Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth of scots pine under nutritional and climatic stress

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A stand of mature Pinus sylvestris L. within the rain-shadow of the Grampian Mountains was found to be suffering both from nitrogen deficiency and from early spring drought, the severity of which varied cyclically. Climate affected growth directly through May rainfall and indirectly through an influence of June rainfall on nitrogen uptake. Sectional area growth responded linearly to fertilizer nitrogen at rates up to 234 kg N ha−1, this effect being independent of and additive to climate-induced changes; except for the large trees, the response was more pronounced at 7.6 m up the stem than at breast height. As growth increased, irrespective of cause, early wood percentage rose to a maximum and then declined. re]19760624

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Binns, W. O. and Grayson, A. J., Fertilization of established crops: Prospects in Britain, Scott. For. 21, 81–98 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Binns, W. O. and Keay, J., Research on Scottish forest and nursery soils. Rep. Forest Res., London 1963, 82–83 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brix, H., Nitrogen fertilization and water effects on photosynthesis and earlywood-latewood production in Douglas fir. Can. J. For. Res. 2, 467–78 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kitson, R. E. and Mellon, M. G., Colorimetric determination of phosphate using molybdovanadophosphoric acid. Ind. Engng Chem. analyt. Edn. 16, 379 (1944).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lines, R., Climatic changes and their possible effects on forestry in Scotland. Scott. For. 27, 103–109 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Miller, H. G. and Cooper, J. M., Changes in amount and distribution of stem growth in pole-stage Corsican pine following application of nitrogen fertilizer. Forestry 46, 157–190 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Miller, H. G. and Cooper, J. M., Tree growth and climatic cycles in the rain-shadow of the Grampian Mountains. Nature 260, 697–698 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mitchell, R. L., The spectrochemical analysis of soils, plants and related materials. With addendum. Tech. Commun. Commonw. Bur. Soils, No. 44A (1964).

  9. Tamm, C. O., Studies on forest nutrition. III. The effect of supply of plant nutrients to a forest stand on a poor site. Meddn Statens Skogsforskningsinst. Swed. 46, (3), 84 pp. (1956).

  10. Williams, B. L., Nitrogen mineralization and organic matter decomposition in Scots pine humus. Forestry 45, 177–188 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zöttl, H., Die Mineralstickstoffanlieferung in Fichten — und Kiefernbeständen Bayerns. Forstwiss Centralbl. 79, 221–236 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Craigiebuckler, AB9 2QJ, Aberdeen, Scotland

    H. G. Miller, J. D. Miller & W. O. Binns

Authors
  1. H. G. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. D. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. O. Binns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miller, H.G., Miller, J.D. & Binns, W.O. Growth of scots pine under nutritional and climatic stress. Plant Soil 48, 103–114 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015161

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015161

Keywords

Search

Navigation