New evidence indicates the coarse soil fraction is of greater relevance to plant nutrition than previously suggested

Smaill, Simeon J.; Clinton, Peter W.; Allen, Robert B.; Davis, M. R.

doi:10.1007/s11104-013-1898-3

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Methods of determining available soil N are used as indices of N status, yet they may not represent all sources of N (e.g., Knoepp et al, 2014). For instance, the DIN available for export may be present much deeper in the soil profile than is typically sampled or in coarse fragments, which are also not usually sampled (Smaill et al, 2014). Also, the DIN that is exported to the stream may come from a fairly small area of the watershed, perhaps due to DIN accumulation in near-stream zones (e.g., Duncan et al, 2013).…”

Section: Export To Input For the Six Watersheds At The Fernow Experimmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic Nitrogen Retention by Watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Adams

Knoepp

Webster

2014

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Because elevated N loading can impair both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, understanding the abiotic and biotic controls over retention and export of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) is crucial. Long‐term research has been conducted on experimental watersheds at two U.S. Forest Service experimental forests in the Appalachian region: Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) in West Virginia and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (CHL) in North Carolina. While similar in vegetation and research history, FEF and CHL differ in climate, historic DIN deposition, and soils. We evaluated long‐term patterns of DIN inputs and exports from three watersheds at each location with similar treatments including clear‐cut harvest, conversion to conifer plantation (Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.] at FEF and white pine [Pinus strobus L.] at CHL), as well as reference watersheds. We examined DIN export and retention in these watersheds, comparing treated and reference watersheds within each experimental forest and comparing similarly treated watersheds between the experimental forests. Despite current similar levels of N deposition, stream water DIN concentrations and exports were generally greater at FEF by almost an order of magnitude. We found differences between FEF and CHL in stream DIN concentrations, watershed export, and retention of DIN inputs not only in the untreated reference watersheds but also in the watersheds with similar disturbance treatment. We hypothesize that these differences are the result of site and vegetation differences as well as site history including long‐term patterns of DIN deposition. We document the switch from biogeochemical to hydrologic controls that occurred when N availability exceeded N immobilization, due to either N deposition or biological N inputs.

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Section: Export To Input For the Six Watersheds At The Fernow Experimmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic Nitrogen Retention by Watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Adams

Knoepp

Webster

2014

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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“…Various processes drive nutrient release from coarse soil, including abiotic weathering ( Ugolini et al, 2001), fungal activity ( Jongmans et al, 1997), and bacterial activity ( Uroz et al, 2011). However, results presented in Smaill et al (2014) suggest that the plant nutrient uptake associated with coarse soil may not be solely due to nutrient release from coarse soil itself. Smaill et al (2014) found that the additional uptake of N, P, and Mg in the presence of coarse soil was 50%, 70%, and 39%, respectively, of the total stock of these nutrients in the coarse soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The coarse soil fraction (material > 2 mm in diameter) contributes to plant nutrition over time frames that are relevant to plant growth ( Wang et al, 2000; Ugolini et al, 2001; Koele and Hildebrand , 2008; Smaill et al, 2014). Various processes drive nutrient release from coarse soil, including abiotic weathering ( Ugolini et al, 2001), fungal activity ( Jongmans et al, 1997), and bacterial activity ( Uroz et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coarse soil can enhance the availability of nutrients from fine soil

Smaill

Clinton

Allen

et al. 2014

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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A recent trial found that the presence of coarse soil in fine soil increased nutrient uptake by two plant species (Smaill et al., 2014). To determine if the additional nutrient uptake was derived directly from the coarse soil, the changes in coarse soil nutrient stocks were assessed. In most cases nutrient stocks increased, despite being associated with greater plant nutrient uptake. This suggests coarse soil can promote nutrient release from fine soil through some currently unknown mechanism.

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“…Qin et al (2015) studied the effects of gravel on the properties of the soil and vegetation in an alpine grassland. Smaill et al (2014) reported an increase in nutrient uptake in stony (2-4 mm) soil for Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides and Weinmannia racemosa but did not provide details about the nutrients in these two species.…”

Section: Wuementioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of rock fragments content on water consumption, biomass and water-use efficiency of plants under different water conditions

Shao

Liu

2016

Ecological Engineering

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a b s t r a c tThe proportion of rock fragments in soil affects water availability and therefore the characteristics of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rock-fragment content on plant water consumption, biomass, growth and water-use efficiency (WUE) under different water conditions. Four gravimetric treatments of rock-fragment contents (0, 10, 30 and 50%) and four treatments of water content were tested in sandy loamy soils. The water contents of the rock-free soil were 15-19% (80-100% of field capacity), 11-15% (60-80% of field capacity), 9-11% (47-60% of field capacity) and 6-9% (32-47% of field capacity). Transpiration, plant height, basal stem diameter and biomass of korshinsk peashrubs in the treatments were measured and compared. Plants grown in the soil with rock fragments transpired less, especially under well-watered conditions. The mean daily transpiration of plants in the soils with 30 and 50% rock-fragment contents was 18% (P = 0.021) and 34% (P = 0.001) lower, respectively, in 2014, and 25% (P = 0.008) and 31% (P = 0.002) lower, respectively, in 2015 relative to the soil without rock fragments and was not lower in the soil with 10% rock fragments. Plant height, basal stem diameter and biomass did not differ significantly between rock-fragment contents of 0 and 30% but were lower at 50%. WUE, the ratio between total transpiration and biomass, was highest at 30% and then decreased at 50%. Increasing plant water stress could thus improve WUE. The rock fragments in the soil had significant effects on plant water consumption, biomass, growth and WUE. Optimizing the rock-fragment content is necessary when the relationships between plants and water in stony ecosystems are evaluated.

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New evidence indicates the coarse soil fraction is of greater relevance to plant nutrition than previously suggested

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

Inorganic Nitrogen Retention by Watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Inorganic Nitrogen Retention by Watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Coarse soil can enhance the availability of nutrients from fine soil

Effect of rock fragments content on water consumption, biomass and water-use efficiency of plants under different water conditions

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