A comparison of soil fertility and leaf nutrient status of sugar maples (Acer saccharum) in relation to microrelief in two maple forests in Québec

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Roy ◽  
A. Sauvesty ◽  
F. Pagé ◽  
R. van Hulst ◽  
C. Ansseau
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Physiological Adaptation ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Foliar Nutrient

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

Foliar deficiencies of sugar maple stands associated with soil cation imbalances in the Quebec Appalachians

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Claude Camiré
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Nutrient Stress ◽  
Exchangeable Cations ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Ca Deficiency ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Foliar Nutrient

Widespread symptoms of foliar deficiency of P and K have been observed for almost a decade in most of the declining hardwood forest in the Quebec Appalachians. We hypothesized that the foliar nutrient disturbances were related to the chemical equilibrium of exchangeable soil cations. Mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) foliage, and soil H-Ah and B horizon from 246 hardwood stands located in the Quebec Appalachians were sampled and analyzed. A cluster analysis using the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) indices of the foliar data permitted the identification of six different nutritional groups: one slightly and one strongly deficient group in P-K, three groups having a K-Ca deficiency at different intensities from weak to strong, and one group having a strong P-K-Ca deficiency. These foliar nutrient status were strongly related to some soil properties. The P-K deficient groups had a 30% lower K saturation in the H-Ah horizon than the average level of the other groups, but a higher proportion of exchangeable Ca in the H-Ah and B horizon. For the four groups that were K-Ca deficient, increased nutrient stress was associated with reductions in soil Ca saturation and pH, and, particularly, increases in soil Mg saturation. Also, the Ca/(H+Al) ratio of exchangeable cations in the B horizon was ≤ 0.6 for these groups. High soil Mg saturation, potential soil Al toxicity related to low Ca saturation, and unfavorable soil humus properties were associated with the severity of nutrient stress. To obtain a balanced nutrition for sugar maple in this region, the forest humus should have less than 10% of Mg on exchange sites, a Ca/Mg ratio of exchangeable cations > 6, and a K/Mg ratio > 0.5. The values in the mineral B horizon should be < 10% for Mg/CEC, > 4 for the Ca/Mg ratio, > 1 for the K/Mg ratio, and > 1 for the Ca/(H+Al) ratio. Key words:Acer saccharum, cation saturation, Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System, forest decline, nutrient status, soil properties

Effects of two Ca fertilizer types on sugar maple vitality

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1985-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-David Moore ◽  
Rock Ouimet
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Lime Application ◽  
Crown Dieback ◽  
Mg Content ◽  
Nutrient Antagonism

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.

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.

Endomycorrhizal status of sugar maple in relation to tree decline and foliar, fine-roots, and soil chemistry in the Beauce region, Quebec

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1168-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Claude Camiré ◽  
Valentin Furlan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Chemistry ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Root Colonization ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Tree Decline

The Beauce region of Quebec has been relentlessly affected by sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) tree decline since the late 1970s. Nutrient disturbances are generally associated with maple decline, but the severity of decline symptoms can vary quite dramatically between individuals within a stand. Possible causes of this variability were investigated, including soil chemistry and endomycorrhization. Within 18 mature sugar maple stands, a comparative study of fine root colonization rate by endomycorrhizal fungi, and foliar, fine-roots, and soil-nutrient status between healthy and declining sugar maple trees was carried out. Three individuals showing a very low degree of decline symptoms (healthy) and three individuals in the vicinity exhibiting severe decline symptoms (declining) were selected in each stand. Although trees of both health classes were K and Ca deficient, the diagnosis revealed that those in the declining group were experiencing a more severe nutrient stress and lower stem radial growth than those in the healthy group. The percent colonization by endomycorrhizal fungi in fine roots of sugar maple varied from 8 to 40% among stands, with an average of 23%. However, the endomycorrhization rate was not related to tree health status. The frequency of endomycorrhization was positively correlated to soil pH and soil exchangeable Mg saturation, but negatively to the proportion of H + Al held on the soil exchange complex. Also, the rate of endomycorrhization was correlated positively to foliar and root Ca content, but negatively to foliar and root N content. Foliar N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Mn contents were positively correlated to corresponding nutrient content in fine roots. Fine-root chemistry was only partly related to soil chemistry. Declining trees had a lower foliar K content and a lower P and Ca content in fine roots than healthy ones. The results do not support the hypothesis that sugar maple decline and its disturbed nutrient status is associated with lower colonization by endomycorrhizal fungi in fine roots. They suggest, however, that soil chemical properties, particularly the soil composition in cations, regulates fine-root colonization by endomycorrhizal fungi and sugar maple nutrition and health. These results can neither confirm nor invalidate the hypothesis according to which a deleterious microbial population may have colonized the soil under declining trees. Key words: Acer saccharum, soil cation saturation, forest decline, nutrient status, fine root, endomycorrhizae.

Seasonal growth and foliar nutrients of Larix laricina in three wetland ecosystems

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1291-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Tilton
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Site Variation ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Ash Weight ◽  
Conifer Swamp ◽  
Study Sites

Levels of N, P, Ca, Mg, K, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, and B were determined in foliage from tamarack (Larix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch) in a bog, conifer swamp, and fen from budbreak to leaf abscission. Elongation of needles and lateral shoots as well as dry and ash weight of needles were determined. Expansion of needles and shoots ceased at similar dates for all sites, but trees in the fen had significantly longer needles and lateral shoots.On August 13, foliar concentrations of N, Ca,and Mg were higher in the fen than in the conifer swamp or bog, while concentrations of Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, and B were higher in the bog than the other two sites. Phosphorus concentrations in foliage were similar on this date in the fen and conifer swamp but were lower in the bog site. Despite significant between-site variation for certain foliar elements, two patterns of seasonal variation in nutrient concentrations were discerned. Significant between-site differences in the amounts and rates of needle and shoot elongation, foliar nutrient concentrations at a single sampling time, and patterns of certain foliar elements were associated with variations in nutrient status and moisture–aeration conditions of the study sites.

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 Effect of soil base saturation and endomycorrhization on growth and nutrient status of sugar maple seedlings

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Claude Camiré ◽  
Valentin Furlan
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Base Saturation ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Soil Base ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Nutrient imbalances of declining sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stands in southeastern Quebec have been associated partly with high soil exchangeable acidity and low base saturation on. A greenhouse experiment was set up to determine how growth and nutrient status of sugar maple seedlings can be influenced by soil acidification and the presence of an endomycorrhizal fungus. The experiment consisted of five levels of soil base saturation (from 12 to 50%) and two levels of soil inoculation by an endomycorrhizal fungus (inoculated and control) in a complete factorial arrangement Sugar maple seedlings were grown for 3 mo in the treated soil substrates. Seedling shoot elongation rate, growth [dry matter (TDM) mass, stem diameter, and total leaf area], and K, Ca and Mg concentrations in foliage and roots decreased with soil acidification with base saturation used as an indicator of the soil-acidification status. Foliar K and Ca level reached values below critical thresholds when soil base saturation was reduced to 12%. Under the experimental conditions, seedling growth was not significantly affected by endomycorrhization, except for root DM mass, which was reduced by 24% compared with the control treatment. For mycorrhizal seedlings, foliar Al concentration increased linearly from 113 mg kg−1 to 210 mg kg−1 with the reduction of soil base saturation from 50% to 12%, while, for non-mycorrhizal seedlings, foliar Al concentration remained at a high level (195 mg kg−1) independently of the soil acidification level. Sugar maple seedling growth was not related to accumulation of Al in foliage. The results of this experiment support the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between the level of soil base saturation and the growth decrease and associated nutrient disorders observed in declining sugar maple stands in Quebec. Key words:Acer saccharum, nutrient status, seedling growth, soil base saturation, endomycorrhizae

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.

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