State of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) under nutrient and water deficit on coastal dunes of the Baltic Sea

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the ecophysiological state of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing at different heights on one of the typical coastal sand dunes in the dune field situated in southwestern Estonia. Dependence of the anatomical structure, morphological parameters, nutrients accumulation and biochemical characteristics of needles on the location of the site on the dune and on the concentration of nutrients in soil and in needle tissues was established. Correlation analysis revealed the dependence of chlorophyll a on the concentration of N and Mg in soil as well as in needles. The mesophyll area and chlorophyll concentration in needles were smallest on the top of the dune. The proportion of epidermis in the total needle cross-section area from the top was a little larger than in the needles from the bottom; the epicuticular wax layer on needles decreased towards the top. The length of needles and shoots was the lowest on the top of the dune, where the growth substrate contains notably less nutrients and water than needed for optimum growth of trees. The t test showed statistically significant larger average tree-ring width of the pines growing at the bottom. The pines on the top and at the bottom of the dune were not sensitive to temperature conditions. The radial growth of pines on the top of the dune was positively correlated with the total precipitation of the previous year.

Mortality of urban pines in Helsinki explored using tree rings and climate records

“…The now-dead pines had been sensitive to summer droughts significantly longer than the currently living pines, over the full period of climate analysis. Several recent studies have identified similarly adverse effects of droughts on Scots pine growth and survival (Bigler et al 2006;Helama and Lindholm 2003;Hordo et al 2011;Mandre et al 2010;Oberhuber 2001;Oberhuber and Kofler 2000;Oberhuber et al 1998;Pichler and Oberhuber 2007;Weber et al 2007). Yet, a tree-ring network showed the effect of the total precipitation during May through July in every studied site in southern Finland (Henttonen 1984).…”

Higher Winter-Spring Temperature and Winter-Spring/Summer Moisture Availability Increase Scots Pine Growth on Coastal Dune Microsites Around the South Baltic Sea

“…However, the climate-growth responses of Scots pine in boreal, hemiboreal, and temperate forests are variable in space and time. In these forest types, especially in hemiboreal and temperate forests, local climate and microsite conditions are thought to influence climate-growth responses (boreal: Linderholm et al, 2014;Düthorn et al, 2016;hemiboreal and temperate: Pärn, 2002;Mandre et al, 2010;Cedro and Lamentowicz, 2011;Hordo et al, 2011;Metslaid et al, 2018). A recent study conducted across Eurasia at the northern distribution limit of Scots pine, revealed climatic regimes override microsite effects on climate sensitivity, though microsite determined absolute growth and caused microsite-specific growth variability (Lange et al, 2018).…”

“…Coastal dune forests are an important ecosystem that minimizes coastal erosion and wind, hinders the deleterious effects of salt spray and protects inland areas from coastal water intrusion (Ratas and Rivis, 2003;Łabuz, 2013). Previous studies on Scots pine growth on costal dunes in the south Baltic Sea region documented several stress factors acting simultaneously on tree growth, where water and nutrient shortages were the most important factors in constricting tree growth (Mandre et al, 2010). The amount of water and nutrients in the soil decreases with elevation on the dune, resulting in substantial physiological stress for tree functioning, especially on the dune ridge.…”

“…The amount of water and nutrients in the soil decreases with elevation on the dune, resulting in substantial physiological stress for tree functioning, especially on the dune ridge. Apart from low water and nutrient availability on the ridge, periodic drought events are likely to occur due to low water holding capacity of sand, wind and sun exposure (Mandre et al, 2008(Mandre et al, , 2010Maun, 2009). In contrast to the ridge, soil at the bottom of dunes is richer in nutrients.…”

Macronutrient Stocks in Scots Pine Stands of Different Densities

“…Macronutrients, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) play an essential role in tree growth [1][2][3][4][5]. Limits in available nutrients can significantly reduce forest productivity [6][7][8][9][10].…”