Effects of two Ca fertilizer types on sugar maple vitality

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1985-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-David Moore ◽  
Rock Ouimet

Over the last decades, continuous signs of sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) dieback in stands of northeastern North America have promoted the experimentation of corrective measures to restore sugar maple vitality. To verify the hypothesis that K–Mg antagonism may have limited the full response of sugar maple to dolomitic lime application in a previous experiment (CaMg(CO3)2, 12% Mg), two Ca fertilizers (CaCO3 and CaSO4·2H2O), having negligible Mg content, were applied at rates of 1, 2, and 4 t Ca·ha–1 on sugar maple trees adjacent to the limed area. After 3 years, most of the foliar nutrient concentrations of treated trees were improved, particularly Ca, for both Ca fertilizers, in line with published ranges for healthy sugar maple trees, except for Mg. Moreover, no persistent nutrient antagonism was observed. The crown dieback rate of treated sugar maple was ≤5.8% after 3 years, while it reached 12% for the controls. Also, relative basal area growth showed that both Ca sources can improve growth rate. Growth response following Ca treatments was, however, lower than for the former lime experiment after the same period of time. In this context, our results suggest that Mg nutrition could be more important for sugar maple in this ecosystem than initially thought.

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1834-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-David Moore ◽  
Rock Ouimet

In a base-poor northern hardwood stand in Quebec, subjected to high acid deposition, sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) nutrition, growth, and crown vigor were evaluated 10 years after application of 0–50 t·ha–1 of CaMg(CO3)2 in 1994. One decade after treatment, foliar calcium and magnesium concentrations of sugar maple were still higher for treated than for control trees. The analysis of foliar nutrient indices showed that liming improved the nutrition of nitrogen and calcium, but caused imbalance of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. In 2004, crown dieback was much lower for limed trees (0.5%–4.5%) as compared to unlimed trees (23.7%). When compared with crown dieback before treatment, dieback of limed trees generally had decreased by 2004, while dieback of untreated maple trees increased over the 1994–2004 period. In 2004, basal area increment for limed trees was nearly double that of unlimed trees. However, no difference was detectable among trees limed at different rates. Midterm efficacy of liming in this study was demonstrated by the improvement of sugar maple calcium nutrition, crown vigor, and stem growth 10 years following treatment. This confirms the potential of liming to limit damage caused by acid deposition in base-poor and declining northern hardwood stands.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Munks ◽  
R Corkrey ◽  
WJ Foley

The distribution of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) within the Prairie-Torrens Creek Alluvials province of the Desert Upland region of north-western Queensland was examined. The optimum habitat for each species as indicated by the occurrence of faecal pellet groups was found to be that associated with creek-lines. However, other land types were also used by each species to varying degrees. The relationship between various habitat variables and pellet group counts was investigated using Multiple regression and a Generalised linear model. Proximity to creek-bed, total basal area of trees, species richness and Acacia basal area (negative) best explained the occurrence of koalas. Proximity to creek-bed, Acacia basal area (negative), total basal area of trees, and available water (negative) best explained the occurrence of brushtail possums. In contrast to studies of arboreal species in the moist-south-eastern forests of Australia no relationship was found between foliar nutrient concentrations and the occurrence of koalas or brushtail possums. However, a significant relationship was found between leaf water concentration and the occurrence of koalas. It is suggested that water availability is the paramount factor defining preferred arboreal habitat in arid and semi-arid woodlands.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1295-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Long ◽  
Stephen B. Horsley ◽  
Thomas J. Hall

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) is a keystone species in the northern hardwood forest, and decline episodes have negatively affected the growth and health of sugar maple in portions of its range over the past 50+ years. Crown health, growth, survival, and flower and seed production of sugar maple were negatively affected by a widespread decline event in the mid-1980s on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau in northern Pennsylvania. A long-term liming study was initiated in 1985 to evaluate responses to a one-time application of 22.4 Mg·ha–1 of dolomitic limestone in four northern hardwood stands. Over the 23-year period ending in 2008, sugar maple basal area increment (BAINC) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in limed plots from 1995 through 2008, whereas American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) BAINC was unaffected. For black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), the third principal overstory species, BAINC and survival were reduced in limed plots compared with unlimed plots. Foliar Ca and Mg remained significantly higher in sugar maple foliage sampled 21 years after lime application, showing persistence of the lime effect. These results show long-term species-specific responses to lime application.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 591-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justice Muvengwi ◽  
Hilton G. T. Ndagurwa ◽  
Tatenda Nyenda ◽  
Innocent Mlambo

Abstract:This study tested the hypothesis that the black rhinoceros browses more on termitaria than off termitaria vegetation due to elevated soil and foliar nutrient levels on termitaria. We investigated the role of termitaria in providing nutrient-rich forage for the black rhinoceros, by comparing the preference (selection ratio) for vegetation occurring on and off termitaria, and then testing its relationship with foliar nutrient concentrations. Soil nutrients, bite intensity, tree species diversity, vegetation density, canopy cover and basal area were also surveyed on and off termitaria. We sampled 25 termite mounds together with their corresponding control plots in Chipinge Safari Area, Zimbabwe. Soil and foliar N, P, K, Ca and Na concentrations were greater on termitaria than off termitaria, with approximately twice the concentration of these nutrients. Browse preference followed the between-site differences in soil and foliar nutrient concentrations, with higher selection ratios and bite intensities for vegetation on termitaria than off termitaria. Diospyros quiloensis was the most preferred browse species whilst Combretum imberbe, Kigelia africana and Strychnos innocua were the least. In conclusion, the black rhino preferred vegetation on termitaria to that in the surrounding matrix, and utilization of vegetation can be influenced by the soil substrate on which tree species grow.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Roy ◽  
A. Sauvesty ◽  
F. Pagé ◽  
R. van Hulst ◽  
C. Ansseau

This study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the relationship between foliar nutrient status, maple dieback and soil quality. Fieldwork was conducted in four maple stands, two of which were located in the Appalachians at Tingwick and two in the Laurentians at Duchesnay. All stands were characterised by a mound and depression microrelief. In one of the Tingwick maple stands (T1) the predominant soil type was found on mounds, and was well to moderately well-drained (Leeds and Woodbridge series). At the other site (T2), the predominant soil type was in depressions, and imperfectly to poorly drained (Sainte-Marie and Brompton series). At the first Duchesnay site (D1) the predominant soil type was found on mounds and was well to rapidly drained (Ste Agathe series). At the second Duchesnay site (D2), the predominant soil type was also found on mounds, but was well to moderately well-drained (Sergent series). On all sites, the soils were acidic and nutrient poor. The lowest pH values and nutrient concentrations (in the H-Ah horizons) were found in maple stands with well-drained soils (T1 and D1) (P < 0.05). On these sites, maple dieback was less than 10%. It was on the poorly to imperfectly drained soils at Tingwick (T2), as well as on the moderately drained soils at Duchesnay (D2), that we observed the lowest biological activity. Although these soils were the most nutrient rich, we observed foliar nutrient deficiencies, and maple dieback in excess of 25%. Our results suggest that maple dieback is the result of a poor physiological adaptation of sugar maple to poor drainage conditions in the areas studied. Key Words: Dieback, Acer saccharum, forest soils, biological activity index


1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Stone ◽  
D. R. Christenson

Effects of thinning and fertilization on growth and foliar nutrients were studied in pole-size sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.). Thinning plus fertilization resulted in significantly lower concentrations of foliar N, P, K, Mg, Cu, Zn, B, and Al in the first growing season, and of Mg, Cu, Zn, and Al in the 2nd year. Foliar nutrients in released, but nonfertilized, trees exhibited similar trends. The decreased foliar nutrient concentrations are attributed to dilution effects as a result of increased growth.Fertilization with N, P, and K significantly increased foliar concentrations of those nutrients but did not stimulate radial growth. Thinning resulted in highly significant increase in diameter growth both years.


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