Linking Plant Nutrition and Ecosystem Processes

  • G. A. Bauer
  • H. Persson
  • T. Persson
  • M. Mund
  • M. Hein
  • E. Kummetz
  • G. Matteucci
  • H. van Oene
  • G. Scarascia-Mugnozza
  • E.-D. Schulze
Chapter
Part of the Ecological Studies book series (ECOLSTUD, volume 142)

Abstract

Mineral nutrients are a major part of all the physiological and biogeochemical processes in forest ecosystems. This is especially true for forests across Europe, which were deprived of nutrients due to intensive wood and litter use, and which experienced deposition of acids, nitrogen and sulphur over the second half of this century, resulting in significant nutrient imbalances for growth (Schulze 1989). Decreased nutrient availability can lead to a reduction of leaf size (Linder 1987), resulting in an almost instantaneous decrease in current year growth. In this way, the nutrient status of long-lived conifer needles might influence net primary production (NPP) long after a transient nutrient shortage, caused, e.g. by one dry season, has occurred. In natural forest ecosystems nutrient uptake from soil solution and nutrient release through litterfall and fine root turnover should balance each other such that the turnover time of nutrients within the system meets the requirements for stand growth (Gorham et al. 1979; Miller 1986; Attiwill and Adams 1993) and keeps the ecosystem nutrient cycle tight. Any deviation from this cycle due to anthropogenic influence (e.g. Vitousek et al. 1997) or natural disturbance (e.g. Foster et al. 1997) could alter one or more processes within the nutrient cycle with long-lasting effects on forest functioning.

Keywords

Fine Root Specific Leaf Area Ecosystem Process Fagus Sylvatica Picea Abies 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2000

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. A. Bauer
  • H. Persson
  • T. Persson
  • M. Mund
  • M. Hein
  • E. Kummetz
  • G. Matteucci
  • H. van Oene
  • G. Scarascia-Mugnozza
  • E.-D. Schulze

There are no affiliations available

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