Comparing the use of leaf and soil analysis as N and P availability indices in a wildfire chronosequence

Two types of measures have traditionally been used to monitor changes after disturbances in the nutrient availability of forest ecosystems: (1) soil nutrient pools and transformation rates and (2) foliar nutrient content. We used a wildfire chronosequence in natural and unmanaged Pinus canariensis forests to determine which kind of measure is more effective in discriminating between disturbed and undisturbed plots and to determine whether the different availability indices provide comparable and consistent results within the chronosequence and between different sampling dates. The results showed that (1) foliar N and P concentrations were the variables that best discriminated between the plots of the chronosequence, (2) the various soil N availability indices neither showed steady relationships nor predicted the plant nutrient availability, and (3) P availability indices showed steady relationships and predicted plant nutrient availability. Due to the changing nature of the soil N pools, repeated sampling over a long period of time could yield results different from those presented here. However, the large sampling effort required would favor the use of foliar nutrient concentrations as the most desirable first approach to the community’s nutritional status, especially when time or budget constraints are relevant.     

Changes in soil N mineralization and nitrification pathways along a mixed forest chronosequence

Changes in soil N mineralization pathways occurring along a full rotation cycle have received little attention to date, while tree uptake for N may change during forest ageing. The aims of this study were (i) to characterize changes in potential net N mineralization and potential net nitrification within organic layers and the topsoil (organo-mineral horizon) along a 100-year chronosequence for a temperate oak–hornbeam forest and (ii) to reveal covariances between potential net N mineralization pathways and the properties of the humic epipedon (defined as the sum of organic layers and topsoil). For that purpose, a space-for-time substitution procedure and aerobic laboratory incubation method for 28 days at 28 °C in the dark were used. In addition, acetylene and captan were used to discriminate between autotrophic and heterotrophic (bacterial and/or fungal) nitrification. Several humic epipedon properties were determined, e.g. pH, exchangeable cation concentrations, effective cation exchange capacity, total C and N, dissolved organic C and N, fungal and microbial biomass N. Potential net N mineralization and nitrification pathways changed greatly along the mixed forest chronosequence. Potential net N mineralization in the organic layers increased with stand maturation whereas potential net nitrification in the topsoil decreased significantly. Selective inhibitors revealed changes in nitrification pathways along the chronosequence, i.e. potential net nitrification was autotrophic in the topsoil while it was mainly heterotrophic within the organic layers. In the organic layer, potential net nitrification was autotrophic at the onset of the chronosequence while it appeared heterotrophic during the aggradation phase and finally fungal in mature stands. A Co-Inertia Analysis was used to reveal covariances between N mineralization pathways and humic epipedon properties. The analysis showed two functional temporal shifts within N cycling along the chronosequence, one probably controlled by organic matter quality and high competition for available N resulting in the autotrophic versus heterotrophic nitrification shift in the organic layers and one mainly controlled by (i) fine organic matter abundance, allowing high N mineralization in the organic layers and (ii) acidity inhibited autotrophic nitrification in the topsoil.     

Relationships between soil and foliar nutrients in young densely planted mini-plots of Pinus radiata and Cupressus lusitanica

The long-term nature of forest crop rotations makes it difficult to determine impacts of forestry on soil nutrients that might be depleted by forest growth. We used small scale, highly stocked plots to compress the length of the rotation and rapidly induce nutrient depletion. In the study, two species (Pinus radiata D. Don and Cupressus lusitanica Miller) are compared under two disturbance regimes (soil undisturbed and compacted), and two fertiliser treatments (nil and plus fertiliser), applied in factorial combination at 33 sites, covering the range of climatic and edaphic variation found in plantation forests across New Zealand. To assess our ability to rapidly highlight important soil properties, foliar nutrient concentrations were determined 20 months after planting. It was hypothesised that the densely planted plots, even at a young age, would create sufficient pressure on nutrient resources to allow development of relationships between properties used as indicies of soil nutrient availability and foliar nutrient concentrations. For both species significant relationships between foliar nutrients and 0–10 cm layer soil properties from unfertilised plots were evident for N (total and mineralisable N) and P (total, acid extractable, organic, Bray-2 and Olsen P). With the exception of Ca in C. lusitanica, foliar K, Ca and Mg were correlated with their respective soil exchangeable cation measures. The results thus confirm the utility of the experimental approach and the relevance of the measured soil properties for forest productivity.

In unfertilised plots foliar N and P concentrations in P. radiata exceeded those in C. lusitanica, the differences being eliminated by fertiliser application. Foliar N/P ratios in P. radiata also exceeded those in C. lusitanica. In contrast to N and P, foliar K, Ca and Mg concentrations were all higher in C. lusitanica, the difference being particularly marked for Ca and Mg. P. radiata contained substantially higher concentrations of the metals Zn, Mn and Al than C. lusitanica, whereas the latter contained higher B concentrations. Possible reasons for differences between species in foliar nutrient concentrations are discussed.     

Changes in humus forms and soil N pathways along a 130-year-old pure beech forest chronosequence

Introduction   

We investigated changes in humus morphology and soil potential net N mineralization pathways along a pure beech even-aged forest chronosequence, composed of four stages (15, 65, 95, and 130 years old) on Luvisol.     

Effects of repeated urea doses on soil chemistry and nutrient pools in a Norway spruce stand

Pools of macro-nutrients in soil and vegetation were studied in an old fertilization experiment with a large previous input of N. Different doses of N, in the form of urea, had been added four times during a 20-year period. In total, between 480 and 2400 kg N ha⁻¹ had been given. The experiment was established in a relatively productive Norway spruce stand and the expectation was that the large N input would cause an accelerated leaching of N, especially nitrate, accompanied by soil acidification and losses of several nutrients. The aim was to test for possible residual effects. Thirteen years after the last N addition, samples from the aboveground part of trees, field layer, S-layer, humus layer and mineral soil (0–10 cm) were analyzed for concentrations of most major nutrients. Nutrient pools were calculated. In the humus layer, the concentration of N increased and the C/N-ratio decreased with increasing N dose. The calculated recovery of added N in soil including ground vegetation was complete for the lowest N dose, while it was 25–50% for higher doses. The amount of N retained was unaffected by the N dose. The amount of extractable P in the upper part of the mineral soil was negatively correlated with N dose, as was also the concentration of total P in the S-layer. Neither soil pH, nor concentrations or amounts of Ca, Mg and K were affected by the previous fertilization. The calculated total soil-plant pool was only influenced by N dose in the case of P, which was 20% lower at the highest N dose compared with unfertilized conditions. Despite the large extra N input, the nutritional changes in plants and soil of the actual study site seemed surprisingly small.     

Variation in the amount and quality of litterfall in a Pinus sylvestris L. stand growing on a bog

The amount and nutrient content of the above-ground litterfall was followed for 9 years in an unfertilized, PKMgB and NPKMgB fertilized Scots pine stand growing on a drained ombrotrophic bog in eastern Finland. The annual litterfall on unfertilized plots was 1995 kg ha⁻¹, of which needles accounted for 74%. The effective temperature sum (threshold value + 5°C) explained 99% of the annual variation in the amount of needle litterfall when the data from one atypical year were excluded from the analysis. Nutrient concentrations were, except for Fe, higher in needle litter than in the other litterfall fractions. Nitrogen, P and K concentrations were low in autumn, and those of Ca and Mn high, possibly owing to variation in the mobility of elements during senescence. The annual litterfall input of N to the soil was 12.4 kg ha⁻¹, and the corresponding values for P and K were 0.08 kg ha⁻¹ and 1.81 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Fertilization reduced needle litterfall in the first year after treatment, but had no effect thereafter. The amount of other litterfall fractions was not affected by fertilization in any of the 9 years of the study. Nitrogen, P, K and B concentrations increased in the needle litter after both fertilization treatments. The results indicate long-term cycling of fertilizer nutrients on the site.     

Effects of water availability and fertilization on nitrogen cycling in a stand of Pinus radiata

Nitrogen cycling was studied for four years (1983–1987) in an N-deficient 10-year-old stand of Pinus radiata growing on a yellow podzolic soil which had a low water-holding capacity. Trees were subjected to combinations of irrigation of N-fertilization resulting in a wide range of N uptake and tree growth. Net mineralization, plant uptake and leaching of soil N was monitored using a sequential coring and in-situ incubation technique. Nitrogen concentrations were measuredd monthly in live needles and litterfall. Average rates of weight loss and release of N from decomposing litter were estimated over a 3-year period using a budgeting approach.

Trees responded only to N (not to P, and there was no N×P interaction), but there was a large positive interaction between N supply and water availability. Response to fertilizer averaged + 24% over a 4-year period, but was zero during a growing-season which contained a 4-month drought. Irrigation alone increased growth by 60%, but in combination with high N availability growth increased 2–3 fold. Annual uptake of N ranged from <10 (irrigated plots in years 2 and 3 after enhanced mineralization during the initial year) to 166 kg ha⁻¹ (during a wet growing season following heavy N fertilization). Although soil mineral-N concentrations were elevated for only about 1 year after fertilization, fertilization enhanced rates of N mineralization throughout the soil N mineralization may have resulted from re-mineralization of the large quantity (147 kg soil N mineralization may have resulted from re-mineralization of the large quantity (147 kg ha⁻¹) of fertilizer N immobilized by the soil during the initial 8 months after fertilization, or the N released from decomposition of fine roots having higher N content. Nitrification was negligible in unfertilized soils, but increased markedly 50–100 days after fertilization and resulted in the leaching of about 60 kg N ha⁻¹ during autumn and winter of the first year after fertilization. Fertilized soils have continued to nitrify readily. Irrigation increased rates of weight loss and N release from decomposing litter.

The rate of N uptake by trees markedly affected the concentrations of N in newly emerging and older needles, and the concentration of N in needlefall. The weighted mean concentration of N in annual needlefall ranged from 0.42% in the irrigated-only plot (most N-stressed) to 0.94% in the heavily fertilized plot during the first year after treatment. These weighted concentrations are a useful index of N uptake from the soil and of growth rate where water supply is not limiting. Except for the initial year after heavy N fertilization, annual uptake of N was equivalent to annual soil N mineralization, and N uptake was positively linearly correlated with annual basal-area increment of trees.     

Seasonal and spatial variation of nitrogen dynamics in the litter and surface soil layers on a tropical dry evergreen forest slope

Seasonal and spatial variability of litterfall and NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ leaching from the litter layer and 5-cm soil depth were investigated along a slope in a tropical dry evergreen forest in northeastern Thailand. Using ion exchange resin and buried bag methods, the vertical flux and transformation of inorganic nitrogen (N) were observed during four periods (dry, early wet, middle wet, and late wet seasons) at 15 subplots in a 180-m × 40-m rectangular plot on the slope. Annual N input via litterfall and inorganic N leached from the litter layer and from 5-cm depth soil were 12.5, 6.9, and 3.7 g N m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively, whereas net mineralization and the inorganic N pool in 0–5-cm soil were 7.1 g N m⁻² year⁻¹ and 1.4 g N m⁻², respectively. During the early wet season (90 days), we observed 82% and 74% of annual NO₃⁻ leaching from the litter layer and 5-cm soil depth, respectively. Higher N input via leaf litterfall in the dry season and via precipitation in the early wet season may have led to higher NO₃⁻ leaching rate from litter and surface soil layers during the early wet season. Large spatial variability in both NO₃⁻ vertical flux and litterfall was also observed within stands. Small-scale spatial patterns of total N input via litterfall were significantly correlated with NO₃⁻ leaching rate from the surface soil layer. In tropical dry evergreen forests, litterfall variability may be crucial to the remarkable seasonal changes and spatial variation in annual NO₃⁻ vertical flux in surface soil layers.     

Nutritional status and genetic variation in the response to nutrient availability in Pinus pinaster. A multisite field study in Northwest Spain

The low nutrient availability of the acidic and sandy soils of Galicia (Northwest Spain) is probably the main environmental factor limiting forest primary productivity in the area. These particular edaphic conditions could have imposed selective pressures on maritime pine populations leading to specific local adaptations.We first assessed the nutritional status of 22 young contemporary Pinus pinaster plantations in Northwest Spain, and then analysed the response to fertilization in three family × fertilization trials, and how this response varied across sites and genotypes.Growth of P. pinaster in Northwest Spain appeared to be largely limited by nutrient availability, where most of the plantations showed severe nutrient deficiencies, especially in P and Mg. According to these deficiencies, a strong positive response to nutrient additions was observed in the three trials, with height increments of up to 30% compared with the unfertilized control. However, the response to fertilizers was very variable from site to site, and in some cases did not agree with the foliar nutritional diagnosis. The response to fertilization was also significantly affected by pine genotype, suggesting that the plastic response to nutrient additions within each environment was under genetic control. However, the family response to nutrient availability was not consistent across sites, and no significant differences among families were observed for the RDPI plasticity index – a single index that summarizes the phenotypic change in multiple environments – when analysed across environments.The strong environmental component modulating phenotypic responses to fertilization could impose an important obstacle to evolve specific adaptations to the local edaphic conditions, as well as to artificially select genotypes adapted to different environments and silviculture regimes.     

不同林龄马尾松人工林土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

[目的]研究了马尾松从幼龄林至成熟林生长序列中的土壤有机C、全N、全P含量及其生态化学计量特征,以丰富该区域马尾松生态系统生态化学计量学领域的基础研究。[方法]以广西凭祥4个林龄(6、16、23、35 a)马尾松人工林为研究对象,每个林龄选取3块林分,每个林分内设置一个400 m2的调查样地,按照0 20、20 40、4060 cm三层土层取样,采用不同林分土壤化学计量的对比实验测定土壤CNP,采用单因素方差分析的LSD法进行显著性检验。[结果]表明:4个林龄马尾松人工林0 20 cm土壤有机C、全N、全P含量分别为5.73 15.56、0.691.23、0.17 0.23 g·kg-1,是20 40 cm土层的1.51、1.31、1.06倍,40 60 cm土层的1.97、1.58、1.06倍。土壤有机C含量、全N含量均随林龄的递增先降低后增加,随土层加深持续降低;土壤全P含量在林龄和土层间均无显著性变化;林龄对土壤C∶N、N∶P有极显著的影响(P=0.001,P=0.000),土层对土壤C∶P、N∶P有显著性影响(P=0.000,P=0.014)。[结论]土壤有机C、全N含量从成熟林阶段开始回升;N在不同林龄间和不同土层间的变化是土壤N∶P变化的主要原因;土壤C∶N、C∶P主要受有机C的影响。     

思茅松人工林土壤有机碳和氮储量变化

以思茅松人工林中龄林、近熟林和过熟林及附近区域思茅松天然林和常绿阔叶林为研究对象,探讨造林对思茅松人工林土壤有机碳和氮储量大小与空间分布的影响。结果表明:各林地类型土壤有机碳、氮含量与C:N随着土层厚度增加而减少,过熟林土壤有机碳和氮含量随土层加深则显著高于其它林地类型,近熟林土壤表层有机碳和氮含量显著低于中龄林和过熟林。思茅松人工林乔木层碳储量随林龄增大而增加,过熟林乔木层碳储量最高。造林对思茅松人工林土壤氮储量的影响不显著,而土壤有机碳储量随林龄增大先减少后增加至过熟林恢复至常绿阔叶林和思茅松天然林水平,土壤有机碳与氮储量随土层加深而减少。与常绿阔叶林和思茅松天然林相比,思茅松人工林的中龄林与过熟林土壤有机碳和氮储量的年变化量高于近熟林,近熟林年变化量呈净减少;在思茅松天然林中,人工更新与在常绿阔叶林中造林相比,思茅松人工林可以累积更多的土壤有机碳和氮储量。此外,土壤含水量越大,土壤有机碳储量则越高。     

A comparison of soil properties after contemporary wildfire and fire suppression

Forests that were subject to frequent wildfires, such as ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests, had fire-return intervals of approximately 6–24 years. However, fire suppression over the last century has increased the fire-return interval by a factor of 5 in these forests, possibly resulting in changes to the soil. The objective of this study was to determine if soils of recently burned areas (representative of the natural fire-return interval) have different properties relative to soils in areas without recent fire. To assess this, recent low-intensity, lightning-caused, spot wildfire areas were located within fire-suppressed stands of ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir of the central, eastern Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Soil horizon depths were measured, and samples collected by major genetic horizons. Samples were analyzed for pH, C, N, C/N ratio, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (%BS), hydrophobicity and extractable P. Results show very little difference in soil properties between sites burned by low-severity fires and those areas left unburned. Such minimal changes, from these low-severity fires, in soil properties from fire suppression suggest there has also been little change in soil processes.     

Effects of silvicultural treatments and seasonal patterns on foliar nutrients in young post-fire Pinus halepensis forest stands

Tree growth and health status appear to be related to foliar nutrient contents. Foliar nutrient concentration might be the result of a complex interaction between soil nutrients and effective availability caused by climate, water and other site and treatment effects. This study examines foliar macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and organic C concentrations in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) needles (between 5 and 18 months old), as well as time course variability (nine dates, from July 1999 to November 2001). Variability was assessed depending on quality site (two sites, Yeste and Calasparra; SE Spain) and seven silvicultural treatments including thinning, scrubbing, pruning and particular combinations of them. Foliar macronutrient concentrations for Aleppo pine in South-eastern Spain were slightly lower (N, P, K,) or higher (Mg, Ca) than the considered as adequate ranges for Aleppo pine and Pinus genera. However, our results agree well with other normal ranges reported for Aleppo pine in Spain and for other North American Pinus species such as P. elliottii, P. taeda and P. palustris. Site, treatment and date (season) affected significantly the foliar macronutrient and C concentration, although the most important was the date, likely due to the two growth periods per year that Aleppo pine has in Mediterranean sites. Silvicultural treatments affected foliar nutrient concentration, so that the concentrations of N, P and K were higher when treatments included thinning than those that did not. The contrary was true for Mg and Ca. However, treatments did not affect the time course of the concentration, i.e., seasonality was not broken due to treatments. Moreover, the effect of the treatments was markedly high along the first year after they were applied but the differences were attenuate 2 years later. Site affected the time course of N, K, Mg and C in a different way: while for N, K and C, at the end of study period, they were higher in Calasparra than in Yeste, for Mg the contrary was true. Nutrient ratios had a different behaviour regarding to single nutrient: although date was significant, we did not appreciate seasonality. In addition, some nutrient ratios were not affected by treatments (N/P, N/K, Ca/Mg,) or by site (N/Ca, K/Ca). Average foliar N concentration and Ca/Mg ratio explained significantly the mean diameter and height growth, so that higher is the foliar N concentration and lower is Ca/Mg, higher is the growth.     

Boron nutrition of Pinus radiata in relation to soil development and management

Nutritional surveys in New South Wales Pinus radiata plantations have shown differences in both foliage and soil boron status, particularly as a result of variations in soil parent materials. Plantations on acid igneous parent materials are particularly susceptible to the development of B deficiency, which appears to be further exacerbated bu soil/landscape relationships, water stress and certain management practices.

Boron deficiency in P. radiata on acid igneous soils at Sunny Corner State Forest, N.S.W., was particularly noticeable on lower slopes which usually have relatively high available moisture. These lower-slope soils had severely leached surface horizons, less extractable B, and fewer B-sorption characteristics than the upper sections of the soil catena. These soil properties also adversely affect the capacity of these soils to retain either Na-borate or Ca-borate fertilizers (borax and colemanite, respectively). For equal amounts of B, up to 95% of the borax applied to in-situ soil columns rapidly moved beyond the top 0.3 m of the soil profiles within 21 months, while less than 16% of the colemanite had moved beyond the columns. Leached surface soils of the lower-slope site retained lesser amounts of either B-fertilizer.

Colemanite offers the most cost-effective means of maintaining adequate levels of soil-B in these soil types due to its lower solubility. Management of B deficiency in P. radiata involves appropriate site selection, forest management practices and fertilizers usage.     

Changes in the N and P concentrations,N:P ratios,and tannin content in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina equisetifolia</Emphasis> branchlets during development and senescence

Changes in the N and P concentrations, N:P ratios, and tannin content in Casuarina equisetifolia branchlets across a coastal gradient were studied at Chishan Forestry Center of Dongshan County, Fujian Province, China. (1) Total phenolics and protein precipitation capacity in young branchlets was significantly higher than in mature and senescent branchlets across a coastal gradient; extractable condensed tannin content was higher in young and mature branchlets than in senescent branchlets. Whereas protein-bound condensed tannins increased with senescence, fiber-bound condensed tannins fluctuated without a consistent pattern; (2) N and P concentrations at various stages of branchlet development across a coastal gradient followed the same order: young branchlets > mature branchlets > senescent branchlets; N:P ratio of young branchlets was the lowest, and increased with maturity and senescence across a coastal gradient; phosphorus resorption efficiency was significantly higher than nitrogen resorption efficiency among corresponding coastal gradients in response to P deficiency (high N:P ratio), but nutrient resorption efficiency was influenced by coastal gradients; (3) significant linear relationships between total phenolics and nutrient contents indicated that polyphenolics had a potential effect on nutrient cycling.     

Leaf resorption efficiency and proficiency in a Quercus robur population following forest harvest

Nutrient resorption is an important mechanism for nutrient preservation in plants. Variations in nutrient availability can interfere with resorption-regulating mechanisms. Disturbances (such as forest harvest) leading to a loss of organic matter and nutrients in the soil could therefore determine important changes in resorption rates. This paper examines the effect of pine forest harvest on N and P resorption in young common oaks (Quercus robur) living under pine cover over a 4-year study period. The results obtained show a decrease in N-NH₄⁺ concentration in the soil in the 2 years following the forest harvest process. Forest harvest did not affect the edaphic concentration of NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻, which presented relatively low values in both areas. Foliar concentration of N was significantly lower in the areas affected by forest harvest, whereas the differences in the foliar concentration of P varied each year. The mean foliar N/P ratio was greater in the non-harvested areas, but showed possible limitation by P in both harvested and non-harvested sites.     

Natural abundance N in soil and litter across a nitrate-output gradient in New Hampshire

Stable isotopes of nitrogen are potentially a valuable tool for regional assessments of nitrogen saturation because they provide an integrated measure of the past nitrogen cycling history of a site. We measured δ¹⁵N of soil and litter, as well as net nitrification potential, at three sites across a nitrate-loss gradient in the White Mountains, New Hampshire to test the hypotheses: (1) that δ¹⁵N in soil and litter increase across a spatial gradient of nitrate loss; and (2) that δ¹⁵N in soil and litter is elevated when nitrification is elevated. δ¹⁵N was found not to vary significantly among the three sites. Patterns of leaf litter and forest floor δ¹⁵N, however, were strongly influenced by species composition in individual plots. Beech litter had significantly higher δ¹⁵N than yellow birch, sugar maple, and red maple. The conifer-dominated plots had significantly lower δ¹⁵N in both the organic soil horizons and in litter than did the hardwood-dominated plots. When we adjusted for spatial heterogeneity in mineral soil δ¹⁵N values by using an enrichment factor, δ¹⁵N_foliar − δ¹⁵N_Bs, in place of absolute soil δ¹⁵N values, a positive relationship was found with net nitrification for hardwoods. δ¹⁵N may also be a useful tool for evaluating species differences in nitrogen cycling and nitrogen uptake. The distinct pattern we observed of decreasing δ¹⁵N across the continuum from hardwood-dominated to conifer-dominated sites may suggest that local drivers (for example, nitrification rate) regulate the absolute value of foliar δ¹⁵N, while species-driven factors (e.g., timing and type of uptake) control the foliar δ¹⁵N value of one species relative to another in the same plot.     

马尾松二代无性系生长和针叶N/P化学计量特征

[目的]在土壤有效P匮乏的立地条件下,揭示针叶N、P含量及其化学计量比与马尾松生长性状的相关性。[方法]以马尾松二代育种群体内30个无性系为试验对象,野外调查11年生时马尾松二代无性系树高、胸径等生长性状与针叶N、P含量及其化学计量比的相关性。[结果]结果表明:(1)各生长性状在马尾松二代无性系间差异显著,且无性系重复力较高,均达到0.95以上。马尾松成熟针叶和当年生针叶N、P含量及N/P在二代无性系间差异均达显著水平;(2)相关分析表明,马尾松二代无性系树高、胸径与成熟针叶和当年生针叶N含量、N/P均呈显著或极显著正相关,与成熟针叶N/P的相关系数分别为0.608 6和0.542 8,与当年生针叶N/P的相关系数分别为0.515 9和0.679 2;(3)基于主要生长性状、针叶N和P含量及其化学计量比,可将30个马尾松二代无性系聚为4类:类群1无性系树高、胸径等生长表现优良,成熟针叶N/P较高,而当年生针叶N/P相对较低;类群2无性系树高、胸径等生长表现较好,成熟针叶和当年生针叶N/P值在30个无性系中居中间水平;类群3占试验无性系总数的一半,树高、胸径等生长表现一般,成熟针叶与当年生针叶N/P相差较大,大部分无性系成熟针叶N/P较低,而当年生针叶N/P相对较高;类群4树高、胸径等生长表现较差,成熟针叶和当年生针叶N/P均较低。[结论]在贫P立地下,马尾松二代亲本无性系C13(7750×1126)和C14(3201×1123)各生长指标均较高,可能是通过调整当年生针叶和成熟针叶的养分分配,增加了当年生针叶对限制其生长的P素的再利用和再吸收,促进了N素的吸收,调整了当年生针叶和成熟针叶的N/P,以形成特定的养分分配机制。     

Identification of Cylindrocladium sp. causing damping-off disease of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) and factors affecting the disease severity in a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)-dominated area

The regeneration of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) seedlings is inhibited in a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)-dominated area. We examined the presence of pathogenic fungi in Japanese black pine seedlings in the area in order to determine the effect of pathogenic fungi on the inhibition of regeneration. When Japanese black pine seedlings were planted in the soil obtained from a black locust-dominated area, all of the seedlings died under low-intensity light conditions, whereas 84% of the seedlings survived in the soil obtained from a Japanese black pine-dominated area under the same light conditions. One fungus was isolated from 48.7% of the dead pine seedlings and was identified as Cylindrocladium pacificum Kang, Crous & Schoch, based on the morphological characteristics, growth, and DNA analysis. This fungus was also isolated from 50% of the dead pine seedlings in 2005 and 66.7% of the seedlings in 2006—both were planted in a black locust-dominated area. The virulence of this fungus increased under high-nitrogen and/or low-intensity light conditions. These results reveal the possibility that the soil eutrophication and shading by the black locust are conducive to a severe damping-off disease and threaten the survival and regeneration of Japanese black pine seedlings.