Soil Effects on Stem Growth and Wood Anatomy of Tamboril Are Mediated by Tree Age

Abstract

Soil influences the growth of trees and the characteristics of the wood; but could this influence change during the ontogeny of trees? To answer this question, we analyzed the wood anatomy of 9-year-old trees and 2-year-old saplings of Enterolobium contortisiliquum, known as “tamboril”, growing in eutrophic and oligotrophic soil in the Brazilian Cerrado, and assessed the effect of age on plant–soil relationship. Sapwood samples were collected from the main stem, anatomical sections were prepared in the lab, and 12 anatomical wood traits were measured. Individuals in eutrophic soil had greater stem diameter and height than those in oligotrophic soil. Trees in eutrophic soil had vessel-associated parenchyma cells with abundant storage compounds. Fibers walls were 47% thicker and intervessel pits diameter were 14% larger in trees of eutrophic soil. A greater proportion of solitary vessels (74%) was observed in trees rather than in saplings (50%). The secondary xylem of trees was mainly formed by fibers (63%) whereas in saplings it was mainly formed by storage tissue (64%). Our study provides evidence that the influence of soil conditions on tree growth reflects variations in wood anatomical features. No significant response to soil type was observed in saplings, thus demonstrating that the relationship between soil type and wood growth is mediated by tree age. These findings help to develop reliable reforestation strategies in tropical ecosystems characterized by different levels of soil fertility.

Exploring the Effects of Thinning on Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. Carbon Allocation in Southwestern China Using a Process-Based Model

“…However, under different thinning levels, the allocation proportion of the carbon storages in the same organ of C. lanceolata as the stand exhibited a significant difference. Generally, the age of trees has a critical impact on the carbon storages of the stand [41,42]. It not only affects the total carbon storages of the stand, but also the allocations of each component within them.…”

Uso de Trichoderma na promoção de crescimento de mudas florestais

“…No Brasil diversas espécies de árvores são de grande importância para utilização dos seus subprodutos, exemplifica-se o Paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum), a Fava-Tamboril (Enterolobium maximum) e amarelão (Apuleia leiocarpa) que contém características que agradam a indústria como a altura, diâmetro e crescimento acelerado (Amador et al, 2007;Almeida et al, 2013). Além de características promissoras para o cultivo em escala industrial, estas espécies de planta apresentam aptidão para a indústria carvoeira, náutica, de movelaria e construção civil (Silva et al, 2014;Soriano et al, 2015;Angélico et al, 2021).…”