Summary
The vertical distribution of inorganic nutrient concentrations in red pine were dependent on the foliage age. Older foliage did not show an average vertical gradient while younger foliage did show a significant gradient. Horizontal gradients across foliage age classes in a branch whorl were consistent for all branch whorls, but the relative difference between the concentration of the current foliage and foliage three years-old or older was dependent on crown position. Coefficients of variation (CV) did not show a variability gradient in the crown for nitrogen and phosphorus. Variability of potassium tended to decrease as foliage age increased.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Ballard, R. 1979 Use of fertilizers to maintain productivity of intensively managed forest plantations.In Impact of Intensive Harvesting on Forest Nutrient Cycling, School of Forestry, State University of New York, Syrasuce, N.Y. pp 321–342.
Berglund, J. V., Leaf, A. L. and Leonard, R. E. 1976 Red pine foliage variation and field sampling intensity. Can. J. Res.6, 268–280.
Florence, R. G. and Chuong, P. H. 1974. The influence of soil type on foliar nutrient concentrations inPinus radiata plantations. Aust. For. Res.6, 1–8.
Leyton, L. 1948 Mineral nutrient relationships of forest trees. For. Abstr.9, 399–408.
Madgwick, H. A. I. 1964 Variations in the chemical composition of red pine (Pinus resinosa, Ait.) leaves: a comparison of well grown and poorly grown trees. Forestry37, 87–94.
Mendenhall, W. 1968 The design and analysis of Experiments. Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA, USA, 465 p.
Morrison, I. K. 1972 Variation with crown position and leaf age in content of seven element in leaves ofPinus banksiana Lamb. Can. Jour. For. Res.3, 170–179.
Morrison, I. K. 1974 Mineral nutrition of conifers with special reference to nutrient status interpretation: a review of the literature. Can. For. Serv. Publ. No.1343, Ottawa, Ontario.
Reemtsma, J. B. 1979 Sampling Norway spruce needle by age class.In Proceedings Forest Resource Inventories Workshop. Ed. W. E. Frayer, Department of Forest and Wood Science, Colorado University, USA. Vol. II pp. 792–798.
Tamm, C. O. 1955 Studies on forest nutrition. I. seasonal variation in nutrient content of conifer needles. Medd. Stat. Skogst. Inst.45, 1–35.
van den Driessche, R. 1974 Prediction of mineral nutrient status of trees by foliar analysis. Bot. Rev.40, 347–394.
Wells, C. G. and Metz, L. J. 1963. Variation in nutrient content of loblolly pine needles with season, age, soil and position in the crown. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.27, 90–93.
White, D. P. 1954 Variation in the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of pine needles with season, crown position and sample treatment. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.18, 326–330.
White, E. H. and Carter, M. C. 1970 Relationships between foliage nutrient levels and growth of young natural stands ofPopulus deltoides Bartr.In Tree Growth and Forest Soils. Eds. C. T. Youngberg and C. B. Davey. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis.
Additional information
Contribution of the University of Florida, Soil Science Department, Gainesville, FL and State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 3017.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Comerford, N.B. Distributional gradients and variability of macroelement concentrations in the crowns of plantation grownPinus resinosa (AIT.). Plant Soil 63, 345–353 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370035
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370035