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Effect of wood ash on leaf and shoot anatomy, photosynthesis and carbohydrate concentrations in birch on a cutaway peatland

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Abstract

Trees in cutaway peatland are growing in difficult conditions. Fertilization with nutrient-rich wood ash helps improve growth conditions. Photosynthesis and carbohydrate concentration along leaf anatomy were studied on plots treated with 10 and 5 t ha−1 wood ash (WA10 and WA5) and on untreated (Control) plot to explain the physiological background of the differences in tree growth. The leaves from WA10 had the largest leaf area, total thickness, the thickest mesophyll and also significantly larger average values of all anatomical parameters of the shoots. The photosynthetic assimilation was significantly higher on treated plots at 200 and 400 ppm CO2 levels. In leaves on the treated plots, the sucrose concentration was lower while that of starch was higher than in trees on untreated soil. The differences in the maximum photosynthesis were relatively small. At unit ground, the leaf area provided for a wood ash-treated tree an efficient surface for CO2 assimilation, light interception and some starch storage during the growing period.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the institutional research funding IUT21-4 (B21004) of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, by the Environmental Investment Centre (Projects Nos 29 and 3708) and by the State Forest Management Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Silviculture, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Karin Aguraijuja & Katri Ots

  2. Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Mustamäe tee 4, 10621, Tallinn, Estonia

    Jaan Klõšeiko & Aljona Lukjanova

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  1. Karin Aguraijuja
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  2. Jaan Klõšeiko
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  3. Katri Ots
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  4. Aljona Lukjanova
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Correspondence to Katri Ots.

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Aguraijuja, K., Klõšeiko, J., Ots, K. et al. Effect of wood ash on leaf and shoot anatomy, photosynthesis and carbohydrate concentrations in birch on a cutaway peatland. Environ Monit Assess 187, 444 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4681-5

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