Long-term study of above- and below-ground biomass production in relation to nitrogen and carbon accumulation dynamics in a grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) plantation on former agricultural land     

Jürgen Aosaar  Mats Varik  Krista Lõhmus  Ivika Ostonen  Hardo Becker  Veiko Uri 《European Journal of Forest Research》2013,132(5-6):737-749

In the Northern and Baltic countries, grey alder is a prospective tree species for short-rotation forestry. Hence, knowledge about the functioning of such forest ecosystems is critical in order to manage them in a sustainable and environmentally sound way. The 17-year-long continuous time series study is conducted in a grey alder plantation growing on abandoned agricultural land. The results of above- and below-ground biomass and production of the 17-year-old stand are compared to the earlier published respective data from the same stand at the ages of 5 and 10 years. The objectives of the current study were to assess (1) above-ground biomass (AGB) and production; (2) below-ground biomass: coarse root biomass (CRB), fine root biomass (FRB) and fine root production (FRP); (3) carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation dynamics in grey alder stand growing on former arable land. The main results of the 17-year-old stand were as follows: AGB 120.8 t ha^?1; current annual increment of the stem mass 5.7 t ha year^?1; calculated CRB 22.3 t ha^?1; FRB 81 ± 10 g m^?2; nodule biomass 31 ± 19 g m^?2; fine root necromass 11 ± 2 g m^?2; FRP 53 g DM m^?2 year^?1; fine root turnover rate 0.54 year^?1; and fine root longevity 1.9 years. FRB was strongly correlated with the stand basal area and stem mass. Fine root efficiency was the highest at the age of 10 years; at the age of 17 years, it had slightly reduced. Grey alder stand significantly increased N and C_org content in topsoil. The role of fine roots for the sequestration of C is quite modest compared to leaf litter C flux.  相似文献   

Fine root morphological adaptations in Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch along a latitudinal gradient in boreal forests   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Ostonen I  Lõhmus K  Helmisaari HS  Truu J  Meel S 《Tree physiology》2007,27(11):1627-1634

Variability in short root morphology of the three main tree species of Europe's boreal forest (Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth)) was investigated in four stands along a latitudinal gradient from northern Finland to southern Estonia. Silver birch and Scots pine were present in three stands and Norway spruce was present in all stands. For three fertile Norway spruce stands, fine root biomass and number of root tips per stand area or unit basal area were assessed from north to south. Principal component analysis indicated that short root morphology was significantly affected by tree species and site, which together explained 34.7% of the total variability. The range of variation in mean specific root area (SRA) was 51-74, 60-70 and 84-124 m(2) kg(-1) for Norway spruce, Scots pine and silver birch, respectively, and the corresponding ranges for specific root length were 37-47, 40-48 and 87-97 m g(-1). The range of variation in root tissue density of Norway spruce, Scots pine and silver birch was 113-182, 127-158 and 81-156 kg m(-3), respectively. Sensitivity of short root morphology to site conditions decreased in the order: Norway spruce > silver birch > Scots pine. Short root SRA increased with site fertility in all species. In Norway spruce, fine root biomass and number of root tips per m(2) decreased from north to south. The differences in morphological parameters among sites were significant but smaller than the site differences in fine root biomass and number of root tips.  相似文献   

Tree age effect on fine-root and leaf morphology in a silver birch forest chronosequence     

Katrin Rosenvald  Ivika Ostonen  Veiko Uri  Mats Varik  Leho Tedersoo  Krista Lõhmus 《European Journal of Forest Research》2013,132(2):219-230

The influence of forest ageing on fine-root morphology and relations between fine-root and leaf characteristics is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to analyse age-driven changes in ectomycorrhizal roots (EcM roots) and leaf morphology in a chronosequence of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), which would provide a better understanding of adaptation responses and acclimation capacity of tree roots and leaves. The chronosequence included six age classes (3, 6, 14, 32, 45, and 60 years.). All stands had regenerated naturally and grew in a highly productive Oxalis forest site type in Estonia. Most changes in the morphology of EcM roots and leaves of silver birch occur faster at a young age. The functional parameters—mean specific area of EcM root (SRA) and leaf specific area (SLA) as well as leaf N—decreased with age. EcM root SRA and specific root length (SRL) decreased with stand age as a result of increased mean diameter and tissue density. In age classes of 6, 14, and 32 years, the total number of dominating EcM taxa was 34, and the distribution of four different dominating EcM exploration types (contact-, short-, medium-, long-distance) was similar. We conclude that high values of SRA, SLA, and leaf N measured in young silver birch stands indicate high activity of physiological processes necessary for fast-growing young trees. A decrease of SLA and SRA and N in the chronosequence of fertile stands of silver birch is most probably caused by down-regulation of growth, affecting simultaneously leaves and fine roots.  相似文献   

Elevated atmospheric CO2 and humidity delay leaf fall in Betula pendula,but not in Alnus glutinosa or Populus tremula × tremuloides     

Douglas Godbold  Arvo Tullus  Priit Kupper  Jaak Sõber  Ivika Ostonen  Jasmin A. Godbold  Martin Lukac  Iftekhar U. Ahmed  Andrew R. Smith 《Annals of Forest Science》2014,71(8):831-842

Context

Anthropogenic activity has increased the level of atmospheric CO₂, which is driving an increase of global temperatures and associated changes in precipitation patterns. At Northern latitudes, one of the likely consequences of global warming is increased precipitation and air humidity.

Aims

In this work, the effects of both elevated atmospheric CO₂ and increased air humidity on trees commonly growing in northern European forests were assessed.

Methods

The work was carried out under field conditions by using Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) and Free Air Humidity Manipulation (FAHM) systems. Leaf litter fall was measured over 4 years (FACE) or 5 years (FAHM) to determine the effects of FACE and FAHM on leaf phenology.

Results

Increasing air humidity delayed leaf litter fall in Betula pendula, but not in Populus tremula?×?tremuloides. Similarly, under elevated atmospheric CO₂, leaf litter fall was delayed in B. pendula, but not in Alnus glutinosa. Increased CO₂ appeared to interact with periods of low precipitation in summer and high ozone levels during these periods to effect leaf fall.

Conclusions

This work shows that increased CO₂ and humidity delay leaf fall, but this effect is species-specific.  相似文献   

Fine-root rhizosphere and morphological adaptations to site conditions in interaction with tree mineral nutrition in young silver birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.) stands     

Katrin Rosenvald  Ivika Ostonen  Marika Truu  Jaak Truu  Veiko Uri  Aivo Vares  Krista Lõhmus 《European Journal of Forest Research》2011,130(6):1055-1066

Limited nutrient acquisition from soil is a key process limiting productivity in boreal forest. We investigated short-root morphological adaptations and rhizosphere effect in relation to site conditions in interaction with tree mineral nutrition. We studied seven young (8- to 14-year-old) silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands on abandoned agricultural land in Estonia. Soil pH varied from 3.8 to 7.0, and soil N % from 0.07 to 0.26%. Tree nutrient (NPK) status was expressed by leaf nutrient concentrations. Leaf N correlated negatively with short-root specific length and area. Summed activity (SA) and metabolic diversity of bacteria (by BIOLOG Ecoplate™), bacterial community diversity (by DGGE) and pH_KCl were determined for rhizosphere (R) and bulk soil (S) to reveal the extent of the rhizosphere effect. Bacterial activity in rhizosphere was 1.4–4.7 times higher than in bulk soil. Ratio SA_R/SA_S indicating root support to the rhizosphere bacterial communities decreased with increasing bulk soil pH; however, when bulk soil pH was ≥5, the decrease in SA_R/SA_S was insignificant, i.e. the rhizosphere effect stayed at a stable level. Diversity of bacterial community was 6% higher in bulk soil than in rhizosphere. Rhizosphere acidification occurred in studied stands when bulk soil pH_KCl ≥ 5. Short-root N % correlated positively with SA_R/SA_S. We concluded that tree N-nutritional status was related to short-root morphological parameters but not to studied microbiological characteristics in the soil of young silver birch stands.  相似文献   

Biomass production, foliar and root characteristics and nutrient accumulation in young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stand growing on abandoned agricultural land     

Veiko Uri  Krista Lõhmus  Ivika Ostonen  Hardi Tullus  Renal Lastik  Merit Vildo 《European Journal of Forest Research》2007,126(4):495-506

The above-ground biomass and production, below-ground biomass, nutrient (NPK) accumulation, fine roots and foliar characteristics of a 8-year-old silver birch (Betula pendula) natural stand, growing on abandoned agricultural land in Estonia, were investigated. Total above-ground biomass and current annual production after eight growing seasons was 31.2 and 11.9 t DM ha⁻¹, respectively. The production of stems accounted for 62.4% and below-ground biomass accounted for 19.2% of the total biomass of the stand. Carbon sequestration in tree biomass reaches roughly 17.5 t C ha⁻¹ during the first 8 years. The biomass of the fine roots (d < 2 mm) was 1.7 ± 0.2 t DM ha⁻¹ and 76.2% of it was located in the 20 cm topsoil layer. The leaf area index (LAI) of the birch stand was estimated as 3.7 m² m⁻² and specific leaf area (SLA) 15.0 ± 0.1 m² kg⁻¹. The impact of the crown layer on SLA was significant as the leaves are markedly thicker in the upper part of the crown compared with the lower part. The short-root specific area (SRA) in the 30 cm topsoil was 182.9 ± 9.5 m² kg⁻¹, specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD) and the number of short-root tips (>95% ectomycorrhizal) per dry mass unit of short roots were 145.3 ± 8.6 m g⁻¹, 58.6 ± 3.0 kg m⁻³ and 103.7 ± 5.5 tips mg⁻¹, respectively. In August the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, accumulated in above ground biomass, was 192.6, 25.0 and 56.6 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. The annual flux of N and P retranslocation from the leaves to the other tree parts was 57.2 and 3.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (55 and 27%), respectively, of which 29.1 kg ha⁻¹ N and 2.8 kg ha⁻¹ P were accumulated in the above-ground part of the stand.  相似文献