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

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.

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.


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).


1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Foliar nutrient concentration differences between provenances, and the relationship between foliar nutrient levels and provenance growth was examined in Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) from the coastal region of British Columbia.In the first experiment differences in foliar nutrient concentrations among four provenances of 3-year old plants, ranged from 8 to 18%. The relationships between these provenances differed according to whether needle, or whole plant nutrient concentrations were considered.In the second experiment 2-year old plants of three provenances, grown under four fertilizer regimes, at each of three nurseries, showed that differences in growth and foliar nutrient concentrations between provenances were affected by nursery. The degree of correlation between shoot length and foliage nutrient concentration varied according to provenance. Coefficients for the regression of shoot length on foliar N and K differed between provenances even when provenance foliar N and K levels were similar. It was suggested that the relationship between foliar nutrient concentrations and shoot length may differ between provenances.


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.


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.


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.


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