Soils and foliar nutrient analysis of Chamaecyparislawsoniana and Thujaplicata in southwestern Oregon

Abstract

Surface mineral soil and foliage associated with Chamaecyparislawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. and Thujaplicata Donn ex D. Don were sampled at six sites in southwestern Oregon. Total soil nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.37%. Percentage exchangeable concentrations of other soil nutrients were 0.0002–0.0020 P, 0.014–0.224 Ca, 0.002–0.018 K, and 0.002–0.023 Mg. Foliage of Chamaecyparis contained 0.9–1.9% N, 0.11–0.23% P, 0.8–1.9% Ca, 0.67–1.20% K, and 0.11–0.26% Mg. Foliage of Thuja contained 0.9–1.6% N, 0.12–0.24% P, 1.1–2.0% Ca, 0.52–0.95% K, and 0.06–0.23% Mg. Overall, foliage of Chamaecyparis contained significantly higher concentrations of K, and tended to have lower Ca:Mg ratios than that of Thuja. Concentrations of soil nutrients showed no obvious relation to species occurrence on a study-wide basis. Within sites where the two species grew together, however, Thuja was associated with higher soil Ca:Mg ratios and foliar Ca, and Chamaecyparis was associated with higher levels of soil K and foliar N. Foliar nutrient concentrations showed little relation to concentrations in soil, although low soil Ca, P, and Mg concentrations were reflected in foliage at some sites. Soils in the study area have higher Ca:Mg ratios and more available N than soils over much of Chamaecyparis' range. Given the apparent nutritional requirements of Thuja, it seems unlikely that it will significantly replace Chamaecyparis killed by root rot.

Variation in tissue element concentrations in Quercus ilex L. over a range of different soils

“…1966;McColl 1969;Imper & Zobel 1983;Vermeer & Verhoeven 1987;Ohlson 1988;Marion et al 1989). In addition, factors other than soil nutrient content determine plant nutritional status (Triton 1978;Bunderson & Weber 1986).…”

Ecology, pathology, and management of Port-Orford-Cedar (<em>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</em>).

“…Native trees of Port-Orford-cedar have higher K in the foliage than cooccurring western redcedar and, usually, lower Ca:Mg ratios (Imper and Zobel 1983).…”

“…Availability of nitrogen (N) in soils that support Port-Orford-cedar appears to be lower than in coastal soils farther north in Oregon Zobel 1983, Plocher 1977). Cedar may, conversely, be excluded from some soils with low availability of Mg (Imper and Zobel 1983).…”

“…of Forest Engineering, Oregon S t a t e University; 3--Plocher T1977); 4-- Zobel and Hawk (1980). Source: Zobel and Hawk 1980. - concentrations in the soil only when the soil content was low; overall correlations of foliar and soil concentrations were poor, with the best correlation being r = 0.41 for P (Imper and Zobel 1983). The only reported foliar levels of nickel and chromium are 56 and 1.12 p/m, respectively, from an area with ultramafic rockJ4 Nutrient concentrations of cultivated seedlings may vary drastically with soil type (table 39).…”

Ionic balance and organic acids in western redcedar, western hemlock, and Douglas-fir seedlings grown in low- and high-N soils

“…The high C-A of western redcedar may have resulted from the assimilation of NO 3 in the foliage. The typically high concentrations of Ca in the foliage of western redcedar (e.g., Daubenmire 1953;Crooke et al 1964;Imper and Zobel 1983;Radwan and Harrington 1986) may in part be related to charge balance associated with the uptake of NO 3…”