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High nitrogen deposition may enhance growth of a new hybrid larch F1 growing at two phosphorus levels

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Abstract

A recently developed hybrid larch F1 (F1: Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) is being planted widely in re- and afforestation projects in northeast Asia. Nitrogen (N) deposition to forest ecosystems has been rapidly increasing in this region, due mainly to industrialization and overuse of N fertilizer. Together with excess N, phosphorus (P) is considered to be the key determinant of tree growth in northeast Asia, because most soils have originated from immature volcanic ash. To predict the response of the F1 to increasing N deposition and its relation with soil P availability related to immature volcanic ash soil in northern Japan, planting stocks of F1 were grown in potted brown forest soil and categorised into eight treatments, comprising four N treatments covering the amount of N deposition observed and predicted in northeast Asia in combination with two P levels. N application increased the biomass and the light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (A sat) of the F1 at all concentrations. Despite expectations, P did not have any effect on these parameters. As N application increased the content of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and chlorophyll (Chl) in needles, a positive correlation was found between the content of N, K, P and A sat. These results suggest that N deposition improves the growth of the hybrid larch F1 at least by improving the needle N condition, as well as the concentration of other macronutrients in the initial stage of plantation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. H. Shibata for informing us of references, and Mr. M. Imori for contributions to the gas exchange measurements. This study was supported partly by a Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, through its Research Fellowships for Young Scientists program (to M.W. and K.M.) and Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (to T.K.); and by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council through its project study of the Development of Mitigation and Adaptation Techniques to Global Warming in the Sectors of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (to K.K.).

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Correspondence to Takayoshi Koike.

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Mao, Q., Watanabe, M., Makoto, K. et al. High nitrogen deposition may enhance growth of a new hybrid larch F1 growing at two phosphorus levels. Landscape Ecol Eng 10, 1–8 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-012-0207-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-012-0207-2

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