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Effects of nutrient amendments on fine root biomass in a primary successional forest in Hawai'i

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Summary

We determined the effect of fertilization treatments (control (C), complete nutrient amendment without nitrogen (PT), nitrogen only (N) and a complete nutrient amendment (NPT)) on fine root biomass in a tropical montane forest in Hawai'i. Fertilization significantly decreased root biomass; live fine root mass (<2 mm diameter) for the C, PT, N and NPT treatments were 335, 145, 110 and 105 g·m-2, respectively. Nutrient availability appears to control fine root mass in this primary successional forest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, WI, USA

    Stith T. Gower

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, CA, USA

    Peter M. Vitousek

Authors
  1. Stith T. Gower
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  2. Peter M. Vitousek
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Gower, S.T., Vitousek, P.M. Effects of nutrient amendments on fine root biomass in a primary successional forest in Hawai'i. Oecologia 81, 566–568 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378970

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378970

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