Influence of Norway spruce seedlings on the nutrient availability in mineral soil and forest floor material

✍ Scribed by Göran Hallsby

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 552 KB
• Volume: 173
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0032-079X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00155516

✦ Synopsis

A greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings on net nutrient availability infive different growing media containing F-or H-layer and mineral soil originating from a haplic podzol in northern Sweden. The initial total amounts of eight nutrient elements (N, K, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn) and exchangeable amounts of the same elements were analyzed in pots with or without spruce seedlings. In the planted pots seedling nutrient uptake was also estimated. After 26 weeks, higher net nutrient availability with seedlings was found in 25 out of the 40 (62%) growing media and nutrient element combinations. A positive seedling effect on net nutrient availability might be explained by rhizodeposition stimulating the soil microorganism activity and accelerating the weathering of minerals or by seedling roots promoting the nutrient providing processes through changes in soil chemical and physical properties. Nitrogen availability was primarily affected by what part of the forest floor the growing medium contained although the positive response to seedling presence was apparent. The positive net availability response of P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe and Zn to seedling presence was on the other hand relatively strong. In the case of P, K, and Zn the growing medium composition (if the F-and H-layer was pure or mixed with mineral soil) was also an important factor for the estimated net availability. Pure F-and H-layer provided greater P-and K-availability while the availability of Zn increased when mineral soil was added. The influence of growing plants ought to be considered when soil samples are used for assessing the nutrient availability.