Nutrient distribution in Picea likiangensis trees growing in a plantation in West Sichuan, Southwest China

Abstract

We measured nutrient distribution of Picea likiangensis (Franchet) E. Pritzel var. balfouriana trees growing in a plantation by field investigations, sample tree and plot harvest in West Sichuan, Southwest China. Based on the results in this study, the total biomass of plant compartments in plantation ecosystem was 114 829.1 kg ha -1 . Tree, shrub, herb, bryophyte and litter layers accounted for 93.9%, 0.9%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 5.2%, respectively. The total biomass of tree layers was 107 817.1 kg ha -1 . Needles, branches, stem wood, stem bark and roots accounted for 13.2%, 19.7%, 42.3%, 10.0% and 14.8%, respectively. The concentration of the nutrients was generally highest in the actively growing parts of the trees (e.g. needles) and lowest in the structural and not actively growing parts (e.g. stem wood). On the other hand, the concentrations of N, P, K and Mg were generally higher in the current year needles and branches than in the older needles and branches. These nutrient concentrations were also higher in the upper stem wood and bark than in the lower stem wood and bark, and in small roots than in large roots, whereas the opposite patterns were observed for the concentration of Ca in these compartments. The results will be helpful in understanding the nutrient behavior in a highly productive forest plantation and thereby providing decisive information for their sustainable management.

Soil nutrient status, nutrient return and retranslocation in poplar species and clones in northern Iran

“…The soil under P. caspica also contained poor nutrient supply compared to the other clones and species. Consistent with our results, Liu et al (2004) reported that high element retranslocation and low growth rate are the characteristics of plants under element-poor conditions. On the other hand, since the soil under P.d "Harvard" is relatively nutrient-rich, the nutrients were not retranslocated as efficiently as to the other clones and species.…”

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Distribution and Relationship in Soils and Plants under Different Aged Chinese Fir Plantation

“…Several investigations have shown that the nutrient concentrations in actively growing parts (such as needles, fine roots) is usually higher than in the structural parts (e.g., stem) of trees [12,[36][37][38]. A similar result was found in the current study of Chinese fir (Figure 3).…”

“…Total biomass and the biomass of the four organ types increased consistently with increasing plantation age, and stems had the highest proportion of biomass in all of the plantations (Table 1), which was also found in the previous studies of Chinese fir [8,9] and other species [12,38]. Because of the commercial value of plantations and the nutrient loss caused by timber clear-cutting, the stem biomass is critically important for the plantation system [9].…”

Comparison of growth, nutrition and soil properties of pure stands of Quercus castaneifolia and mixed with Zelkova carpinifolia in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran

“…Cuevas and Lugo (1998) reported the species that return the most mass are not necessarily the ones that return the most P and N. Moreover, the species can adjust their performance though differences in retranslocation rates before leaf fall. Translocation of nutrients during the ageing of tissues especially in foliage of trees during senescence is an important mechanism for maintaining tree growth (Liu et al, 2004). Retranslocation is not, as has been thought, primarily associated with senescence and late stages in stand development.…”