Abstract
The effect of ammonium sulphate application on the bulk and rhizosphere soil chemistry, elemental concentration of living fine roots (<2 mm in diameter), amounts of living and dead fine roots, root length density and specific root length density were investigated in a 28 year old Norway spruce stand in SW Sweden. The treatments started in 1988. Core samples of the LFH layer and mineral soil layers were sampled in control (C) and ammonium sulphate (NS) treatment plots in 1988, 1989 and 1990. Soil pH and NO3-S and SO4-S, Al, Ca, Mg, Mn and K concentrations were measured for both the bulk soil and rhizosphere soil.
The pH-values of the bulk and rhizosphere soil decreased in 1989 and 1990 in NS plots compared to control plots, while the SO4-S concentration increased. The Ca, Mg and K concentration increased in the NS treatment in almost all layers in the bulk and the rhizosphere soil. Ammonium ions may have replaced these elements in the soil organic matter. The NS treatment reduced Mg concentration in fine roots in all layers in 1990. The Al concentrations in the rhizosphere and bulk soil were higher in NS plots in all layers, except at 0–10 cm depth, both in 1989 and 1990. The Al content of living fine roots was higher in NS plots than C plots but the differences were not significant. The NS addition did not affect the P and K contents of fine roots in any soil layer, but the S concentrations of fine roots were significantly higher in NS plots in 1989 and 1990. The fine root necromass was higher in NS than in C in 1990, in the LFH layer, indicating a gradual decrease in the vitality of the fine roots. It was suggested that the NS treatment resulted in displacement of Mg and K from exchange sites in the LFH layer leading to leaching of these cations to the mineral soil. Further application of ammonium sulphate may damage the fine roots and consequently adversely affect the water and nutrient uptake of root systems.
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Majdi, H., Persson, H. Effects of ammonium sulphate application on the chemistry of bulk soil, rhizosphere, fine roots and fine-root distribution in a Picea abies (L.) karst. stand. Plant Soil 168, 151–160 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029323
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029323