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Stem growth and phenology of two tropical trees in contrasting soil conditions

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Abstract

Background and aims

Phenological variations in tropical forests are usually explained by climate. Nevertheless, considering that soil water availability and nutrient content also influence plant water status and metabolism, soil conditions may also be important in the regulation of plant reproductive and vegetative activities over time. We investigated whether phenological patterns and stem growth differ in trees growing in two types of soil that display contrasting water and nutrient availability, namely, Gleysol (moist and nutrient-poor) and Cambisol (drier and nutrient-rich).

Methods

Phenological observations (flushing, leaf fall, flowering and fruiting) and stem diameter growth were recorded for 120 trees fitted with fixed dendrometer bands, at 15 days intervals, for 1 year. Two species of contrasting deciduousness were investigated: Senna multijuga (semi-deciduous) and Citharexylum myrianthum (deciduous).

Results

Both species were seasonal in all phenophases, regardless of soil type. However, frequency, mean date and intensity of phenophases varied according to soil type. Girth increment of C. myrianthum was four times greater in Cambisol than in Gleysol, whereas the type of soil had no significant effect on that of S. multijuga.

Conclusions

These results show that soil characteristics also play an important role in determining phenological patterns and growth and must be considered when analysing phenological patterns in tropical forests.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) [Solobioma Project, 690148/01-1] and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research [BMBF project number 01LB0201]. M.C.M. Marques received a productivity grant from CNPq [Processo 308597/2008-7]. We thank Sociedade de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem e Educação Ambiental (SPVS) for their support and for allowing us to work at Cachoeira Reserve and their staff for assistance during field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal; Departamento de Botânica, SCB, Universidade Federal do Paraná, CP 19031, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

    F. C. G. Cardoso & M. C. M. Marques

  2. Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    R. Marques

  3. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo, Brazil

    P. C. Botosso

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  1. F. C. G. Cardoso
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  2. R. Marques
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  3. P. C. Botosso
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  4. M. C. M. Marques
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Correspondence to F. C. G. Cardoso.

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Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.

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Cardoso, F.C.G., Marques, R., Botosso, P.C. et al. Stem growth and phenology of two tropical trees in contrasting soil conditions. Plant Soil 354, 269–281 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1063-9

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