Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nitrate fertilization stimulates emergence of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) under forest canopy

  • Published:
Fertilizer research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nitrate-nitrogen fertilization triggered germination of dormantRubus idaeus L. (red raspberry) seeds naturally buried in the forest floor of 50-year-old coniferous stands of eastern Quebec. Orthogonal contrasts revealed a significant linear effect between the rates of nitrate applied and red raspberry seedling counts over two consecutive growing seasons. The fertilization treatments stimulated emergence to a greater extent in year 2 than in year 1. The potential effect of nitrate on raspberry seed dormancy breakage is briefly discussed in relation to site disturbance.

Résumé

Une fertilisation azotée sous forme de nitrate déclenche la germination de graines deRubus idaeus L. (framboisier sauvage) naturellement enfouies dans le parterre de peuplements forestiers conifériens âgés de 50 ans, situés dans l'est du Québec. Les contrastes orthogonaux ont montré un effet linéaire significatif entre les doses de nitrate appliquées et le dénombrement de semis de framboisier sauvage durant deux saisons de croissance consécutives. Les traitements de fertilisation ont davantage stimulé l'émergence du framboisier sauvage à la seconde année qu'à la première. L'auteur discute brièvement de l'effet possible du nitrate sur la levée de la dormance de graines de framboisier sauvage en relation avec les perturbations forestières.

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

  • Anonymous (1974) Seeds of woody plants in the United States. US Dept Agric, For Serv, Agricultural Handbook No 450. 883 p

  • Auchmoody LR (1979) Nitrogen fertilization stimulates germination of dormant pin cherry seed. Can J For Res 9: 514–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox TR (1986) Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) competition effects on balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) seedlings in Northern Maine. Tree Planters' Notes 37: 20–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Granstrom A (1987) Seed viability of fourteen species during five years of storage in a forest soil. J Ecol 75: 321–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Jobidon R (1990) Short-term effect of three mechanical site preparation methods on species diversity. Tree Planters' Notes 41: 39–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Jobidon R, Thibault JR and Fortin JA (1989) Phytotoxic effect of barley, oat, and wheat straw mulches in eastern Quebec forest plantations 2. Effects on nitrification and black spruce (Picea mariana) seedling growth. For Ecol Manage 29: 295–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens GE, Bormann FH, Johnson NM, Fisher DW and Pierce RS (1970) Effects of forest cutting and herbicide treatment on nutrient budgets in the Hubbard Brook watershed-ecosystem. Ecol Monogr 40: 23–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton M, McCormack ML, Sajdak RL and Walstad JD (1987) In: Walstad JD and Kuch PJ (eds) Forest vegetation management for conifer production, pp 77–103. John Wiley & Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts MR and Dong HY (1991) Effects of clearcutting and forest floor disturbance on establishment and survival of raspberry. North-eastern weed science society, (Abstract), 45th Annual meeting, Baltimore, January 8–10, 1991

  • Steel RGD and Torrie JH (1980) Principles and procedures of statistics. A biometrical approach. 2nd Ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamm CO (1974) Experiments to analyze the bahavior of young spruce forest at different nutrient levels. In: Proc. First International Congress of Ecology - Structure, Functioning and Management of Ecosystems, pp 266–272. The Hague, 8–14 September, 1974. Pudoc, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D (1987) Secondary succession and the pattern of plant dominance along experimental nitrogen gradients. Ecol Monogr 57: 189–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Gosz JR, Grier CC, Melillo JM, Reiners WA and Todd RL (1979) Nitrate losses from disturbed ecosystems. Science 204: 469–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM and Melillo JM (1979) Nitrate losses from disturbed forests: patterns and mechanisms. For Sci 25: 605–619

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall RE (1983) Early stand development after clear-cutting on the Cape Breton highlands. Maritimes Forest Research Centre, Information Report M-X-143. 16 p

  • Whitney GG (1978) A demographic analysis ofRubus idaeus L. andRubus pubescens Raf. The relative traits and population dynamics of two temporally isolated members of the genusRubus. Ph.D. Thesis, Yale University. 139 p.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Direction de la recherche, Ministère des Forêts du Québec, 2700, rue Einstein, G1P 3W8, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    Robert Jobidon

Authors
  1. Robert Jobidon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The author is also an invited professor at the Centre de recherche en biologie forestière, Université Laval, Québec.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jobidon, R. Nitrate fertilization stimulates emergence of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) under forest canopy. Fertilizer Research 36, 91–94 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749952

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749952

Key words

Search

Navigation