Summary
American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) plantations were intensively cultured on floodplain and terrace sites near the Ohio River in western Kentucky. Biomass and nutrient uptake under various spacing and fertilizer treatments were investigated by total tree analysis techniques. Nutrient element concentrations of sample trees were affected by site and fertilizer treatment but not by spacing. The order of nutrient concentrations were: N> Ca>K>Mg>P>Mn. Branches and foliage of saplings harvested 3 growing seasons after planting accounted for 45 to 70 per cent of the nutrient elements found in the above-ground tree parts. Comparison of the estimated annual nutrient removals with estimated annual inputs from precipitation, mineral weathering and mineralization of organic matter indicates that removal of the total above-ground tree components can have an important effect on soil nutrient reserves.
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Additional information
The investigation reported in this paper (76-8-129) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with approval of the Director.
The authors are Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University; Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, Department of Forestry University of Kentucky.
The authors are Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University; Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, Department of Forestry University of Kentucky.
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Wood, B.W., Wittwer, R.F. & Carpenter, S.B. Nutrient element accumulation and distribution in an intensively cultured American sycamore plantation. Plant Soil 48, 417–433 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187251