Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of acid irrigation and liming on root growth of Norway spruce

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of acid irrigation and liming on fine root growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was studied in an approximately 80-year-old forest stand in southern Germany (Höglwald). Root growth was measured mainly on root windows and in addition by soil core sampling. Root growth rate showed a typical pattern in the course of a year with a maximum in August. Acid irrigation depressed root growth rate, whereas liming, particularly in combination with acid irrigation, markedly increased root growth in the humic layer and the upper 0–5 cm of the mineral soil. The treatment effects on root growth in the mineral soil below 5 cm were small and not significant. Root growth rate was not correlated with the concentration of aluminium (Al) or the molar ratio of calcium (Ca) to Al in the soil solution. The results suggest that inhibition of root growth by acid irrigation is a direct effect of high proton concentrations in the irrigation water, and that enhancement of root growth by liming is caused by an improved supply of mineral nutrients and higher biological activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alva A K, Kerven G L, Edwards D G and Asher C J 1991 Reduction in toxic aluminum to plants by sulfate complexation Soil Sci. 152, 351–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ammer S 1992 Auswirkungen experimenteller saurer Beregnung und Kalkung auf die Lumbricidenfauna und deren Leistungen (Höglwaldexperiment). Forstliche Forschungsberichte, München, 123 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold G, van Beusichem M L and van Diest A 1994 Nitrogen mineralization and H+ transfer in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest soil as affected by liming. Plant Soil 161, 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arshad M and Frankenberger Jr W T 1991 Microbial production of plant hormones. Plant Soil 133, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babel U 1990 Verteilung von Buchen-und Fichtenfeinwurzeln in Bezug zu Bodenhohlräumen und dichter Bodensubstanz. Allg. Forst-Jagt.-Ztg. 161, 109–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemensson-Lindell A and Persson H 1993 Long-term effects of liming on the fine-root standing crop of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in relation to chemical changes in the soil. Scand. J. For. Res. 8, 384–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coutts M P and Philipson J J 1976 The influence of nutrition on the root development of trees. I. The growth of Sitka spruce with divided root systems. J. Exp. Bot. 27, 1102–1111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coutts M P and Philipson J J 1977 The influence of nutrition on the root development of trees. III. Plasticity of root growth in response to changes in the nutrient environment. J. Exp. Bot. 28, 1071–1075.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ek M, Ljungquist P O and Stenström E 1983 Indole-3-acetic acid production by mycorrhizal fungi determinded by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. New Phytol. 94, 401–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esher R J, Marx D H, Ursic S J, Baker R L, Brown L R and Coleman D C 1992 Simulated acid rain effects on fine roots, ectomycorrhizae, microorganisms, and invertebrates in pine forests of the southem United States. Water Air Soil Pollut. 61, 269–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häussling M, George E, Lorenz K, Kreutzer K and Marschner H 1991 Einfluß von saurer Beregnung auf Wachstum von Langwurzeln und pH-Werte in der Rhizosphäre von Fichten im Versuch Höglwald. Forstwiss. Forsch. 39, 44–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand E E 1986 Zustand und Entwicklung der Austauschereigenschaften von Mineralböden aus Standorten mit erkrankten Waldbeständen Forstwiss. Centrabl. 105, 60–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horst W J, Klotz F and Szulkiewicz P 1990 Mechanical impedance increases aluminium toleraoce of soybean (Glycine max) roots. In Plant Nutrition-Physiology and Applications. Ed. M L van Beusichem. pp 351–355. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinraide T B and Parker D R 1981 Non-phytotoxicity of aluminium sulfate ion. Physiol. Plant. 71, 207–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K and Bittersohl J 1986 Untersuchungen über die Auswirkungen des sauren Regens und der kompensatorischen Kalkung im Wald. Forstwiss. Centrabl. 105, 213–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K, Göttlein A and Pröbstle P 1991 Dynamik und chemische Auswirkungen der Auflösung von Dolomitkalk unter Fichte (Picea abies L. Karst.). Forstwiss. Forsch. 39, 186–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H 1991 Mechanisms of adaptation of plants to acid soils. Plant Soil 134, 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H, Häussling M and George E 1991 Ammonium and nitrate uptake rates and rhizosphere-pH in non-mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Trees 5, 14–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maschning E 1991 Weitere Entwicklung des visuellen Gesundheitszustandes im Fichtenaltbestand Höglwald. Forstwiss. Forsch. 39, 40–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murach D 1984 Die Reaktion der Feinwurzeln von Fichten (Picea abies Karst.) auf zunehmende Bodenversauerung. Göttinger Bodenkd. Ber. 77, 126 p.

  • Murach D and Ulrich B 1988 Destabilization of forest ecosystems by acid deposition. Geo J. 17, 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murach D and Schünemann E 1985 Die Reaktion der Feinwurzeln von Fichten auf Kalkungsmaßnahmen. Allg. Forstztg. 43, 1151–1154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murach D, Ilse L, Klaproth F, Parth A and Wiedemann H 1993 Rhizotron-Experimente zur Wurzelverteilung der Fichte. Forstarchiv 64, 191–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neill C 1992 Comparison of soil coring and ingrowth methods for measuring belowground production. Ecology 73, 1918–1921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K 1991 The effects of forest liming on fertilization on fine-root growth. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 365–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H A 1979 Fine-root production, mortality and decomposition in forest ecosystems. Vegetatio 41, 101–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raspe S 1992 Biomasse und Mineralstoffgehalte der Wurzeln von Fichtenbeständen (Picea abies Karst.) des Schwarzwaldes und Veränderungen nach Düngung. Freib. Bodenkd. Abh. 29, 197 p.

  • Rost-Siebert K 1983 Aluminium-Toxizität und-Toleranz an Keimpflanzen von Fichte (Picea abies Karst.) und Buche (Fagus silvatica L.). Allg. Forstztg. 38, 686–689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schierl R and Kreutzer K 1991 Eintluß von saurer Beregnung und Kalkung auf die Schwermetalldynamik im Höglwaldexperiment. Forstwiss. Forsch. 39, 204–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schierl R, Göttlein A, Hohmann E, Trübenbach D and Kreutzer K 1986 Einfluß von saurer Beregnung und Kalkung auf Humusstoffe sowie die Aluminium-und Schwermetalldynamik in wäßrigen Bodenextrakten. Forstwiss. Centralbl. 105, 309–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider B U and Zech W 1990 The influence of Mg fertilization on growth and mineral contents of fine roots in (Picea abies [Karst] L.) stands at different stages of decline in NE-Bavaria. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 469–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tennant D 1975 A test of a modified line intersect method of estimating root length. J. Ecol. 63, 995–1001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Türk T and Horn R 1991 Eine Methode zur permanenten pH-Wert-Registrierung mittels keramischer Saugkerzen im Mineralbodeninput eines sauren Waldbodens. Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenkd. 154, 131–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich B and Pirouzpanah D 1986 Untersuchungen zur Feinwurzeldynamik im Versuch Höglwald. Forstwiss. Centralbl. 105, 318–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich B, Mayer R and Khanna P K 1979 Deposition von Luftverunreinigungen und ihre Auswirkungen in Waldökosystemen im Solling. Schriften Forst. Fak. Univ. Göttingen Band 58, 291 p.

  • Ulrich B, Meiwes K J, König N and Khanna P H 1984 Untersuchungsverfahren und Kriterien zur Bewertung der Versauerung und ihrer Folgen in Wäldern. Forst Holz 39, 278–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel B and Ulrich B 1988 Kompensationskalkung — Risiken und ihre Minimierung. Forst Holz 43, 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Nutrition, University Hohenheim, D-70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    G. Hahn & H. Marschner†

Authors
  1. G. Hahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Marschner†
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hahn, G., Marschner†, H. Effect of acid irrigation and liming on root growth of Norway spruce. Plant and Soil 199, 11–22 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004254709452

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004254709452

Search

Navigation