Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Revitalization of an alpine protective forest by fertilization

  • Forest Management Aspect
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a highly damaged, 120–150 year old Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stand, still used for grazing, with a protective function against avalanches and rockfall, a fertilization experiment for revitalization was carried out. A slow release fertilizer containing macro-and micronutrients was applied over three years, from 1986 to 1988. Four years after the last treatment, the proportion of trees with a needle loss of >25% decreased from initially 60–80% to 24% in the treated plots, while in the control plots it remained unchanged. A significant increase of radial increment (+100%), shoot growth (+40%), needle length (+20%) and starch content in the fine roots (+40%) was established as well. The supply with P which had been low initially was significantly increased. No changes could be observed in fine root biomass or mycorrhization. In the soil, an alpine rendzina on dolomite, a significant reservoir of P and tendentially of K was still detectable three years after the last treatment. Cellulose decomposition was slightly enhanced in the uppermost soil layer of the treated plots but no changes in the C/N ratio or in pH were found.

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

  • Alcubilla M, v Aufsess H and Rehfuess K E 1976 Stickstoffdüngungsversuche in einer Fichtenwuchsaufstockung (Picea abies Karst.) auf devastierter Kalkmergel-Rendzina: Wirkungen auf die Nährelementgehalte der Fichtengewebe und den Höhenzuwachs. Forstwiss. Centralb. 95, 306–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander I J and Fairley R I 1983 Effect of nitrogen fertilization on populations of fine roots and mycorrhizas in spruce humus. Plant and Soil 71, 49–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronsson A 1992 Effects of nitrogen addition on growth and induced imbalances in a young Norway spruce stand. In Responses of Forest Ecosystems to Environmental Changes. Eds. ATeller, PMathy and J N RJeffers. pp 812–813, Elsevier Applied Science, London, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balsberg Påhlsson A 1992 Influence of nitrogen fertilization on minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolic compounds in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) leaves. Tree Physiol. 10, 93–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaufils E R 1973 Diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS). A general scheme for experimentation and calibration based on principles developed from research in plant nutrition. Univ. Natal Soil Sci. Bull. 1, 1–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann W 1993 Ernährungsstörungen bei Kulturpflanzen. Gustav Fischer, Jena, Stuttgart. 835p.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUWAL/Eidg. Forstdirektion, WSL (Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft) 1992 Sanasilva Waldschadenbericht, Bern und Birmensdorf. 31p.

  • Bobbink R, Boxman D, Fremstad E, Heil E, Houdijk A and Roelofs J 1992 Critical loads for nitrogen eutrophication of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems based upon changes in vegetation and fauna. In Critical Loads for Nitrogen. Eds. P Grennfelt and E Thörnelöf. pp 111–160, Nord 1992: 41.

  • EAFV (Eidg. Anstalt für das forstliche Versuchswesen) 1986 Sanasilva Kronenbilder, Birmensdorf. 98p.

  • Ericsson T 1993 Growth and dry matter allocation of seedlings in relation to nutrient availability. CEC/IUFRO symposium on Nutrient Uptake and Cycling in Forest Ecosystems, Halmstad, Sweden, June 7–10, 1993.

  • Evers F H 1972 Die jahrweisen Fluktuationen der Nährelement-konzentrationen in Fichtennadeln und ihre Bedeutung für die Interpretation nadelanalytischer Befunde. Allg. Forst. Jagdztg. 143 (3/4), 68–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evers F H 1985 Ergebnisse niederschlagsanalytischer Untersuchungen in südwestdeutschen Nadelwaldbeständen. Mitt. Ver. Forstl. Standortserkundung Forstpflanzenzüchtung 1, 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flückiger W and Braun S 1994 Waldschaden-Bericht. Untersuchungen in Buchenbeobachtungsflächen 1984–1993. Institut für Angewandte Pflanzenbiologie, Schönenbuch. 54p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glatzel G 1991 The impact of historic landuse and modern forestry on nutrient relations of Central European forest ecosystems. Fert. Res. 27, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glatzel G, Haselwandler K, Katzensteiner K, Sterba H and Weissbacher J 1990/91 The use of organic and mineral fertilizers in reforestation and in revitalization of declining protective forests in the Alps. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 567–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goulding K W and Blake L 1993 Testing the PROFILE model on long-term data. In Critical Loads; Concepts and Applications. ITE Symposium No. 28, HMSQ. Eds. M Hornung and R Skeffington. pp 68–73.

  • Grimshaw H M, Allen S E and Parkinson J A 1989 In Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials. Ed. S EAllen. pp 81–159. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Boston, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinsdorf D and Schulzke D 1969 Zur Feinwurzelverteilung junger Kiefern und Roteichen in einem humusarmen Sandboden nach Tiefenumbruch bzw. Pflugstreifenbearbeitung und mineralischer Düngung. Arch. Forstwes. B1 18, 731–745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinze M and Fiedler H J 1980 Wasserverbrauch, Ernährung und Wachstum von Kiefernsämlingen bei verschiedener Belichtung, Bewässerung und Düngung. Flora 169, 89–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houdijk A L F M and Roelofs J G M 1993 The effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition and soil chemistry on the nutritional status of Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris. Environ. Pollut. 80, 79–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockman J N and Allen H L 1990. Nutritional diagnoses in loblolly pine stands using a DRIS approach. In Sustained Productivity of Forest Soils. 7th North American Forest Soils Conference. Eds. S P Gessel, D S Lacate, G F Weetma and R F Powers. pp 500–514.

  • Hunger W 1965 Untersuchungen über die Nährelementkonzentrationen in den Nadeln optimalwüchsiger Fichtenbestände. Arch. Forstwes. 14 (6), 571–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hüttl R F 1990 Nutrient supply and fertilizer experiments in the view of N saturation. Plant and Soil 128, 45–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hüttl R F 1991 Die Nährelementversorgung geschädigter Wälder in Europa und Nordamerika. Habilitationsschrift, Freiburger Bodenkundl. Abhandlungen Heft 28, 440.

  • Ingestad T 1979 Mineral nutrient requirements of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 45, 373–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson D W and Ball J T 1990/91 Environmental pollution and impacts on soils and forest nutrition in North America. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson D W and Taylor G E 1989 Role of air pollution in forest decline in Eastern North America. Water Air Soil Pollut. 48, 21–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen P 1979 In Die Rolle des Stickstoffs bei den ‘neuartigen’ Waldschäden. 3. Symposium Waldschäden, Bot. Inst. II, Universität Freiburg i.Br. Dez. 1986. Ed. K Isermann.

  • Katzensteiner K, Eckmuellner O, Jandl R, Glatzel G, Sterba H and Hüttl R F 1995 Revitalization experiments in magnesium deficient Norway spruce stands in Austria. Plant and Soil 168/169.

  • Kenk G, Unfried P, Evers E H and Hildebrand E E 1984 Düngung zur Minderung der neuartigen Waldschäden — Auswertungen eines alten Düngungsversuchs an Fichte im Buntsandstein-Odenwald. Forstwiss. Centralbl. 103, 307–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K 1972 Ueber den Einfluss der Streunutzung auf den Stickstoffhaushalt von Kiefernbeständen. Fortswiss. Centralbl 90, 237–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylona S 1993 Trends of sulphur dioxide emissions, air concentrations and depositions of sulphur in Europe since 1880. EMEP/MSC-W Report 2/93, 35.

  • Nihlgård B and Olsson A 1993 Growth and needle loss of spruce, Picea abies (L) Karst., and pine, Pinus sylvestris L. in South Sweden, relationships to soil acidity, nutrients and stand age. CEC/IUFRO symposium on Nutrient Uptake and Cycling in Forest Ecosystems, Halmstad, Sweden, June 7–10, 1993.

  • Nilsson L O and Wiklund K 1992 Influence of nutrient and water stress on Norway spruce production in south Sweden—the role of air pollutants. Plant and Soil 147, 252–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1980 Fine-root dynamics in a Scots pine stand with and without near-optimum nutrient and water regimes. Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 68, 101–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K 1990/91 The effect of forest liming and fertilization on fine root growth. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 365–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popovic B, Tamm C O and Aronsson A 1992 Aenderungen des Magnesiumkreislaufes in Kiefernwaldökosystemen durch Einträge von Stickstoff und Schwefel. In Magnesiummangel in mitteleuropäischen Waldökosystemen. Eds. Glatzel, R Jandl, M Sieghardt and H Hager. Forstliche Schriftenreihe, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien Bd. 5, 1987–1997

  • Reemtsma J B 1986 Der Magnesiumgehalt in den Nadeln niedersächsischer Fichtenbestände und seine Beurteilung. Allg. Forst.Jagdztg. 157, 196–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehfuess K E 1981 Waldböden. Entwicklung, Eigenschaften und Nutzung. Parey, Hamburg. 193 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehfuess K 1989 Acidic deposition—extent and impact on forest soils, nutrition, growth and disease phenomena in Central Europe: A review. Water Air Soil Pollut. 48, 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schill H 1989 Triebbildung, Verzweigungsverhalten und Kronenentwicklung junger Fichten und Lärchen. Birkhäuser-Verlag, Basel, Boston, Berlin. 157 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiecker H 1991 Liming, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and the annual volume increment of Norway spruce stands on long-term permanent plots in Southwestern Germany. Fert. Res. 27, 87–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stadelmann F X 1992 Mögliche Wirkungen von Stickstoff aus landwirtschaftlicher Sicht. In Forum für Wissen: Waldschadensforschung in der Schweiz, Stand der Kenntnis. WSL, Birmensdorf/Schweiz. pp 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamm C O 1991 Nitrogen in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecol. Studies 81, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heideberg, New York. 115p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trüby P and Aldinger E 1984 Eine Methode zur schnellen Bestimmung der effektiv austauschbaren Kationen. In Düngung von Waldstandorten eine Möglichkeit zur Milderung der Waldschäden? Ed. P Trüby. Allg. Forstz. 39, 1302–1304.

  • UN/ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution 1989/1992 Manual on methodologies and criteria for harmonized sampling assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. Programme Coordinating Centre UN/ECE, pp 21–30.

  • UN/ECE-CEC (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe -Commission of the European Communities) 1992 Forest Condition in Europe. Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests. 1992 Report. Brussels, Geneva 1992, 117 p.

  • VanBreemen N and vanDijk H F G 1988 Ecosystem effects of atmospheric deposition of nitrogen in the Netherlands. Environ. Pollut. 54, 249–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van denDriessche R 1974 Prediction of mineral status of trees by foliar analysis. Bot. Rev. 40 (3), 347–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanDijk H F G, deLouw M H J, Roelofs J G M and Verburgh J J 1990 Impact of artificial ammonium-enriched rainwater on soils and young coniferous trees in a greenhouse. Part II: Effects on the trees. Environ. Pollut. 63, 41–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallander H 1995 Allocation of dry matter between mycorrhizal fungi and pine seedlings in relation to nutrient supply. Plant and Soil 168/169.

  • Zöttl H W 1964 Düngung und Feinwurzelverteilung in Fichtenbeständen. Mitt. Staatsforstverwaltung Bayerns 33, 333–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zöttl H W 1990 Ernahrung und Düngung der Fichte. Forstwiss. Centralbl. 109, 130–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zöttl H W and Hüttl R F 1985 Schadsymptome und Ernährungszustand von Fichtenbeständen im südwestdeutschen Alpenvorland. Allg. Forstz. 40, 197–199.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Applied Plant Biology, Sandgrubenstrasse 25, CH-4124, Schönenbuch, Switzerland

    Walter Flückiger & Sabine Braun

Authors
  1. Walter Flückiger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sabine Braun
    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

Flückiger, W., Braun, S. Revitalization of an alpine protective forest by fertilization. Plant Soil 168, 481–488 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029360

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029360

Key words

Search

Navigation