Nitrogen and potassium effects on xylem cavitation and water-use efficiency in poplars

Effects of N and K nutrition on drought and cavitation resistance were examined in six greenhouse-grown poplar clones: Populus trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray) and its hybrids with P. deltoides Bartr. and P. euramericana (Dole) Guinier, before and after preconditioning to water stress. Both tendency to cavitate and water-use efficiency (WUE) increased when N supply was increased, whereas K supply had little impact on cavitation. Mean xylem vessel diameters increased from 36.6 &mgr;m at low-N supply to 45.2 &mgr;m at high-N supply. Drought-hardy clones, which were relatively resistant to cavitation, had the smallest mean vessel diameters. Vulnerability to cavitation had a weakly positive relationship with vessel diameter, and a negative correlation with transpiration. Drought hardening offered no protection against cavitation in a subsequent drought. Under drought conditions, increasing N supply increased leaf loss and decreased water potentials, whereas increasing K supply decreased leaf loss. Drought-resistant clones exhibited similar WUE to drought-susceptible clones, but had smaller, more numerous stomata and greater leaf retention under drought conditions.     

Scaling of angiosperm xylem structure with safety and efficiency

We tested the hypothesis that greater cavitation resistance correlates with less total inter-vessel pit area per vessel (the pit area hypothesis) and evaluated a trade-off between cavitation safety and transport efficiency. Fourteen species of diverse growth form (vine, ring- and diffuse-porous tree, shrub) and family affinity were added to published data predominately from the Rosaceae (29 species total). Two types of vulnerability-to-cavitation curves were found. Ring-porous trees and vines showed an abrupt drop in hydraulic conductivity with increasing negative pressure, whereas hydraulic conductivity in diffuse-porous species generally decreased gradually. The ring-porous type curve was not an artifact of the centrifuge method because it was obtained also with the air-injection technique. A safety versus efficiency trade-off was evident when curves were compared across species: for a given pressure, there was a limited range of optimal vulnerability curves. The pit area hypothesis was supported by a strong relationship (r2 = 0.77) between increasing cavitation resistance and diminishing pit membrane area per vessel (A(P)). Small A(P) was associated with small vessel surface area and hence narrow vessel diameter (D) and short vessel length (L)--consistent with an increase in vessel flow resistance with cavitation resistance. This trade-off was amplified at the tissue level by an increase in xylem/vessel area ratio with cavitation resistance. Ring-porous species were more efficient than diffuse-porous species on a vessel basis but not on a xylem basis owing to higher xylem/vessel area ratios in ring-porous anatomy. Across four orders of magnitude, lumen and end-wall resistivities maintained a relatively tight proportionality with a near-optimal mean of 56% of the total vessel resistivity residing in the end-wall. This was consistent with an underlying scaling of L to D(3/2) across species. Pit flow resistance did not increase with cavitation safety, suggesting that cavitation pressure was not related to mean pit membrane porosity.     

Steady-state nutrition of hybrid poplar grown from un-rooted cuttings

Fertilizing plantations of fast-growing tree crops, in manners which supply nutrients at rates that match plant demand and maintain stable internal plant nutrient ratios, can maximize biomass production and carbon sequestration while reducing fertilizer wastage and pollution. Our objectives were to determine nutrient ratios of common hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. and Gray × Populus deltoides Marsh.) (T × D) clones under steady-state nutrition, and to determine if incremental additions of fertilizer were more successful than conventional (evenly-split) fertilizer additions in maximizing biomass production and inducing stable nutrient ratios. Un-rooted cuttings of three T × D clones (49–177, DTAC-7, 15–29) were grown under a conventional regime and a modified-exponential fertilization regime at three application rates (1.8, 3.7 or 7.4 g N plant⁻¹). Above- and below-ground biomass and nutrient concentrations were measured after one growing season. There were few differences in total plant biomass between conventional and modified-exponential fertilization regimes, but for one clone, biomass accumulation equivalent to the highest rate under the conventional regime was achieved with the medium rate of the modified-exponential regime. Stable nutrient ratios (at conditions consistent with steady-state nutrition) were: 100N:14P:50K (49–177), 100N:13P:49K (DTAC-7) and 100N:12P:60K (15–29).     

Leaf gas exchange characteristics differ among Sonoran Desert riparian tree species

We investigated leaf gas exchange responses to leaf temperature, leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and predawn and midday shoot water potential (psipd and psimd, respectively) of two native Sonoran Desert riparian tree species, Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii S. Wats.) and Goodding willow (Salix gooddingii Ball), and one exotic riparian tree species, saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis Lour. and related species). Measurements were made at two sites over 2 years that differed climatically. Because multiple linear regression models explained less than 29% of the variation in stomatal conductance (gs) and less than 48% of the variation in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of all species, we used boundary-line analysis to compare gas exchange responses among species. Gas exchange rates were high in all species. The hyperbolic relationship between Pn and gs suggested that initial reductions in gs at high gs did not inhibit Pn. Reductions in gs of cottonwood and willow occurred at psimd values at or below previously reported xylem cavitation thresholds (-1.6 and -1.4 MPa, respectively), indicating tight stomatal regulation of water loss and a narrow cavitation safety margin. In contrast, reductions in gs of saltcedar occurred at psimd values well above the cavitation threshold (-7.0 MPa), but at much lower psimd values than in cottonwood and willow, suggesting a wider cavitation safety margin and less tight regulation of water loss in saltcedar. High VPD had a smaller effect on leaf gas exchange in willow than in cottonwood. In contrast, willow had a less negative psipd threshold for stomatal closure than cottonwood. Compared with cottonwood and willow, leaf gas exchange of saltcedar was more tolerant of high VPD and low psipd. These physiological characteristics of saltcedar explain its widespread success as an invader of riparian ecosystems containing native Fremont cottonwood and Goodding willow in the Sonoran Desert.     

Changes of soil chemistry,stand nutrition,and stand growth at two Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) sites in Central Europe during 40 years after fertilization,liming, and lupine introduction

Long-term (40 years) effects of two soil amelioration techniques [NPKMgCa fertilization + liming; combination of PKMgCa fertilization, liming, tillage, and introduction of lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus L.)] on chemical topsoil properties, stand nutrition, and stand growth at two sites in Germany (Pfaffenwinkel, Pustert) with mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest were investigated. Both sites are characterized by base-poor parent material, historic N and P depletion by intense litter-raking, and recent high atmospheric N input. Such sites contribute significantly to the forested area in Central Europe. Amelioration resulted in a long-term increase of pH, base saturation, and exchangeable Ca and Mg stocks in the topsoil. Moreover, significant losses of the forest floor in organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen stocks, and a decrease of the C/N ratio in the topsoil were noticed. The concentrations and stocks of OC and N in the mineral topsoil increased; however, the increases compensated only the N, but not the OC losses of the forest floor. During the recent 40 years, the N nutrition of the stands at the control plots improved considerably, whereas the foliar P, K, and Ca concentrations decreased. The 100-fascicle weights and foliar concentrations of N, P, Mg, and Ca were increased after both amelioration procedures throughout the entire 40-year period of investigation. For both stands, considerable growth acceleration during the recent 40 years was noticed on the control plots; the amelioration resulted in an additional significant long-term growth enhancement, with the NPKMgCa fertilization liming + being more effective than the combination of PKMgCa fertilization, liming, tillage, and introduction of lupine. The comprehensive evaluation of soil, foliage, and growth data revealed a key relevance of the N and P nutrition of the stands for their growth, and a change from initial N limitation to a limitation of other growth factors (P, Mg, Ca, and water).     

Long-term trends of phosphorus nutrition and topsoil phosphorus stocks in unfertilized and fertilized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands at two sites in Southern Germany

For two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) ecosystems in S Germany with different atmospheric N deposition (Pfaffenwinkel, intermediate N deposition; Pustert, large N deposition), the supply with phosphorus (P) has been monitored for unfertilized and fertilized plots over more than four decades by foliar analysis (1964–2007). Additionally, topsoil concentrations and stocks of total P and plant-available P (citric-acid-extractable phosphate) were quantified in 10-year intervals (1982/1984, 1994, 2004). At both sites, fertilization experiments, including the variants control, NPKMgCa + lime, PKMgCa + lime + introduction of lupine, corresponding to an addition of 75 and 90 kg ha⁻¹ P in Pustert and Pfaffenwinkel, respectively had been established in 1964. Our study revealed different trends of the P nutritional status for the pines at the two sites during the recent four decades: At Pustert, elevated atmospheric N deposition together with small topsoil P pools resulted in significant deterioration of Scots pine P nutrition and in an increasingly unbalanced N/P nutrition. At Pfaffenwinkel a trend of improved P nutrition from 1964 to 1991 was replaced by an opposite trend in the most recent 15 years. For our study sites, which are characterized by acidic soils with thick O layers, the forest floor stock of citric-acid-extractable phosphate showed a strong and significant correlation with the P concentration in current-year pine foliage, and thus was an appropriate variable to predict the P nutritional status of the stands. Total P stocks as well as the concentrations of total P in the forest floor or in the mineral topsoil were poorly correlated with pine foliar P concentrations and thus inappropriate predictors of P nutrition. P fertilization in the 1960s sustainably improved the P nutritional status of the stands. At Pfaffenwinkel, foliar P concentrations and topsoil stocks of citric-acid-extractable phosphate were increased at the fertilized plots relative to the control plots even 40 years after fertilization; at Pustert, foliar P concentrations were increased for about 20 years.     

苹果苦痘病与果实品质及矿质元素含量的相关性分析

为了探明苹果果实品质及果实中主要矿质元素含量与苦痘病发生的关系,从而为其生产施肥提供参考依据,测定了'长富2'苹果苦痘病不同发病等级果实的外观与内在品质指标及果实中主要矿质元素N、P、K、Ca的含量与比值,分析了其与苦痘病发生的相关性。测定结果表明:果实硬度、糖酸比、果形指数与苦痘病病级均呈显著负相关,其相关系数分别为-0.91、-0.93、-0.89;可溶性固形物、可滴定酸的含量与苦痘病病级均呈极显著正相关,其相关系数分别为0.96、0.97;单果质量、横径、总糖与苦痘病病级均呈显著正相关,其相关系数分别为0.92、0.92、0.90。果实中的Ca含量,苦痘病病果低于正常果;而果实中N、P、K的含量,苦痘病病果却高于正常果。苦痘病病级与果实中N、P的含量均呈显著正相关,而与Ca含量呈极显著负相关,与N/Ca、K/Ca、P/Ca之值均呈极显著正相关,而与K/P、N/P之值均呈显著负相关。分析结果表明:苦痘病的发生会影响苹果的单果质量、硬度、可溶性固形物、总糖、可滴定酸含量等果实品质指标;而且果实中较低的Ca含量和较高的N、P、K含量及较高的N/Ca、K/Ca、P/Ca之值、较低的K/P、N/P之值,都是导致或者加重苦痘病发生的主要因素。     

Urea fertilization and foliar nutrient composition of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarc.)

Foliar mineral contents of hemlock stands in coastal and Cascade Mountain zones of the Pacific Northwest were studied to determine the effect of urea fertilization on foliar nutrients. The results demonstrate that mineral concentrations vary among foliage age classes, stands, and zones. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and B were significantly higher in the Cascade Mountain stands than in the coastal stands. Urea fertilization significantly increased the N content in all age classes of foliage but reduced the concentrations of P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Al and B, especially in coastal stands. The poor response of coastal stands to urea fertilization, therefore, is probably due to further reduction in already low foliar levels of essential nutrients other than N.     

Simulated biomass and soil carbon of loblolly pine and cottonwood plantations across a thermal gradient in southeastern United States

Changes in biomass and soil carbon with nitrogen fertilization were simulated for a 25-year loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation and for three consecutive 7-year short-rotation cottonwood (Populus deltoides) stands. Simulations were conducted for 17 locations in the southeastern United States with mean annual temperatures ranging from 13.1 to 19.4 °C. The LINKAGES stand growth model, modified to include the “RothC” soil C and soil N model, simulated tree growth and soil C status. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased cumulative cottonwood aboveground biomass in the three rotations from a site average of 106 to 272 Mg/ha in 21 years. The equivalent site averages for loblolly pine showed a significant increase from 176 and 184 Mg/ha in 25 years with fertilization. Location results, compared on the annual sum of daily mean air temperatures above 5.5 °C (growing-degree-days), showed contrasts. Loblolly pine biomass increased whereas cottonwood decreased with increasing growing-degree-days, particularly in cottonwood stands receiving N fertilization. The increment of biomass due to N addition per unit of control biomass (relative response) declined in both plantations with increase in growing-degree-days. Average soil C in loblolly pine stands increased from 24.3 to 40.4 Mg/ha in 25 years and in cottonwood soil C decreased from 14.7 to 13.7 Mg/ha after three 7-year rotations. Soil C did not decrease with increasing growing-degree-days in either plantation type suggesting that global warming may not initially affect soil C. Nitrogen fertilizer increased soil C slightly in cottonwood plantations and had no significant effect on the soil C of loblolly stands.     

DRIS-based fertilization efficiency of young hybrid poplar plantations in the boreal region of Canada

In order to maximize early growth and establishment of planted hybrid poplars in the boreal region of Eastern Canada, growth response of four clones to fertilization was tested in two plantations. The first two fertilization treatments were based on Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS), a method based on nutrient ratios: DRIS I was based on previously established norms from a study that had been conducted in the same area, and DRIS II was based on DRIS norms developed from hybrid poplars in northern Ontario, Canada. Nutrient status and growth of trees under these 2 treatments were compared to unfertilized trees and to trees under standard (STD) fertilization treatment (40 N–20P–20 K). Leaf nutrient concentrations and DRIS indices showed that fertilization treatments, and especially DRIS I corrected N deficiencies but failed to correct P deficiencies. Fertilization increased volume relative growth rate by 7.51, 4.76 and 13.25 % on average at the agricultural site for DRIS I, DRIS II and STD treatments respectively, compared to no fertilizer application. At the forest site, fertilization treatments based on DRIS indices (DRIS I and DRIS II) increased growth rates (6.67 %) slightly more than the standard treatment (5.80 %). Overall, although DRIS-based fertilization treatments generally increased growth rates, they were often equal to or less efficient than the STD treatment, and may not be as practical as using a standard fertilization recipe.     

The impact of black cottonwood on soil fertility in coastal western hemlock forest

Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa Torr. and Gray) is a deciduous tree species that extends from Alaska through coastal regions of western Canada into the northwestern United States and as far south as Baja California. We examined the influence of black cottonwood on soil fertility within a forest dominated by Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziessi (Mirb.) Franco], western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg], and western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex. D. Don.). Six circular 0.008 ha plots with a single cottonwood tree in the center of conifers were paired with six conifer plots (of the same size) without cottonwood. Litterfall, litter decomposition, properties of forest floor and mineral soil, and N mineralization were compared between plot types. Cottonwood litter had higher concentrations of almost all elements relative to conifer litter. Mass loss did not differ between cottonwood and fir/hemlock litter on cottonwood sites. Twice the amount of mull-like humus form (vermimull and mullmoder, 56%) was found in cottonwood plots compared to 28% in conifer plots. Higher pH (4.4) was found in the forest floor under cottonwood compared to conifer (3.9). Total N concentration (3.33 g/kg) and base saturation (68%) were higher in the mineral soil under cottonwood compared to conifers (2.98 g/kg total N and 50% base saturation). Net ammonification and net mineralization were both lower under cottonwood. These results suggest a variable effect of cottonwood on soil fertility within coastal western hemlock forests with some soil variables changed in a favourable direction and some in an unfavourable direction.     

Xylem vulnerability to cavitation varies among poplar and willow clones and correlates with yield

Xylem vulnerability to cavitation is a promising criterion for identifying trees with high drought tolerance, but traditional techniques for measuring cavitation resistance are unsuitable for screening large numbers of genotypes. We tested the potential of the new Cavitron technique for high throughput screening of cavitation resistance in five poplar (Populus spp.) and four willow (Salix spp.) clones. The Cavitron technique enabled the screening of three to four clones per day with sufficient accuracy to reveal significant differences between clones. Because intraspecific screening may be better carried out through the identification of correlated and more easily measured traits, we attempted to identify accessible parameters that correlate to cavitation resistance. Variability in vulnerability to cavitation across clones was poorly correlated with anatomical traits such as vessel diameter, vessel wall strength, wood density and fiber wall thickness; however, a striking correlation was established between cavitation resistance and aboveground biomass production, indicating a possible trade-off between xylem safety and growth potential.     

Nutritional Augmentation of Jeffrey Pine Saplings on a Harsh Sierran Site

Broadcast fertilization with an array of amendments was examined for its capacity to reinvigorate growth and enhance nutrition of a 12-yr-old Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) plantation growing on an acidic Sierra Nevada surface mine site. Selected amendments consisted of Viking Brand 21-7-14, Free Flow 29-3-4, High N 22-4-6 + Minors, and Milorganite 6-2-0 + Iron—formulations that differed substantially in critical characteristics including N sources and the duration of release, and each was administered using three rates of application. All formulations stimulated sapling growth during some stage of the study, especially when applied at the highest rates, but the Free Flow amendment, which features urea as the predominant N source, the High N formulation, which is a controlled release fertilizer, and Milorganite, an organic amendment based on municipal biosolids, sustained growth enhancement longer than the Viking amendment, which relies exclusively upon ammoniacal and nitrate N forms and lacks any provision for metering nutrient release. As indicated by foliar analysis, increased availability and uptake of N probably accounted for most of the added growth induced by fertilization, although improved P nutrition likely contributed as well. However, in addition to the N and P responses, fertilized saplings were frequently lower in Mn, B, and Al—all of which may be phytotoxic at elevated concentrations. Further support for the possible linkages between foliar concentrations noted above and sapling growth responses were provided by the concentrations of these elements in the mine soil, which was low in N and P but high in Mn, B, and Al. This study reports approaches to nutritional augmentation on degraded sites suitable for use during the sapling stage of tree development.     

Autumnal changes of sulfur fractions and the ratio of organic sulfur to total nitrogen in leaves and adjacent bark of eastern cottonwood, white basswood and actinorhizal black alder

Autumnal changes in organic-S, sulfate-S, total-S and the ratios of organic-S to total-N and sulfate-S to organic-S were followed in leaves and adjacent bark of actinorhizal (Frankia-nodulated) black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) trees growing on a minespoil site high in extractable soil sulfate, and in black alder and white basswood (Tilia heterophylla Venten.) trees growing on a prairie-derived soil in Illinois. Organic-S concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during autumn only in foliage of trees growing on the prairie-derived soil where losses of leaf organic-S were 65% for black alder and 100% for white basswood. Leaf sulfate concentrations were relatively stable throughout autumn in white basswood growing on prairie-derived soil and in black alder at both sites. Sulfate-S concentrations in leaves were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in trees at the minespoil site than in trees growing in the prairie-derived soil (5.1 mg g(-1) for the minespoil site and 1.2 mg g(-1) for the prairie-derived soil), and in the non-actinorhizal species during late summer. During the autumn, the ratio of organic-S to total-N doubled in leaves of eastern cottonwood at the minespoil site, but in black alder and white basswood growing on the prarie-derived soil, it decreased by 60 and 74%, respectively. Organic-S concentrations in bark increased more during autumn in species unable to fix atmospheric N(2), than in black alder. The results suggest that patterns of autumnal translocation of leaf S can be site-dependent and that leaf S and leaf N are, at least in part, translocated independently in the fall. Black alder and eastern cottonwood seemed to incorporate sulfate-S readily into organic substances in leaves when grown in soils with a high sulfate content.     

Effects of N, NP, and NPKS fertilizers applied to four-year old hybrid poplar plantations

Mineral fertilizers were applied to adjacent plantations of 2, 4-year old, hybrid poplars: clone 27 (Northwest, P. deltoides × P. balsamifera) and 794 (Brooks, P. deltoides × P. × petrowskyana), in north eastern Alberta. Fertilization was done in May 2003 to see whether growth rates could be increased and rotations shortened. Three fertilizers (N, NP and NPKS + Cu + Zn) were applied at each of three rates (supplying N at 0, 100 and 200 kg ha⁻¹) in a factorial randomized block design to the two separate plantations. Fertilization with 200 kg ha⁻¹ N and 100 kg ha⁻¹ P increased volume growth of clone 27 by 1 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ over 2 years. Clone 794 showed no volume response to fertilization, but produced 8.7 m³ ha⁻¹ more than clone 27. Leaf area, dry mass and nutrient concentrations of both clones increased in the first year after fertilization, showing that fertilizer uptake occurred. Decrease in leaf size between 2003 and 2004 was affected by fertilizer level in clone 794. There were differences between some nutrient concentrations in the soils occupied by the two clones, and clone 794 had higher leaf concentrations of N, K, Ca, S, Mn, Zn, B and Mo than clone 27. Fertilization of 4-year old plantations of either clone was unwarranted, and planting clone 794 would be likely to provide greater yield than planting and fertilizing clone 27.     

Frost hardiness, bud phenology and growth of containerized Picea mariana seedlings grown at three nitrogen levels and three temperature regimes

We studied the influence of temperature and near- and sub- optimal mineral nutrition of black spruce seedlings (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) during their second growing period on bud set, bud development, growth, mineral content and cold tolerance. Bud break and growth after bud break were also studied. Seedlings were grown for 106 d in growth chambers under three temperature regimes in combination with three concentrations of a fertilizer. They were then cold hardened for 56 d and dehardened for 66 d.Under these near- and sub-optimal N levels, bud formation occurred during the growing season. Bud formation was accelerated with decreasing fertilization, but was not affected by temperature treatments. Needles from seedlings with 0.64% N (dry mass basis) before hardening did not harden. Those with 0.87% N showed a lesser degree of hardiness than those with 1.28% N. Stem diameter increased at the beginning of the hardening period. During this acclimation period, shoot dry mass decreased with time at a constant rate and at the same rate over time for all treatments whereas root dry mass was more variable. Total number of needle primordia was low and no difference was observed among growing conditions. Bud break was similar in all treatments. Following bud break, shoot height and stem diameter increases were small but their magnitude varied with the nutritional regimes applied during the previous growing period. During hardening, nitrogen concentration of shoot tissues first increased and then decreased; phosphorus concentration first increased and then remained stable; potassium concentration remained stable. Concentration of these three elements generally decreased in the roots during this hardening.     

整地施肥对I-69杨人工林生长效应的研究

在淮北平原宿县,通过大穴整地、施肥改良砂姜黑土、营造Ⅰ-69杨的五年试验证明,大穴整地当年效应明显(径、高增长19.8%、91.8%);头二年肥效不显;第三年起N肥、有机肥、N×有机肥交互作用效应极显著(材积增加77%),施P+K肥效应较差,N+K肥和N+P肥经济效益较高,投入/产出为1/6.22和1/3.78;材积增加60%和58%。整地加施肥综合效益明显,有效施肥占综合效益85.1%～88.8%。     

Variation in Stemwood Nutrient Concentrations in Scots Pine Growing on Peatland

Radial and longitudinal variation in the nutrient concentrations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stemwood and the effect of fertilization (PK and NPK) were studied on three peatland sites in eastern Finland. The results showed distinctive patterns in longitudinal and radial nutrient concentrations in stemwood. The N, P and K concentrations were highest in the youngest tissues both in the radial and longitudinal directions independent of the site type or fertilization. Ca and Mn accumulated in the older parts of stemwood. Increased N, P, K and Ca concentrations were found 9 yrs after fertilization in the annual rings formed during the first-5-yr period after fertilization. Decreased Mn concentrations were found in the annual rings formed during the 5-and-9-yr periods after fertilization. The results indicate that in the intensive utilization of Scots pine stemwood, e.g. whole stem harvesting instead of stem harvesting to a fixed diameter (7-8 cm in Finland), nutrient loss increases proportionally more than the amount of harvested biomass. The results also imply that this wood contains more undesirable elements, such as K, which may cause problems in wood combustion in power plants, and that fertilization raises these concentrations in wood. However, the concentrations in unfertilized trees were generally at about the same level as in Scots pine stemwood grown on infertile mineral soil sites.     

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolic compounds in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) leaves

Beginning in 1985, plots in a 120-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stand in the province of Scania, southern Sweden were fertilized annually with ammonium nitrate. In August 1989, leaves from both fertilized and unfertilized trees were analyzed for mineral nutrients, soluble carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolic compounds. Leaf concentrations of total nitrogen were increased by N fertilization. Ammonium was not detected in the leaves, but NO(3) (-) was increased by up to 65% as a result of N fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization decreased foliar concentrations of P and Cu, leading to a nutrient imbalance relative to N. Of the free amino acids, glutamic acid and aspartic acid predominated and, together with glutamine and asparagine, were significantly increased by N fertilization. The concentrations of amides were 2-4 times higher in fertilized trees than in unfertilized trees. Soluble carbohydrates did not change in response to N fertilization, but total phenolic compounds decreased markedly. The reduced concentration of phenolics may explain the greater susceptibility to parasite attacks of trees exposed to N deposition and excess N.     

山楂始果期叶片矿质营养的初步研究

采用Kenworthy的叶片营养诊断法,确定了山楂叶片N、P、K、Mg、Fe、Zn、Mn、Cu8种丰产营养指标,其中叶片含氮量是影响山楂产量的主导因子。不同的品种的叶片营养成分含量不同。土壤肥力是影响叶片矿质营养的主要外部因子。据此,为山楂施肥合理化,标准化提供了科学依据。