Interactive role of elevated CO[sub 2], nutrient limitations, and water stress in the growth responses of red spruce seedlings

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Forest Science; (United States)

OSTI ID:6373433

Samuelson, L J; Seiler, J R ^[1]

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1. Tennessee Valley Authoruity, Forestry Building, Norris (United States) Virginia Tech., Blacksburg (United States)

Red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings were grown from seed for 5 mo in ambient (362 ppm) or elevated (711 ppm) CO[sub 2] exposure treatments were crossed with two levels of soil fertility and water stress treatments to determine if seedling dry weight, size, and fixed growth responses to elevated CO[sub 2] depended on nutrient and water supply. Seedling dry weight and size responses to elevated CO[sub 2] at 5 mo did not depend on nutrient and water supply. Seedlings grown in both soil fertility treatments and water stress treatments responded similarly to CO[sub 2] treatment. Water stress and CO[sub 2] treatments did have an interactive influence on the fixed growth potential of the terminal leader. Leaf weight, leaf area, and height to the terminal leader of water-stressed seedlings were greater in seedlings exposed to elevated CO[sub 2] during budset than seedlings exposed to ambient CO[sub 2]. Total new fixed growth (lateral plus terminal) and total terminal fixed growth (leaf plus stem) were greater in seedlings that formed shoot primordia in elevated CO[sub 2] than in ambient CO[sub 2]. Red spruce seedlings grown in elevated CO[sub 2] for 5 mo had greater stem diameter, height, branching density, leaf weight, root weight, stem weight, total weight, and mean relative growth rate (RGR) from 3 to 5 mo than seedlings grown in ambient CO[sub 2]. Red spruce seedling responses to elevated CO[sub 2] suggest that seedling establishment in natural environments may be enhanced when ambient CO[sub 2] concentrations rise even if water and nutrient availabilities are limited.

• OSTI ID: 6373433
• Journal Information: Forest Science; (United States), Vol. 39:2; ISSN 0015-749X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARBON DIOXIDE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SEEDLINGS
GROWTH
SPRUCES
FERTILITY
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
NUTRIENTS
WATER
WATER SUPPLY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONIFERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
TREES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects