Abstract
The aim of this study was to combine data on photosynthetic performance, growth and mineral nutrition of Quercus petraea, Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus growing six years under a Norway spruce canopy. Three years old saplings were planted on several adjoining plots from the forest edge up to 35 m inside the spruce forest on nutrient poor dystric cambisols. Growth parameters, photosynthetic capacity and leaf nutrition were repeatedly measured on 11 to 13 selected plants for each species every year from 1996 to 2001. The general performance of the plants growing along the light gradient from forest edge into the closed canopy decreased in the order F. sylvatica, Q. petraea and A. pseudoplatanus. The photosynthetic performance of Acer declined from the second year onwards as consequence of low nutrient supply. The plants had in most cases higher leaf nitrogen concentration in shade. This increase going along with declining light input was the best in Quercus and was found in Acer leaves only in the second year after the planting. The growth parameters of all investigated plants were not correlated to the light environment within the range of canopy gap fraction between 0.05 and 0.62. However, the total leaf area as well as nutrient amounts in the foliage were good predictors for total plant height and plant diameter at root collar of Fagus and Quercus, but failed in most cases for Acer. These results emphasise the important role of nutrient acquisition for young broadleaves introduced in Norway spruce stands and underline the different requirements for nutrient supply at the species level.
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Kazda, M., Salzer, J., Schmid, I. et al. Importance of mineral nutrition for photosynthesis and growth of Quercus petraea, Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus planted under Norway spruce canopy. Plant Soil 264, 25–34 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047715.95176.63
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047715.95176.63