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Nutritional Disharmony and Forest Decline: A Conceptual Model

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Forest Decline and Air Pollution

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 77))

Abstract

A base cation deficiency has been implicated in the decline of European forests (Abrahamsen 1980; Ulrich 1983; Franz 1983; Zech and Popp 1983; Tomlinson 1985; Hauhs and Wright 1986; Rehfuess 1987; Cape et al. 1988). However, it is puzzling to find that a tree, dying from a lack of a cation such as Mg at one site, may have more of that cation than a healthy tree at another site (see Bosch et al. 1983). Plant nutrition studies have revealed that for maximum growth to occur, requisite elements must be supplied to trees in a certain ratio which differs between species (Mulder 1956; Ingestad 1959, 1979a,b; see review by Powers 1984). The harmony in the supply of elements to trees, or in the uptake by trees, is the core of the following conceptual model of forest decline.

Heavenly tune which none can hear Of human mould with gross unpurged ear

Milton (Arcades)

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Authors
  1. R. Oren
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  2. E.-D. Schulze
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenökologie, der Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 8580, Bayreuth, Germany

    Ernst-Detlef Schulze

  2. Lehrstuhl für Botanik II, der Universität Würzburg, Mittlerer Dallenbergweg 64, 8700, Würzburg, Germany

    Otto L. Lange

  3. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Duke University, Durham, North Carlina, 27706, USA

    Ram Oren

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Oren, R., Schulze, ED. (1989). Nutritional Disharmony and Forest Decline: A Conceptual Model. In: Schulze, ED., Lange, O.L., Oren, R. (eds) Forest Decline and Air Pollution. Ecological Studies, vol 77. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61332-6_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61332-6_20

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