The effect of nitrogen supply on root growth and development in sycamore and Sitka spruce trees

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis(Bong.) Carr.) were grown in sand culture in glasshouses withtwo levels of N supplied with irrigation 1.0 (deficient) and6.0 (sufficient) molNm^–3, all as NH₄NO₃. Providing trees with a sufficient N supply increased both theirabove ground growth and N content compared with the N deficientplants. Provision of the generous N supply also altered thedistribution of growth between leaves and roots, with the N-deficientplants having a higher root:leaf or root:needle ratio than thewell fertilized trees. Provision of a generous N supply stimulatedroot growth, especially at the later harvests, which was reflectedmainly in growth of the tap root in sycamore. There was an increasein both root mass and root diameter with N supply. When thegrowth of white roots was monitored using a borescope, it wasshown that there were significantly more new roots producedby the well-fertilized trees. The borescope data also showeddetail of the bimodal seasonal pattern of root growth underhigh N in Sitka spruce which related to trends in nitrogen uptake.