Variation in leaf area index and stand leaf mass of European beech across gradients of soil acidity and precipitation

Abstract

Leaf area index (LAI, the one-sided foliage area per unit ground surface area) is a key determinant of plant productivity which has a large influence on water and energy exchange between vegetation and the atmosphere. The variation in forest LAI across landscapes and environmental gradients and its causes are not sufficiently understood. We measured the LAI of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) by litter trapping in 23 closed, mature stands across gradients of rainfall and soil acidity or fertility. With a mean LAI of 7.4 m 2 m )2 (minimum: 5.6, maximum: 9.5 m 2 m )2 ), beech stands maintained a comparably high leaf area index with relatively small variation along steep environmental gradients. Contrary to expectation, decreasing water availability (rainfall gradient from 1030 to 520 mm yr )1 ) or increasing soil acidity (pH 3 -7) had no significant effect on LAI. Stand leaf mass (M l ) increased slightly with soil fertility (C/N ratio, base saturation). We regressed parameters of site water availability (rainfall), soil fertility or acidity (pH, base saturation, C/N ratio, exchangeable Mg and Al content), and stand structure (stand age and stem density) against LAI and M l in order to detect environmental controls of stand leaf area. Stand age was the most influential factor for both LAI and M l (negative relationship). Stem density and the base saturation of the soil affected M l significantly, but had a weak influence on LAI. We conclude that the leaf area index of beech is mainly under control of age-related physiological factors, whereas the influence of soil chemistry and rainfall is comparably low.

Is anticipated seed cutting an effective option to accelerate transition to high forest in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) coppice stands?

“…Moreover, the use of ecological variables in our analyses allowed an objective and broadly comparable evaluation of the influence of the applied management options. The selected variables and experimental designs used were in accordance with that of other studies specifically addressing beech forest dynamics (e.g., Chianucci and Cutini 2013;Genet et al 2010;Lebourgeois et al 2005;Leuschner et al 2006;Meier and Leuschner 2008). Based on comparisons with these reports, we conclude that our studied stands are characterized by medium-high productivity, as revealed by the average values of canopy attributes.…”

Effects of altitudinal gradients on leaf area index, soil microbial biomass C and microbial activity in a temperate mixed forest ecosystem of Northwestern Turkey

“…Maass et al (1995) reported that LAI may also change within ecosystems depending on the site conditions, especially soil fertility, nutrients, and water supply. On the other hand, other authors have investigated the LAI in different forest ecosystems, reporting values varying from 1.7 to 5.3 m 2 m -2 in a coniferous forest (Pierce & Running 1988), from 0.5 to 8 m 2 m -2 in temperate deciduous forests (Le Dantec et al 2000) and from 5.6 to 9.5 m 2 m -2 in European beech stands (Leuschner et al 2006). The latter values are greater than the LAI values obtained in the current study.…”

“…The latter values are greater than the LAI values obtained in the current study. According to previous studies (Breda & Granier 1996, Leuschner et al 2006), these differences could be due to the type and age of the stand and the availability of water in the soil, which is determined by climate and the properties of the soil as well as the different methods used.…”

Tree light capture and spatial variability of understory light increase with species mixing and tree size heterogeneity

“…However, this result is not generalizable as the studied hardwood and softwood species were species of different shade tolerances (Valladares and Niinemets, 2008) with the hardwood species being the most shade-tolerant species. In addition, Individuals of the two studied softwood species grow at higher elevations and in colder sites than those of the two studied hardwood species, with consequences both on allometries and on leaf area density (López-Serrano et al, 2005;Astrup and Larson, 2006;Leuschner et al, 2006;Lefrançois et al, 2008).…”