Summary:
Published in Canadian Journal of Forest Research 28: 729-736
The effect of nutrient addition (fertilization with N, P, and K at a rate of 448, 224, and 224 kg.ha-1, respectively) on height growth, root biomass, leaf area, and foliar nutrient concentrations of slow-growing layers and newly planted seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was evaluated on an apparently productive mesic site in Québec. Annual height growth increment of fertilized layers was greater than 20 cm.year-1 compared with 3-4 cm.year-1 for the other three treatments. Fine root biomass (<2 mm in diameter) and leaf area growth were significantly higher for fertilized layers and seedlings compared with their respective controls. For both current and 1-year-old needles, foliar N concentration on a unit leaf area basis increased significantly for both layers and seedlings, and vector analysis showed that, in aIl cases, N was the most limiting nutrient. Five growing seasons after treatment, the only residual effect of fertilization on foliar nutrient concentrations was higher foliar N in fertilized seedlings. Thus, it appears that the slow growth of the unfertilized layers on this site was due to resource limitation rather than to the type of regeneration as such.
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture
Author(s):
PAQUIN, Raynald, Hank A. MARGOLIS and René DOUCET
Year of publication:
1998
How to get the publication:
Keyword(s):
conifer, Picea mariana, black spruce, silvicultural regime, fertilization, nutrient content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, biomass, chemical analysis, height growth, root, seedling, layer, sylviculture des forêts naturelles résineuses, sylviculture des forêts naturelles, silviculture and yield of natural forests - softwood stands