Calcium as an environmental variable

Rorison, I. H.; Robinson, David

doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.1984.tb01427.x

Cited by 51 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Robinson and Rorison (1983b) predict that maximum rate of nitrate uptake will be dependent on root length density only at extremely low nitrate concentrations, but Short communication 133 that root density affected ammonium uptake at all concentrations. Lack of a striking difference between root architecture in the nitrate and ammonium patch for black birch may be the result of a general purpose root architecture tuned to ammonium exploitation that is not varied for nitrate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root architectural responses of Betula lenta to spatially heterogeneous ammonium and nitrate

Crabtree

Bernston

1994

Plant Soil

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Inorganic soil nitrogen is often heterogeneously distributed, both spatially and in form (ammonium versus nitrate). Here we present information on the architecture of black birch (Betula lenta L.) root systems exposed to homogeneous and heterogeneous nitrogen environments. The major effects on root architecture were at the whole root system level in response to heterogeneity of nitrogen form rather than the effect of local of local nitrate or ammonium supply on local root growth. In the heterogeneous treatment, plant root systems had greater link lengths and more simple branching patterns. Root architectural responses to heterogeneous nitrogen, independent of localized responses to patches, suggest that in a seedling of B. lenta whole plant integration of its environment may override local control of root growth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root architectural responses of Betula lenta to spatially heterogeneous ammonium and nitrate

Crabtree

Bernston

1994

Plant Soil

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“…The forests overlying sandstone soils cycle smaller amounts of Ca than the alluvial and heath forests. However, Ca is rarely a limiting nutrient and plants usually take up Ca in excess of that needed for cell metabolism (Rorison and Robinson 1984). Therefore, the low Ca concentrations in litterfall may be a product of the low Ca concentrations in sandstone soils and yet not an indication of Ca limitation (Table 1).…”

Section: Litterfallmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nutrient fluxes via litterfall and leaf litter decomposition vary across a gradient of soil nutrient supply in a lowland tropical rain forest

et al. 2006

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The extent to which plant communities are determined by resource availability is a central theme in ecosystem science, but patterns of small-scale variation in resource availability are poorly known. Studies of carbon (C) and nutrient cycling provide insights into factors limiting tree growth and forest productivity. To investigate rates of tropical forest litter production and decomposition in relation to nutrient availability and topography in the absence of confounding large-scale variation in climate and altitude we quantified nutrient fluxes via litterfall and leaf litter decomposition within three distinct floristic associations of tropical rain forest growing along a soil fertility gradient at the Sepilok Forest Reserve (SFR), Sabah, Malaysia. The quantity and nutrient content of small litter decreased along a gradient of soil nutrient availability from alluvial forest (most fertile) through sandstone forest to heath forest (least fertile). Temporal variation in litterfall was greatest in the sandstone forest, where the amount of litter was correlated negatively with rainfall in the previous month. Mass loss and N and P release were fastest from alluvial forest litter, and slowest from heath forest litter. All litter types decomposed most rapidly in the alluvial forest. Stand-level N and P use efficiencies (ratios of litter dry mass to nutrient content) were greatest for the heath forest followed by the sandstone ridge, sandstone valley and alluvial forests, respectively. We conclude that nutrient supply limits productivity most in the heath forest and least in the alluvial forest. Nutrient supply limited productivity in sandstone forest, especially on ridge and hill top sites where nutrient limitation may be exacerbated by reduced rates of litter decomposition during dry periods. The fluxes of N and P varied significantly between the different floristic communities at SFR and these differences may contribute to small-scale variation in species composition.

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“…Calcium Deficiency Absolute Ca deficiency, like H ion toxicity, is difficult to identify within the acid soil complex (Foy, 1974a(Foy, ,b, 1984(Foy, , 1988Kamprath and Foy, 1985). Most acid soils contain adequate total Ca for most plants (Kirkby and Pilbeam, 1984;Rorison and Robinson, 1984), and Ca deficiency symptoms are rarely seen in the field. Only in the most highly leached, acid, low CEC soils (sands, oxisols) would absolute deficiencies be likely.…”

Section: G Manganese Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%