Interactions among Kalmia angustifolia, soil characteristics, and the growth and nutrition of black spruce seedlings in two boreal Newfoundland plantations of contrasting fertility

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2215-2224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen H Yamasaki ◽  
James W Fyles ◽  
Brian D Titus

To determine the nature of the negative influence of Kalmia angustifolia L. on black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) seedling growth and foliar nutrient concentrations, the effect of proximity to Kalmia on spruce seedlings was studied on two Kalmia-dominated sites of contrasting soil characteristics in central Newfoundland. Spruce seedlings and the soil at the base of their stems were sampled, and spruce leader length and foliar N and P concentration, as well as various physicochemical soil characteristics, were determined. Path analysis was used to determine the strength of direct and indirect relationships among variables hypothesized to be causally linked. Path diagrams were generated based on current knowledge of nutrient cycling in boreal ecosystems and mechanisms previously hypothesized to account for the influence of Kalmia on black spruce. On the wetter and richer site, proximity to Kalmia was associated with reduced spruce growth and humus extractable NH4-N, suggesting nutrient competition. On the drier and poorer site, results were consistent with a direct negative effect of Kalmia on the N nutrition of spruce. On both sites, we also found evidence for a direct effect of Kalmia on spruce growth that is consistent with allelopathic effects on spruce function.

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
André J. Hudson

The natural invasion of mountain alder (Alnuscrispa (Ait.) Pursh) into monoculture plantations of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) afforded an opportunity to assess the effects of mountain alder on soils, and on the growth, nutrient status, and survival of spruce in eastern Newfoundland. The plantations were established on ploughed Kalmia–Vaccinium heath in 1968–1969. Significant increases in the growth of spruce were associated with the presence of high densities of mountain alder in the two plantations studied. The increases began 3–6 years after the invasion and establishment of mountain alder. Estimated nitrogen (N) contributions to each plantation from mountain alder leaf litter fall were approximately 50 kg•ha−1•year−1. Spruce foliage N content was 10–15% higher in high-density mountain alder (HD-alder) plots than in low-density mountain alder (LD-alder) plots, but other foliar nutrient concentrations were low and possibly deficient in the HD-alder plots. Development of a litter fall–humus layer was observed in HD-alder plots but not in LD-alder plots; however, B-horizon soil-N values did not differ significantly between HD-alder and LD-alder plots. The mountain alder invasion did not reduce the densities (stems/ha) of spruce. Additional studies on the autecology of Alnus spp. native to Newfoundland, and on alder-spruce interaction are recommended to further the development of an adequate ecological basis for heathland and peatland afforestation in the region.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 729-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raynald Paquin ◽  
Hank A Margolis ◽  
René Doucet

The effect of nutrient addition (fertilization with N, P, and K at a rate of 448, 224, and 224 kg ·ha-1, respectively) on height growth, root biomass, leaf area, and foliar nutrient concentrations of slow-growing layers and newly planted seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was evaluated on an apparently productive mesic site in Quebec. Annual height growth increment of fertilized layers was greater than 20 cm ·year-1compared with 3-4 cm ·year-1for the other three treatments. Fine root biomass (< 2 mm in diameter) and leaf area growth were significantly higher for fertilized layers and seedlings compared with their respective controls. For both current and 1-year-old needles, foliar N concentration on a unit leaf area basis increased significantly for both layers and seedlings, and vector analysis showed that, in all cases, N was the most limiting nutrient. Five growing seasons after treatment, the only residual effect of fertilization on foliar nutrient concentrations was higher foliar N in fertilized seedlings. Thus, it appears that the slow growth of the unfertilized layers on this site was due to resource limitation rather than to the type of regeneration as such.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 2058-2062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lavoie ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Yves Bergeron

Poor growth of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) has been associated with the presence of Ledum groenlandicum L. (Ledum) on some sites in the eastern boreal forest in Canada. To increase black spruce productivity on lowland sites, a study was carried out to test the effect of mechanical control of Ledum (by clipping) on black spruce growth on forested peatland in northwestern Quebec. We compared the growth and foliar nutrient concentrations of advance-regeneration black spruce seedlings with and without Ledum control. Contrary to our expectations, our results showed that 3-year control of aboveground competition by Ledum decreased rather than increased black spruce growth and had no effect on foliar nutrient concentrations. Ledum grows on a variety of site types; therefore, the mere presence of this species does not necessarily indicate that there will be a problem with conifer regeneration (growth and germination).


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. ZINKAN ◽  
J. K. JEGLUM ◽  
D. E. HARVEY

Seedlings of white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) showed significant reductions in all measures of growth and vitality at the 2.0 ppm O2 level (27% saturation), and relatively low values for root lengths and root length/shoot length ratios at the 3.3 ppm O2 level (44% saturation). Nitrogen was marginally deficient in white spruce needles in the 2.0 ppm treatment. Foliar N and K attained lower values for all species in the 2.0 ppm O2 treatment, whereas Mg, Ca and Fe generally attained highest values at 2.0 ppm O2. Similar measures of growth, vitality and foliar nutrient concentrations were obtained for 4.5, 5.4 and 7.5 ppm O2 (60, 72 and 100% saturation), indicating that all these levels provided optimal aeration. Differences in measures of growth, vitality and foliar nutrient concentration suggest that the order of species tolerance to poor aeration from greatest to least is black spruce, jack pine and white spruce.


2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2007-2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg R. Walker ◽  
Azim U. Mallik

In the boreal forests of eastern Canada, black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns, Poggenb.) regeneration often fails in nutrient-poor sites dominated by Kalmia angustifolia L. occurring after nonsevere forest fire, clearcut harvesting, and insect defoliation. Traditional silvicultural treatments have limited success in regenerating these sites. We tested whether forest floor mixing and planting black spruce seedlings preinoculated with an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus, Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr., has potential to improve black spruce growth in Kalmia -dominated sites. We measured growth and foliar nutrient concentrations of ECM-inoculated and control black spruce seedlings planted in burned and insect-defoliated sites after forest floor mixing in Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland. We also measured soil moisture, temperature, pH, total phenol and nutrient concentrations, litter decomposition, and soil respiration in those sites. Seedlings in soil-mixed plots had significantly higher growth and foliar nutrient concentrations than nonmixed plots, likely because soil mixing improved the substrate conditions by increased soil moisture, pH, and litter decomposition. Seedlings in insect-defoliated sites had significantly higher increases in height and foliar nutrient concentrations than those in the burned sites. Inoculated seedlings had significantly higher initial ECM formation than the control seedlings, but they failed to achieve higher growth.


1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Morrison

Five- and 10-year mean DBH, BA and volume growth responses to N, P and K fertilizer combinations are reported for three field trials in semimature black spruce and spruce-poplar mixedwoods in the clay belt of northern Ontario. Responses, though present, were generally nonsignificant. Modest responses to N, improved somewhat by the addition of K, but not P, were noted in a pure black spruce stand on an upland site. On a lowland site, however, no response by pure black spruce to either N or K, and only a small, nonsignificant response to P, were noted. In an upland mixedwood stand containing mainly black spruce and balsam poplar, responses were variable. In comparison with jack pine in northern Ontario, black spruce has responded poorly to mineral fertilizers. Results are discussed in relation to foliar nutrient concentrations and are compared with results from other fertilizer trials in the eastern boreal forest.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1633
Author(s):  
Michal Rolinec ◽  
Daniel Bíro ◽  
Milan Šimko ◽  
Miroslav Juráček ◽  
Ondrej Hanušovský ◽  
...  

The utilisation of different by-products from the food industry as nutrient sources for farm animals is both possible and beneficial. Grape pomace is a by-product that contains polyphenols and fatty acids, both of which have the potential to improve the nutritional quality of cow colostrum. This study aimed to explore how the addition of grape pomace to the diet of dry cows affects the concentration of nutrients and fatty acids of colostrum. Sixteen Slovak spotted cows in late pregnancy were used in this study. From the seventh day before expected calving to the day of calving, cows in the grape pomace group received a diet supplemented with dried grape pomace, at 0.116 kg/cow/day. Colostrum samples were analysed for basal nutrients and fatty acid concentrations. Between the control and experimental groups, the nutrient and fatty acid concentrations of all the colostrum samples did not show significant differences. The nutrient levels in the colostrum from both groups of cows were typical, as related to the time from calving. The addition of the grape pomace into the diet of dry cows had no effect on nutrient concentrations and the fatty acid composition of the colostrum. The somatic cell score of the colostrum sampled at the 12th hour after calving (4.2 versus 2.6) was positively affected by grape pomace addition. The results of this study revealed that grape pomace (fed in an amount of 0.116 kg/cow/day) had no positive or negative effect on the base nutrients and fatty acids of cow colostrum, and, therefore, grape pomace can be used as a nutrient source for dry cows in small amounts.


2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizele Scotti do Canto ◽  
Janine Treter ◽  
Samanta Yang ◽  
Gustavo Luís Borré ◽  
Maria Paula Garofo Peixoto ◽  
...  

Saponins are natural compounds able to form abundant foam, a desirable quality required in some chemical, foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical processes. Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae) known as mate, is a South American widely cultivated specie due to the preparation of a tea-like beverage from its leaves. Moreover, its green fruits are a rich source of non-toxic and very low haemolytic saponins. In this study, mate saponin fraction (MSF) was evaluated as a foam former, focusing on its foamability, foam lifetime, and film drainage in the presence of different electrolytes (ionic strength I = 0.024 M). Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and polysorbate 80 (Poly-80) were used as reference surfactants. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), the minimum attainable surface tension (γCMC), surface excess concentration (Γ) and cross-section molecular surface (A) values of MSF were comparable to those of Poly-80. The foamability of MSF and both reference surfactants was equivalent. The addition of MgCl2 resulted in a negative effect on MSF foamability. The salts NaCl, KBr, and KNO3 exhibited a negative influence on MSF foam lifetime. Similar behavior was observed for MSF film drainage (order of activity: Na2HPO4 > MgCl2 ≈ NaCl ≈ KNO3 > KBr), where a primary fast film drainage rate was followed by film thinning stabilization after around 5 min. The behavior described above seems to be uncorrelated to the solutions' zeta potential.


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