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Effects of soil warming and nitrogen foliar applications on bud burst of black spruce

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In mature black spruce, bud burst process is anticipated by soil warming, while delayed by foliar applications of nitrogen; however, the effects depend on growth conditions at the site.

Abstract

The observation of phenological events can be used as biological indicator of environmental changes, especially from the perspective of climate change. In boreal forests, the onset of the bud burst is a key factor in the length of the growing season. With current climate change, the major factors limiting the growth of boreal trees (i.e., temperature and nitrogen availability) are changing and studies on mature trees are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soil warming and increased nitrogen (N) deposition on bud burst of mature black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP]. From 2008 onwards, an experimental manipulation of these environmental growth conditions was conducted in two stands (BER and SIM) at different altitudes in the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. An increase in soil temperature (H treatment) and a canopy application of artificial rain enriched with nitrogen (N treatment) were performed. Observations of bud phenology were made during May–July 2012 and 2013. In BER, H treatment caused an anticipation (estimated as 1–3 days); while N treatment, a delay (estimated as 1–2 days but only in 2012) in bud burst. No treatments effect was significant in SIM. It has been demonstrated that soil temperature and N availability can play an important role in affecting bud burst in black spruce but the effects of these environmental factors on growth are closely linked with site conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada with the participation of Hydro-Québec, Abitibi-Bowater inc., Consortium sur les changements climatiques Ouranos, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (MRNF) and the Consortium de recherche sur la forêt boréale commerciale. The authors thank D. Laprise, J. Piquette, F. Gionest for technical support and A. Garside for checking the English text. We are also grateful for the referees’ comments that helped to improve this manuscript.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC, G7H2B1, Canada

    Daniele De Barba, Sergio Rossi, Annie Deslauriers & Hubert Morin

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  1. Daniele De Barba
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  2. Sergio Rossi
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  3. Annie Deslauriers
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  4. Hubert Morin
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Correspondence to Annie Deslauriers.

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Communicated by T. Koike.

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De Barba, D., Rossi, S., Deslauriers, A. et al. Effects of soil warming and nitrogen foliar applications on bud burst of black spruce. Trees 30, 87–97 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1152-0

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