Seedling growth and mineral nutrition of Scots pine under acidic to calcareous soil conditions
The growth and mineral nutrition of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings under a shift from an acidic to a calcareous soil chemical environment using a Chernozemic soil were investigated. The study consisted of a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the response of Scots pine to changes in soil chemistry, specifically, increasing soil pH, soluble ions, and CaCO/sub 3/. As the soil pH increased from 5.5-6.2, seedling weight and height decreased 15 and 37%, respectively. Further growth decreases were related to soil EC and soluble Ca levels in excess of 2 dS x m/sup -1/ and 11-19 meq x meq x L/sup -1/, respectively. In addition, active CaCO/sub 3/ and NO/sub 3-/N were also factors in conifer growth. Plant analysis indicated that increasing cation uptake, especially Ca, was associated with organic anion accumulation and a decrease in P uptake. The decrease in seedling weight was also related to organic anion accumulation. The Ca to P ratio in the seedlings increased from 2.6 to 9.9 as the soil pH increased from 5.5 to 7.9, respectively. Expressing nutrient content in proportions relative to N indicated an imbalance of Ca and K to P as soil acidity decreased. Mean proportions of nutrient content (N:P:K:Ca:Mg) were 100:5:48:14:7 and 100:3:61:33:7 at a soil pH of 5.5 and 7.9, respectively. Scots pine on high base-saturated Chenozemic soils, with neutral pH and acceptable EC and soluble Ca levels, will show a slight but significant reduction in growth rate compared with acidic soil conditions.
- Research Organization:
- PFRA Tree Nursery, Saskatchewan (Canada)
- OSTI ID:
- 5273352
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci.; (United States), Vol. 144:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CALCIUM CARBONATES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITRATES
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
ANIONS
CATIONS
MAGNESIUM
NUTRIENTS
PH VALUE
PHOSPHATES
POTASSIUM
SEEDLINGS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
UPTAKE
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
CONIFERS
ELEMENTS
GROWTH
IONS
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
TREES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology