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Short-term changes in biomass partitioning of two full-sib clones of Pinus taeda L. under differing fertilizer regimes over 4 months

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Abstract

Clonal forestry is a reality in the southeastern United States due to improvements in somatic embryogenesis of Pinus taeda L. Differences in below-ground carbon (C) allocation between individual genotypes could alter C sequestration and cycling in these clonal plantations. Biomass partitioning may vary between clones and in response to management practices, like fertilization. Our objective was to quantify differences in biomass partitioning due to fertilization in contrasting clones of P. taeda produced from the same full-sib cross. A two (clone)-by-two (fertilizer)-by-four (sequential harvest) factorial randomized complete block design was replicated eight times in a greenhouse for 4 months. Trees were destructively harvested monthly following fertilizer application, so changes in biomass partitioning could be determined. Both clones responded to fertilizer with a short-term reduction in root:shoot ratio and increase in foliar biomass. These changes were ephemeral, returning to control levels within 4 months. Fertilizer responses in below-ground partitioning were due to allometric differences in one clone, but were only attributable to altered rates of development in the other. Ephemeral changes in biomass partitioning in response to fertilizer application were consistent with a theory of short-term physiological response to increased nutrient availability fueling long-term fertilizer growth responses.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Bonnie Stovall, Kelly Merkl, Matthew Seiler, and John Peterson for help with sample processing. Thanks to Chris Maier, Mike Aust, Amy Brunner, and several anonymous reviewers for providing useful criticism on this manuscript. We would also like to thank Jeff Wright and Phil Dougherty at ArborGen for providing the seedlings, and Kurt Johnsen and Pete Anderson of the USDA Forest Service for providing soil. Funding was provided by the NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems and the Forest Nutrition Cooperative.

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  1. Jeremy P. Stovall

    Present address: , 419 East College St., SFA Station, Box 6109, Nacogdoches, TX, 75692, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, 228 Cheatham Hall (0324), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Jeremy P. Stovall, Thomas R. Fox & John R. Seiler

Authors
  1. Jeremy P. Stovall
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  2. Thomas R. Fox
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  3. John R. Seiler
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Correspondence to Jeremy P. Stovall.

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Communicated by E. Priesack.

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Stovall, J.P., Fox, T.R. & Seiler, J.R. Short-term changes in biomass partitioning of two full-sib clones of Pinus taeda L. under differing fertilizer regimes over 4 months. Trees 26, 951–961 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0673-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0673-4

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