Short‐term growth response of jack pine and spruce spp. to wood ash amendment across Canada

Emilson, Caroline E.; Bélanger, Nicolas; Brais, Suzanne; Chisholm, Colin E.; Diochon, Amanda; Joseph, Ruth; Markham, James W.; Morris, Dave M.; Rees, Ken Van; Rutherford, P. Michael; Venier, Lisa A.; Hazlett, P. W.

doi:10.1111/gcbb.12661

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our results are consistent with the findings of Emilson et al (2020) in regard to jack pine and white spruce. This Canadawide study revealed that the relationship between short-term response of jack pine and application rates is relatively linear.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Brais et al (2015) reported decreased growth of black spruce starting at 4 dry Mg ha -1 (same ash as in our study). Emilson et al (2020) also reported a general negative growth response of black spruce to ash application using the Canadian AshNet database, whereas Staples & Van Rees (2001) and Bieser & Thomas (2019) observed a negative response of white spruce to wood ash. Salt and metal toxicities were believed to be the cause for the decline in growth of black and white spruce.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wood ash used as a soil amendment for afforestation or reforestation is common in some European countries (Lundborg 1998). Application of wood ash generally leads to improved soil nutrient availability and tree growth (Augusto et al 2008, Reid & Watmough 2014, Emilson et al 2020. Another incentive of applying ash in forests is the reduced landfill disposal costs for forest and bioenergy industries (Hannam et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such situations are more likely to occur at higher ash application rates and some tree species (e.g., Picea spp.) are possibly more susceptible to a toxic response (Brais et al 2015, Emilson et al 2020. A few studies also reported negative impacts of wood ash application on seedling survival rate (Staples & Van Rees 2001, Mandre et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contrasted growth response of hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to wood ash application in northwestern Quebec, Canada

Bélanger¹,

Ponce²,

Brais³

2021

iForest

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Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and ForestryContrasted growth response of hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to wood ash application in northwestern Quebec, Canada Nicolas Bélanger (1) , Gustavo Palma Ponce (2) , Suzanne Brais (2) The use of wood ash as a soil amendment in afforestation and reforestation efforts is increasing. While most studies suggest benefits or neutral results on tree growth and survival, a few studies indicate adverse effects. Hybrid larch, jack pine and white spruce were studied at three northwestern Quebec plantation sites after they received wood ash at two application rates. Soil chemical properties, foliar nutrients and seedling growth and mortality were monitored over a period of eight years. The response of soil to ash application was mostly observed in the forest floor and was more pronounced in year 3 than year 8, likely due to the acidifying nature of the boreal soils studied. Jack pine growth increased linearly with wood ash application rates, white spruce growth showed an inconsistent and delayed positive response under the higher application rate, and hybrid larch growth and survival were either increased or decreased under the lower application rate depending of site but decreased at all sites under the higher application rate. The divergence in growth response between tree species underlines a trade-off between species with rapid acquisition of resources (e.g., pine, larch) to species that use more conservative strategies and store nutrients in their tissues for longer periods (e.g., spruce). In the case of hybrid larch, it accumulated larger amounts of Mn in its needles under the higher application rate and thus, the high bioavailability of Mn appears to have been detrimental to its survival and growth. Its higher sensitivity to Mn addition from ash is likely due to its highly acquisitive (nutrients) nature compared to other coniferous species as well as the initial levels of available Mn levels in the soil. The contrasted growth responses reported here under similar growing conditions highlight the importance of identifying suitable species, sites and application rates to maximize the benefits of wood ash amendments for future tree plantations in the boreal forest.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contrasted growth response of hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to wood ash application in northwestern Quebec, Canada

Bélanger¹,

Ponce²,

Brais³

2021

iForest

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“…Tree species also vary widely in responses to amendments of wood charcoals (Pluchon et al, 2014;Thomas & Gale, 2015), and wood ash (Emilson et al, 2020). Fire-adapted species, including P. banksiana, might be expected to show the most significant positive responses to fire residues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial heterogeneity in soil pyrogenic carbon mediates tree growth and physiology following wildfire

Gale

Thomas

2020

Journal of Ecology

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1. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) is a ubiquitous legacy of wildfire in terrestrial soils, yet how it affects the growth and function of regenerating plants has received little research attention. 2. We examined responses to a natural gradient of PyC deposition 5 years following a severe fire in a northern boreal forest, based on measurements of growth (height, basal area increment and leader extension), physiological performance (Fv/Fm) and foliar nutrition (C, N, P, K, Mg) of Pinus banksiana Lamb. We determined the concentration of PyC, expressed as a dosage (t/ha, in mineral soils collected from the rootzones of each sapling and used it as an independent factor to model trait responses to increasing PyC levels, in conjunction with measurements of soil physio-chemical properties (pH, EC, VOC, Ash, N, P, K, Ca and Mg). 3. Quantification and spatial analysis of PyC reveals heterogeneous deposition across the landscape with fine-grained patchiness at scales <0.5 m. In response to this heterogeneity, phenotypic and nutritional adjustments followed dose-dependent response patterns. Beneficial effects of PyC on sapling growth occurred to an optimum point of ~30-60 t/ha, while declining patterns were found for trees in dosages exceeding 100 t/ha. Some traits were positively and negatively related to soil K and N, respectively, and shared strong negative associations with soil pH and volatile matter. 4. Synthesis. This study supports the longstanding hypothesis that soil PyC enhances growth and physiological function of fire-adapted plants, but indicates that responses are highly dosage-dependent, with natural levels of PyC deposition commonly exceeding an optimum point. These results also suggest that the main mechanisms for observed responses to PyC include: (a) enhanced supply of base cations, (b) immobilization of N and (c) pronounced liming. Future changes in climate are expected to increase fire frequency, particularly in circumpolar boreal forests. We predict shifts in PyC to frequently exceed the threshold resulting in reduced plant growth and ultimately ecosystem productivity.

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Soil Water Responses to Wood Ash Addition to Acidic Upland Soils: Implications for Combatting Calcium Decline in Lakes

Deighton

Reid

Basiliko

et al. 2021

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Short‐term growth response of jack pine and spruce spp. to wood ash amendment across Canada

Cited by 11 publications

References 39 publications

Contrasted growth response of hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to wood ash application in northwestern Quebec, Canada

Contrasted growth response of hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to wood ash application in northwestern Quebec, Canada

Spatial heterogeneity in soil pyrogenic carbon mediates tree growth and physiology following wildfire

Soil Water Responses to Wood Ash Addition to Acidic Upland Soils: Implications for Combatting Calcium Decline in Lakes

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