The influence of mountain alder on the growth, nutrition, and survival of black spruce and Sitka spruce in an afforested heathland near Mobile, Newfoundland

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
André J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Ecological Basis ◽  
Alder Leaf Litter

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.

A comparison of the foliar nutrient status of elfinwood and symmetrically formed tall trees, Colorado Front Range, U.S.A.

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1461-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Barrick ◽  
Anna W. Schoettle
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Colorado Front Range ◽  
Picea Engelmannii ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Pinus Flexilis ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Pinus Aristata

We tested the hypothesis of nutrient limitation in the trees of the alpine forest – tundra ecotone by comparing the foliar nutrient status of windsculpted elfinwood (also called krummholz) growing at the upper limit of tree success with symmetrically formed toll trees growing at the nearby timberline. The species investigated included Picea engelmannii (Parry) Engelmann, Abies lasiocarpa (Hooker) Nuttall, pinus flexilis james, and Pinus aristata Bailey. The foliar nutrient concentrations of the ecotone trees were similar to other healthy montane forests. Most of the significant differences in mean foliar nutrient concentrations between elfinwood and tall trees indicate lower concentrations in elfinwood trees. We found significantly lower mean phosphorus concentrations in Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa elfinwood compared with tall trees, but the mean nitrogen–phosphorus ratios were within the normal range. The foliar nutrient status of Pinus aristata elfinwood was similar to tall trees, while Pinus flexilis had considerably more significant differences in nutrient concentrations between the tree forms. Although there are many theoretical processes that could cause nutrient deficiencies at treeline, this study suggests that the elfinwood along the Colorado Front Range is not currently nutrient deficient. We discuss the potential differences in nutrient ecology between elfinwood and tall trees. Keywords: foliar nutrients, alpine ecotone, treeline, elfinwood, krummholz, conifer.

scholarly journals Foliar Nutrient Characteristics of Four Conifer Species in the Interior Northwest United States

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Moore ◽  
Peter G. Mika ◽  
Terry M. Shaw ◽  
Mariann I. Garrison-Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Forest Tree Nutrition

Abstract This article provides foliar nutrient concentration distributions and sample size calculations for Douglas-fir, grand fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine. Managers can obtain foliar nutrient values from their own lands and use this information to make judgments on the relative nutrient status of forest stands. Foliage was collected from unfertilized trees at 160 different research sites of the Intermountain Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative spanning a 16 yr period from 1982 to 1997. Douglas-fir showed the lowest variation in foliar nutrient concentrations, while grand fir was the most variable of the species sampled. Nitrogen was the least variable and Mn and Mo generally the most variable elements for all species. Grand fir had much higher foliar concentrations of K and Ca than the other species. Ponderosa pine had the highest foliar N concentrations. The pines generally have lower nutrient concentrations than the firs, with the exception of Zn. Western hemlock habitat types showed lower Douglas-fir foliar Ca, Mg, and B concentrations, but higher K concentrations than other habitat type series. Douglas-fir growing on soils derived from meta-sedimentary rocks generally had lower foliar nutrient concentrations than those growing on other rock types. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):13–24.

Nutrient status and growth of black spruce layers and planted seedlings in response to nutrient addition in the boreal forest of Quebec

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 729-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raynald Paquin ◽  
Hank A Margolis ◽  
René Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Nutrient Addition ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations

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.

Unusual effect of controlling aboveground competition by Ledum groenlandicum on black spruce (Picea mariana) in boreal forested peatland

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 2058-2062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lavoie ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Aboveground Competition ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Ledum Groenlandicum ◽  
Forested Peatland

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).

OXYGEN IN WATER CULTURE INFLUENCES GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF JACK PINE, BLACK SPRUCE AND WHITE SPRUCE SEEDLINGS

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. ZINKAN ◽  
J. K. JEGLUM ◽  
D. E. HARVEY
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Species Tolerance ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Spruce Needles

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.

Black spruce reforestation in Kalmia heath: seedling response to forest floor mixing and mycorrhizal inoculation with Paxillus involutus

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2007-2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg R. Walker ◽  
Azim U. Mallik
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Paxillus Involutus ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Soil Mixing ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations

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.

Ten-year growth response to fertilizers by semimature black spruce and spruce-poplar mixedwoods near Kapuskasing, Ontario

1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
K Fertilizer ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document