Long term effect of liming and fertilization on ectomycorrhizal colonization and tree growth in old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands

Abstract

In this study, we surveyed the long term effects of liming and fertilizing in old Scots pine stands on the ectomycorrhiza (ECM) colonization, tree growth and needle nutrient concentration 35 years later. Four mature stands of Scots pine on low productive mineral soil were limed in 1959 and 1964 with total doses of limestone ranging from 3 to 15 Mg ha −1 and fertilized with nitrogen (N) in 1970.Thirty-five years after the first liming treatment, all stands were analysed for tree growth and needle nutrient concentrations and two of the stands were also analysed for ECM colonization. ECM colonization increased significantly with liming from 61.5% in the control plots to 88% in the plot with the highest limestone dose. ECM colonization increased with increasing pH in the humus layer from 62% colonization at pH=3.5 to 90% at pH=6.5 and decreased with increasing amount of extractable phosphorus (P) in the humus. Liming did not affect the frequencies of different ECM morphotypes or dead short root tips, the fine root biomass or necromass. ECM colonization was uncorrelated with needle nutrient concentrations or tree increment. Liming did not significantly affect tree growth. However, nutrient concentrations of currentyear needles were affected by prior liming. Ca concentrations in current-year needles increased from approximately 15 mg g −1 in control treatments to more than 30 mg g −1 in limed plots, whereas concentrations of Mn, Al, Fe, and in two stands, B, decreased due to liming. In conclusion, liming with doses up to 15 Mg ha −1 was detectable in stands 35 years after treatment.The liming significantly increased the ECM colonization of Scots pine fine roots, increased the needle nutrient concentration of Ca and decreased the needle concentrations of Mn, Al, and Fe.

Effects of liming on chemical properties of soil, needle nutrients and growth of Scots pine transplants

“…In general, liming has been reported to increase Ca and decrease Mn concentrations in pine needles (Derome et al, 1986;Abrahamsen et al, 1994;Nihlgård et al, 1996;Børja and Nilsen, 2009). These results agree with those obtained in our study.…”

“…In contrast to expectations, however, lime applied on the soil surface has not brought an overall improvement in tree growth; instead, it has often had either no effect or a detrimental effect on stand growth, especially on Norway spruce (Tamm, 1974;Derome et al, 1986;Popovic and Andersson, 1984;Hüttl and Zöttl, 1993;Huber et al, 2004;Røsberg et al, 2006;Børja and Nilsen, 2009). In Finnish liming experiments the volume growth of Norway spruce stands decreased by about 10% during the 18 years after liming, and in Scots pine stands there was also a slight, but non-significant, decrease (Derome et al, 1986).…”

Effect of Stand Age on Fine Root Biomass, Production and Morphology in Chinese Fir Plantations in Subtropical China

“…Compared with broad-leaved forests or natural forests, fine root biomass of the Chinese fir plantation was relatively lower [27,29]. Our result also supported the findings that fine root biomass increased first and then decreased with increasing stand age [30]. The variations in fine root biomass at different stand ages in forests may be related to many factors, including canopy closure, stand tree density, aboveground standing biomass, local site conditions, soil depth and previous management practices [31].…”

Changes in forest soil properties and spruce stands characteristics after dolomite, magnesite and serpentinite fertilization

“…Sikström (2005) 11 growing seasons after liming. Many researchers (Børja and Nilsen 2009;Jonard et al 2010) have studied the longterm effects of liming on forest stands. Badalucco et al (1992), Liu (2004) and Mijangos et al (2006) studied the effect of fertilization on soil fertility by investigating soil enzymatic activity.…”