Root and foliar nutrient concentrations in loblolly pine: Effects of season, site, and fertilization

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Forest Science; (USA)

OSTI ID:7101690

Adams, M B ^[1]; Campbell, R G ^[2]; Allen, H L; Davey, C B ^[3]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
2. Weyerhaeuser Company, New Bern, NC (USA)
3. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the roots and foliage of plantation-grown loblolly pine were examined over a period of 18 months. Samples were collected from 4 sites on the lower coastal plain of North Carolina, each representing a distinct combination of soil moisture and soil fertility. The patterns in foliar and root nutrient concentrations followed similar trends over the course of this study. However, seasonal trends were irregular, suggesting that annual climatic variation may affect seasonal nutrient levels. Nutrient concentrations varied among sites, as did effects of fertilization (225 kg N ha{sup {minus}1}, 225 kg N ha{sup {minus}1} + 75 kg P ha{sup {minus}1}) on nutrient concentrations. Significant fertilizer effects on nutrient concentrations did not always result in increased volume growth. On some sites, root N and P concentrations appeared to be more sensitive to fertilizer-induced changes than did foliar nutrient levels and may have integrated site factors more effectively than foliar concentrations. Foliage seemed more sensitive of N deficiencies, while the roots detected P deficiencies more often.

• OSTI ID: 7101690
• Journal Information: Forest Science; (USA), Journal Name: Forest Science; (USA) Vol. 33:4; ISSN FOSCA; ISSN 0015-749X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CLIMATES
CONIFERS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FERTILIZERS
GROWTH
LEAVES
MOISTURE
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
PHOSPHORUS
PINES
PINOPHYTA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
ROOTS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SOILS
TREES
USA
VARIATIONS