巨桉叶、凋落物、根的水浸液对莴笋的化感效应

通过巨桉叶、凋落物、根（试材）水浸液对莴笋化感强弱影响的研究,结果表明：（1）水浸液对莴笋的化感效应随着浸泡时间的延长而增强,且水浸液的浓度越大表现越明显;（2）各水浸液对莴笋种子萌发均表现为抑制作用,其化感强度大小依次为：叶片水浸液〉凋落物水浸液〉根水浸液。（3）叶片与凋落物水浸液对莴笋幼苗生长主要表现为抑制作用,而根水浸液对幼苗生长主要表现为促进作用,其化感强度大小依次为：叶片水浸液〉根水浸液〉凋落物水浸液：（4）凋落物水浸液对莴笋根的生长起促进作用,而叶片和根水浸液均是随着浓度的增大和浸泡时间的增长由促进逐渐过渡到抑制。其化感强度大小依次为：凋落物水浸液〉根水浸液〉叶片水浸液。     

格氏栲天然林凋落物对马尾松种子萌发的影响

[目的]了解格氏栲天然林凋落物对主要伴生种马尾松种子萌发与胚根生长的影响。[方法]通过探究天然林凋落物不同分解层及浓度浸提液对马尾松种子萌发和胚根生长的化感效应。[结果]表明:(1)影响马尾松种子萌发的主要因素是凋落物分解层,未、全分解层凋落物对马尾松种子萌发无显著作用;半分解层抑制发芽率和发芽指数,促进发芽势。(2)影响胚根生长的主要因素是浸提液浓度和作用时间,并受分解层-浓度-时间综合作用,未分解层对马尾松种子整个胚根生长期除1∶5浓度呈抑制作用外,随浓度降低促进作用增强,1∶100浓度时促进作用最强;半分解层呈低浓度和高浓度促进,中间浓度抑制;全分解层总体呈促进作用,且随浓度降低促进作用减弱。(3)对应分析表明不同分解层-浓度对马尾松种子萌发无显著相关性,对胚根生长有显著相关性。[结论]不同分解层凋落物浸提液对马尾松种子萌发作用较弱,对胚根生长在低浓度下呈促进作用,高浓度未分解层浸提液有抑制作用,而半分解和全分解浸提液具有促进作用,凋落物化感作用更明显作用于胚根生长。     

海南鹿角藤提取物对黄瓜的化感作用研究

通过种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理生化指标的测定,研究海南鹿角藤(Chonemorpha splendens)提取物对黄瓜(Cucumis sativus)的化感作用。结果表明氯仿萃取物对黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗生长的抑制作用最强,对黄瓜幼苗的茎和鲜重抑制活性较好,EC_(50)值分别为0.1286 mg/m L、0.1354 mg/m L,且黄瓜根、茎和鲜重的生长抑制作用随氯仿萃取物浓度的增大而增强。但黄瓜体内的叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、根系活力和SOD酶活性随氯仿萃取物浓度的增大而降低。相反,POD酶活性和MDA的含量随氯仿萃取物浓度的增大而升高。由此表明,海南鹿角藤提取物对黄瓜具有明显的化感作用,该结果为选择鹿角藤的后茬作物具有指导意义。     

燕山山地不同林龄华北落叶松叶凋落物浸提液对其种子萌发和幼苗生长的自毒作用

以燕山山地华北落叶松人工林为研究对象,从不同林龄(16a、23a、34a、42a)、不同浓度(0.001g/mL、0.005g/mL、0.010g/mL、0.050g/mL、0.100g/mL)等方面研究了叶凋落物对落叶松种子萌发和幼苗生长的自毒作用。结果表明:不同林龄、不同浓度华北落叶松叶凋落物水浸液处理均抑制华北落叶松种子的萌发和幼苗的生长,不同浓度的发芽率、发芽指数、胚根长、胚芽长、苗高及地径的抑制作用均呈现:42a34a23a16a,随着浓度增加,不同林龄凋落物水浸液的抑制作用增强;不同林龄落叶松水浸液对种子萌发和幼苗生长具有不同程度的抑制作用,以0.100g/mL的42a落叶松凋落物水浸液抑制作用最强,发芽率和发芽指数分别降低64%和68%,胚根和胚芽长分别降低54%和45%,苗高和地径分别降低55%和78%。     

桃儿七凋落物对自身种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

为了研究凋落物对桃儿七种子萌发影响的生物化学原因,阐明凋落物对桃儿七种子萌发与幼苗生长的影响,采用野外调查和室内控制相结合的方法,对桃儿七凋落物浸提液进行GC-MS检测,研究凋落物对桃儿七自身种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响。结果表明,凋落物提取液对种子萌发和幼苗生长起到一定程度的抑制作用,并且浓度越高抑制作用越明显;当提取液浓度低于0.08g/mL时,种子萌发和幼苗生长过程中各指标与对照均无显著差异(P0.05);提取液浓度高于0.08g/mL时,种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚根长随提取液浓度的增加急剧降低(P0.05),并且凋落物提取液延长了种子发芽时间;高浓度(0.48g/mL)凋落物提取液致使种子失活。统计检验表明,叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜透性与提取液浓度呈显著的线性正相关,叶绿素含量、根系活力(TTC)、保护性酶(POD、SOD、CAT)和非保护性酶(PPO、PAL)活性与提取液浓度呈显著的线性负相关。GC-MS检测凋落物提取液主要为烷烃、环烷烃、苯环和酯类等物质,以烷烃类物质最多,其中甘菊环烃、十二烷和邻苯二甲酸甲酯含量最高,这几种化感物质抑制种子的萌发和幼苗的生理特性。由此可知,凋落物提取液对其种子萌发和幼苗生长存在一定程度的自毒作用。研究结果为野生桃儿七资源的保护提供依据。     

木麻黄自身他感作用影响因素及缓解

通过木麻黄不同无性系对木麻黄苗木的他感作用、木麻黄不同无性系苗木对木麻黄他感作用的反应、不同密度林分木麻黄他感作用、木麻黄伴生树种对木麻黄生长的影响及施肥对木麻黄自身他感作用影响等的研究,结果表明:(1)木麻黄不同无性系自身他感作用和对木麻黄自身他感作用物的抵抗力存在差别。粤601和粤701自身他感作用较弱,自毒能力较小。粤501、粤701和惠1对木麻黄他感作用物的抑制作用表现出较强的适应性和抵抗力。选择木麻黄无性系粤501、粤601、粤701和惠1进行木麻黄二代更新造林能减轻自毒影响。(2)林分密度影响木麻黄他感物质的分泌。高密度使木麻黄自身他感作用物质分泌增强、光合作用减弱、净光合速率降低、木麻黄生长抑制加剧。通过低密度造林或及时调整林分密度能有效缓解木麻黄自我生长抑制。(3)湿地松、马占相思和大叶相思叶浸液促进木麻黄苗木生长,用这3种树种作为木麻黄伴生树种进行造林能提高木麻黄生产力,减轻木麻黄自我生长抑制;而柠檬桉与木麻黄混交却抑制木麻黄生长。(4)木麻黄苗木在木麻黄自身他感作用下,施加Ca(H2PO4)2和KC l后,苗根重量和根系活力均增加,施磷、钾肥有利于缓解木麻黄自身生长抑制,提高其更新生产力。     

凋落物对迷人杜鹃幼苗更新和种子萌发的影响

【目的】“百里杜鹃”是全国唯一以保护杜鹃花科杜鹃属植物为对象的自然保护区,迷人杜鹃是保护区内重要的保护树种。本文采用野外调查和室内控制相结合,阐明凋落物,迷人杜鹃幼苗更新和种子萌发的影响。【方法】野外踏查百里杜鹃林迷人杜鹃群落不同厚度凋落物下幼苗更新情况;采用人工模拟用凋落物厚度和播种位置的试验,探讨凋落物对迷人杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生长的物理影响;以迷人杜鹃为主的凋落物水浸提液的乙醚相、乙酸乙酯相和正丁醇相溶液浇灌进行迷人杜鹃种子萌发试验,并对三相溶液进行 GC-MS检测,探讨凋落物对迷人杜鹃种子萌发影响的生物化学原因。【结果】自然条件下,过厚的凋落物影响迷人杜鹃幼苗更新,凋落物厚度＜4 cm处,幼苗数量最多,随着凋落物厚度的增加,幼苗数量逐渐减少。盆播试验发现,对照的种子萌发率最高;凋落物上方播种的种子萌发速率和幼苗发生率低于下方播种;随着凋落物厚度的增加,下方播种种子萌发率和幼苗发生率逐渐降低;3种有机相浸提液浇灌种子,均随着浓度的升高种子萌发率降低,尤以乙醚相溶液对种子发芽率和幼苗生长的抑制作用最为显著,在浓度为12 mg·mL －1时,发芽率降低82.98%,苗高降幅为68.75%,且胚根停止生长。因此认为,凋落物具有物理阻碍作用和化感作用,其物理原因：一是过厚的凋落物层的机械障碍导致萌发幼苗难于扎根或生长;二是凋落物层加厚,导致种子萌发所需的光照发生变化,从而影响种子萌发。其化学原因是凋落物水浸提液中存在丰富的化感物质抑制了种子萌发和成苗,其中乙醚萃取相含29种,乙酸乙酯相含有16种,正丁醇相含有4种。【结论】在杜鹃林抚育管理中应合理地清理林下凋落物,以促进迷人杜鹃幼苗的天然更新。     

山东半岛丘陵生境优势树种凋落物对外来植物火炬树种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

【目的】认识和了解群落入侵抵抗力形成机制成为当前入侵生态学研究最为关注的热点和核心问题。本文比较山东半岛丘陵生境不同群落优势种对外来植物火炬树的化感抑制效应差异,探讨群落入侵抵抗力形成的化感驱动机制。【方法】采用培养皿滤纸法进行凋落物水浸液种子发芽试验,比较山东半岛丘陵生境常见优势树种麻栎、刺槐、赤松、黑松凋落物对火炬树种子萌发、幼苗生长的化感作用差异;因土壤会影响许多化感物质的转化和存在形态进而影响其活性,进一步设置土壤介质参与的凋落物覆盖盆栽试验,对比研究不同树种凋落物覆盖对火炬树幼苗生物量积累及其分配的影响。【结果】凋落物水浸液种子发芽试验显示,麻栎相比刺槐、赤松、黑松,显著抑制火炬树种子萌发和幼苗生长。凋落物覆盖盆栽试验表明,高凋落物量(每盆50 g)时,麻栎较刺槐、赤松、黑松显著降低了火炬树幼苗的总生物量;低凋落物量(每盆25 g)时仅在麻栎和赤松之间存在显著差异,麻栎较赤松显著抑制了火炬树幼苗总生物量的积累;有麻栎凋落物覆盖时,火炬树幼苗生物量分配呈现叶生物量比降低,根生物量比和根冠比增大的趋势。【结论】麻栎的化感物质可在一定程度上控制火炬树的生长。利用对火炬树具有明显化感抑制作用的本地植物麻栎对其进行生态控制,或者构建高抵抗力植物群落,进而筛选有效化感物质,可能是一条值得尝试的控制火炬树扩散的新途径。研究结果可揭示群落入侵抵抗力形成的化感驱动机制,有助于进一步推动对入侵过程的认识,对外来植物入侵防控具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

凋落物浸提液对连香树种子萌发的化感作用

为了明确凋落物是否为连香树天然居群更新困难的因素,对不同浓度凋落物浸提液条件下的种子萌发情况进行了研究。结果表明,当凋落物浸提液浓度较高时(20～80 g/L),对连香树种子萌发表现出抑制作用;当浓度较低(10 g/L)时,则表现为促进作用,且萌发率最高。同时,凋落物浸提液在高浓度时(80 g/L),对连香树种子萌发的抑制效应表现出了极其显著的差异(p0.01),说明连香树林下的凋落物中包含相关的化感物质,并对连香树种子萌发有着自毒作用。因此,凋落物中的化感自毒作用可能是连香树天然林更新困难的因素之一。     

四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶林不同物候期土壤动物对凋落物氮和磷释放的影响

[目的]探讨不同物候期土壤动物对凋落物分解过程中N和P释放特征的影响,以期进一步认识凋落物分解与植物生长间的生态联系.[方法]以四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶秫典型人工林马尾松和柳杉及次生林香樟和麻栎凋落物为研究对象,采用不同孔径凋落物分解袋排除土壤动物的方法,于2011年11月-2012年10月按照凋落物自然分解过程在不同物候期(秋末落叶期、萌动期、展叶期、叶片成熟期、盛叶期和叶衰期)研究去除和不去除土壤动物条件下凋落物分解过程中N和P的浓度、释放率以及释放速率特征.[结果]在第1年的凋落物分解过程中,N浓度在4种凋落物的分解过程中均表现出升高的趋势,土壤动物提高了叶片成熟期马尾松和香樟凋落物N浓度,但降低了柳杉和麻栎凋落物N浓度;4种凋落物P浓度在分解过程中以叶片成熟期和盛叶期达到最高值,除土壤动物显著影响叶片成熟期香樟P浓度外,对其他3种凋落物分解过程中P浓度无显著影响;土壤动物显著影响凋落物N和P的释放过程,移除土壤动物条件下,4种凋落物N在展叶期表现为释放的过程,此后释放率持续下降,但4种凋落物P在展叶期和叶片成熟期表现为释放,盛叶期表现为富集,至叶衰期又表现为释放的过程;相对而言,允许土壤动物进入条件下,马尾松和香樟凋落物N和P在叶片成熟期表现为明显富集现象,而盛叶期表现为明显释放过程,柳杉和麻栎凋落物N和P却表现为叶片成熟期释放而盛叶期明显富集的过程;经过整个第1年的凋落物分解,土壤动物明显促进了柳杉和麻栎凋落物分解过程N的释放以及马尾松凋落物分解过程中P的释放,但土壤动物抑制马尾松和香樟凋落物分解过程中N的释放,以及香樟、柳杉和麻栎凋落物分解过程中P的释放;相对于其他物候期,秋末落叶期和萌动期土壤动物抑制马尾松和香樟凋落物分解过程中N和P的释放,而在展叶期、叶片成熟期和盛叶期土壤动物促进马尾松、香樟和麻栎凋落物分解过程中N和P的释放.[结论]土壤动物可显著影响四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶林凋落物分解过程中N和P的释放过程,在植物生长较慢的秋末落叶期、萌动期和展叶期土壤动物对凋落物N和P释放的影响相对较小,而在植物生长大量消耗养分的叶片成熟期和盛叶期,土壤动物对凋落物N和P释放的作用更为明显,这一定程度上表明了土壤动物与植物可能存在竞争关系.     

Allelopathic effects of leaf litters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus camaldulensis</Emphasis> on some forest and agricultural crops

Allelopathic effects of different doses of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf litters were investigated through an experiment in the green house of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Three popular agricultural crops： Falen （Vigna unguiculata）, Chickpea （Cicer arietinum）, Arhor （Cajanus cajan） and two widely used plantation trees： Sada koroi （Albizia procera） and Ipil ipil （Leucaena leucocephala） were selected as bioassay species. Experiment was set on tray at room temperature 27℃. The effects of different doses of leaf litter extracts were compared to the control. Results suggest that leaf litters of E, camaldulesis induced inhibitory effects, It was also found that the effect depend on concentration of extract and litterfall, type of receiver species. Higher concentration of the materials had the higher effect and vice versa. Though all the bioassay species were suppressed some of them showed better performance. Vigna unguiculata, Cicer arietinum are recommended in agroforestry based on this present Experiment output. In mixed plantation, Leucaena leucochephala is a better choice while compared to Albizia procera.     

Allelopathic effects of Leucaena leucocephala leaf litter on some forest and agricultural crops grown in nursery

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of leaf litter of Leucaena leucocephala on two forest crops Sada koroi (Albizia procera), Ipil ipil (L. leucocephala) and three agricultural crops Falen (Vigna unguiculata), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and Arhor (Cajanus cajan) in the nursery of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Bangladesh, in a Randomized Block Design. Results suggested that leaf litters of L. leucocephala induced inhibitory effects on germination and growth of bioassay. It was also found that the effect depended on concentration of extract and litterfall, type of receptor species. Higher concentration of the materials had the higher effect and vice versa. Growth response of receptor crops varied with the variation of leaf litter application. The study revealed that application of low-dose leaf litter specially litter of 10 g·m⁻² had stimulating effect on shoot growth of C. arietinum, V. unguiculata and A. procera. While in all other cases significant inhibitory effect was observed and it was significantly increased with the increase of leaf litter application. However, the trend of inhibition was uneven with treatments. Root growth was found to be more affected than shoot growth.     

Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara on germination and growth behavior of some agricultural crops in Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to understand the growth inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts derived from Lantana camara L. （a globally recognized invasive alien weed） on six popular agricultural crops of Bangladesh. The test was conducted in sterilized petridishes with a photoperiod of 24 hours and an average temperature of 29℃. The effect of different concentrations ofL. camara leaf extracts were recorded and compared with control （i.e., distil water）. Result showed different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts caused significant inhibitory effect on germination, root and shoot elongation and development of lateral roots of receptor crops. Bioassays also indicated that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and higher concentration had the stronger inhibitory effect whereas the lower concentration showed stimulatory effect in some cases. The inhibitory effect was much pronounced in root and lateral root development rather than shoot and germination.     

含羞草叶子提取物对常见农作物种子萌发生长的抑制作用

观察了含羞草叶子提取物对孟加拉常见农作物种子萌发生长的抑制作用.实验在27-30℃的室温和24小时的光照条件下进行.结果表明：不同浓度的含羞草叶子提取物明显影响所选的植物种子根,茎和侧根的延长和生长.生物学测定表明：高浓度（50%-100%）的提取物有较强的抑制作用.而低浓度 （10%-25%） 的提取物的抑制作用较弱.研究还显示,提取物对植物根和侧根的抑制作用比对种子萌发和茎的生长抑制作用更显著.     

Assaying the allelopathic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus camaldulensis</Emphasis> in a nursery bed incorporated with leaf litter

Allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. were confirmed in Petri dish and pot experiments in our previous studies. However, the degree to which such effects under controlled experiments exist in more complex ecological settings remains to be tested. Thus, the present study was carried out by incorporating different proportions of ground litter of E. camaldulensis in soil. The growth of three agricultural crops: falen (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and arhor (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), and two tree species, kala koroi (Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth.) and ipil ipil (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) were tested. There were inhibitory effects of leaf litter on germination, shoot and root growth, leaf number, and collar diameter as well as a reduction of nodulation by legume crops (25–80% reduction). The extent of the effects was dependent on the proportion of leaf litter, the species and the type of traits. In contrast to shoot growth, the effect on root growth was more severe. No effect on germination was found with the agriculture crops while the two tree species showed reduced germination. The effect was greater in the presence of higher proportions of leaf litter mixed in soil while in some cases lower proportions stimulated growth. Not all species were suppressed; A. procera, C. cajan, V. unguiculata showed compatible growth while C. arietinum and L. leucocephala were found incompatible. This study provides evidence that E. camaldulensis has allelopathic potential under field conditions and a careful selection of associated crops in agroforestry systems is highly recommended.     

Growth and yield of sorghum or cowpea in an agrisilviculture system in semiarid India

This study was conducted near Hyderabad, India during 1991–1994 to quantify the effects of shoot pruning, fertilization, and root barriers around Leucaena leucocephala trees on intercropped sorghum(Sorghum bicolor) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crop production under rainfed conditions. Crop plants grown with pruned trees attained higher dry matter and leaf area index than did those with unpruned trees. Two-year mean grain yields of sorghum with no root barriers were76% and 39% of pure crop yield (1553 kg ha–1)for pruned and unpruned trees, respectively. Corresponding values for cowpea were 49% and 26% of pure crop yield (1075 kgha–1). Sorghum or cowpea intercropped with trees responded to fertilizer application more strongly than did their respective pure crops, suggesting an increased need for fertilizer application in this agrisilviculture system over that currently used for pure crops. Impact of root barriers was small on either crop. Irrespective of root barriers, a high response to tree pruning suggested above ground competition for light dominated tree/crop interactions in this agrisilviculture system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

污泥对苗圃生长的银合欢幼苗发芽和初期长势的影响

研究了不同类型的污泥(城市的、工业的和住宅污泥)对苗圃生长的银合欢幼苗田间萌发、生长和分枝的影响.播种前先将不同类型污泥的混合物与养分匮乏的自然林土壤混合.播种的3和6月后,记录幼苗大田发芽、分枝状况和其他物理生长参数(枝条或根长、活力指数、茎直径、叶片数、分枝或根鲜重和干重、总的生物量干重增长)等.与对照幼苗相比,混合污泥的土壤中生长的幼苗田间发芽、分枝状况及其他生长参数均发生了显著变化.与其它条件生长的幼苗相比,住宅污泥与土壤混合(1:1)条件生长的3月龄和6月龄幼苗分枝数和分枝鲜或干重均最高.就生长参数而言,住宅污泥与自然林土壤混合(1:1)生长的幼苗长势最好.研究表明:退化的土壤补偿以住宅污泥可促进银合欢的田间发芽、生长以及分枝的形成.图1表3参29.     

元谋抗旱耐热造林树种的定量选择研究

针对元谋干热河谷区特殊的自然条件,为荒山造林所需,开展抗旱耐热造林树种的定量选择研究。以银合欢、念珠相思、黄豆树、加勒比松、山合欢为参试树种,造林５年后,进行高、径及冠幅生长分析。依据测定数据,制定出本区抗旱耐热造林树种的选择标准。其数量选择标准为２７４８０。用此标准对参试树种进行反馈选择,评选出银合欢、黄豆树、加勒比松为元谋干热河谷区的造林树种。文章除论述元谋干热河谷区的自然条件、参试树种的高、径生长状况和分析结果外,还详细介绍了抗旱耐热造林树种的选择方法。     

Elevated CO2 concentration, fertilization and their interaction: growth stimulation in a short-rotation poplar coppice (EUROFACE)

We investigated the individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 concentration and fertilization on aboveground growth of three poplar species (Populus alba L. Clone 2AS-11, P. nigra L. Clone Jean Pourtet and P. x euramericana Clone I-214) growing in a short-rotation coppice culture for two growing seasons after coppicing. Free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) stimulated the number of shoots per stool, leaf area index measured with a fish-eye-type plant canopy analyzer (LAIoptical), and annual leaf production, but did not affect dominant shoot height or canopy productivity index. Comparison of LAIoptical with LAI estimates from litter collections and from allometric relationships showed considerable differences. The increase in biomass in response to FACE was caused by an initial stimulation of absolute and relative growth rates, which disappeared after the first growing season following coppicing. An ontogenetic decline in growth in the FACE treatment, together with strong competition inside the dense plantation, may have caused this decrease. Fertilization did not influence aboveground growth, although some FACE responses were more pronounced in fertilized trees. A species effect was observed for most parameters.     

Responses of Acer saccharum canopy trees and saplings to P, K and lime additions under high N deposition

Heavy atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been associated with altered nutrient cycling, and even N saturation, in forest ecosystems previously thought to be N-limited. This observation has prompted application to such forests of non-N mineral nutrients as a mitigation measure. We examined leaf gas-exchange, leaf chemistry and leaf and shoot morphological responses of Acer saccharum Marsh. saplings and mature trees to experimental additions of non-nitrogenous mineral nutrients (dolomitic lime, phosphorus + potassium (P + K) and lime plus P + K) over 2 years in the Haliburton region of central Ontario, which receives some of the largest annual N inputs in North America. Nutrients were adsorbed in the mineral soil and taken up by A. saccharum trees within 1 year of fertilizer application; however, contrary to expectation, liming had no effect on soil P availability. Saplings and canopy trees showed significant responses to both P + K fertilization and liming, including increased foliar nutrient concentration, leaf size and shoot extension growth; however, no treatment effects on leaf gas-exchange parameters were detected. Increases in shoot extension preceded increases in diameter growth in saplings and canopy trees. Vector analysis of shoot extension growth and nutrient content was consistent with sufficiency of N but marked limitation of P, with co-limitation by calcium (Ca) in saplings and by Ca, Mg and K in canopy trees.