, Mn, and Al. Deliberate acidification of surface soil resulted in changes in wood and foliar chemistry, although it remains to be established whether acidification of surface soil is responsible for the reported decline in sugar maple.

Physiographic analysis of witness-tree distribution (1765–1798) and present forest cover through north central Pennsylvania

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc D. Abrams ◽  
Charles M. Ruffner
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
North Central ◽  
Tree Distribution ◽  
High Plateau ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Witness Trees ◽  
Allegheny Mountains ◽  
Allegheny Plateau

This study analyzed witness-tree data recorded from 1765 to 1798 with respect to landform in four major physiographic provinces represented through north central Pennsylvania. These data were also compared with present-day forest composition to evaluate broad changes that occurred 200 years after European settlement. In the Allegheny High Plateau, Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr. represented 40–47% of witness trees in mountain coves and stream valleys, but only 9% on plateau tops, which comprised 45% Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh. Pinusstrobus L. represented ≤4% frequency across all landforms. The original forests of the Allegheny Mountains were dominated by mixed Quercus, Acer, Castaneadentata (Marsh.) Borkh., and Pinus and had significant T. canadensis only in stream valleys. The presettlement forests of the Allegheny Front and the Ridge and Valley provinces had a similar mix of Quercus, Pinus, Castanea, and Carya, with increased P. strobus on the more mesic sites and Pinusrigida Mill, on the xeric ridges. Comparisons of presettlement with present-day forest composition indicate a dramatic reduction of T. canadensis (32% to 4%) and F. grandifolia (33% to 12%) in the High Plateau and increases in Acer (11% to 37%), Quercusrubra L. (0% to 10%), Prunusserotina Ehrh. (1% to 6%), and Betula (5% to 10%). Other units exhibited reductions in P. strobus, P. rigida, Quercusalba L., and Carya spp. and increases in Quercusprinus L., Q. rubra, Acerrubrum L., and P. serotina. Castaneadentata had its greatest abundance on higher elevation sites in each physiographic unit, and the elimination of this species this century apparently facilitated the increase in Q. prinus and Q. rubra on ridge sites. South of the Allegheny Plateau, increases in A. rubrum, P. serotina, and other mixed-mesophytic species may be in response to fire exclusion this century. The results of this study indicate the importance of landform and physiography on presettlement forest composition as well as the dramatic changes that have occurred as a result of altered disturbance regimes following European settlement.

Seasonal patterns of reserve and soluble carbohydrates in mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 780-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Wong ◽  
K L Baggett ◽  
A H Rye
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Reserve Carbohydrate

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees exhibit seasonal patterns of production, accumulation, and utilization of nonstructural carbohydrates that are closely correlated with phenological events and (or) physiological processes. The simultaneous seasonal patterns of both reserve and soluble carbohydrates in the leaves, twigs, branches, and trunks of healthy mature sugar maple trees were characterized. The concentrations of starch and soluble sugars ( sucrose, glucose, fructose, xylose, raffinose, and stachyose) were determined. Starch, the major reserve carbohydrate in sugar maple, is low during the active photosynthetic growth season. Starch is accumulated in the xylem ray tissues in late summer and early fall. During the cold season, there is a close relationship between starch hydrolysis–accumulation and temperature. Soluble sugars increase when starch concentrations decrease during the cold months, and these sugars may play a role in cold tolerance. Patterns of change in the stem tissues are similar to those in the root tissues but with slight differences in the timing.Key words: starch, sucrose, glucose, fructose, raffinose, stachyose.

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