Litter Decomposition in Four Woody Species in a Mediterranean Climate: Weight Loss, N and P Dynamics

Decomposition dynamics in leaves and needles of two Mediterraneanshrubs and two pine species growing in the Sierra de Filabres(Almería, Spain) was investigated during 2 years usingthe litter bag technique. The species studied are representativeof the vegetation of the study area and differ greatly in theirfoliar traits. Results are discussed in relation to the initiallitter quality (C, N and P) and through the application of theexponential decay model. The mass lost at the end of study variedin the order: Pinus pinaster < Pinus nigra < Cistus laurifolius< Adenocarpus decorticans. Differences in annual rates ofdecomposition among species are consistent with the particularchemical and structural attributes of their leaves. The massof decomposing litter remaining after 2 years was positivelyassociated with the initial C:N ratio. Weight loss and nutrientrelease were fastest in the leguminous A. decorticans. The resultssuggest the importance of both structure and elemental concentrationof initial litter for decomposition dynamics in Mediterraneanspecies. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Adenocarpus decorticans Boiss., C:N ratio, Cistus laurifolius L., litter decomposition, litter quality, Mediterranean environments, nutrient dynamics, Pinus pinaster Aiton, Pinus nigra Arnold, single exponential model, Southern Spain     

Impact of active soil carbonate and burn size on the capacity of the rockrose Cistus laurifolius to produce Tuber melanosporum carpophores in truffle culture

There are very few studies on Tuber melanosporum associated with Cistus populations. In central Spain, we confirm that C. laurifolius shows carpophore production of Tuber melanosporum. This study demonstrates a correlation between T. melanosporum production and the size of the 41 burns, with burn size explaining 26 % of the variability in carpophore production. However, statistical analysis of the results indicates that average production of 21 burns with Cistus laurifolius is 73 % lower than the production of 20 burns associated with Quercus/Corylus without Cistus laurifolius in this zone, respectively. C. laurifolius develops small burns, which has an impact on their carpophore production, and their soils have 92 % less active carbonate than the burns associated with Quercus/Corylus in this zone, respectively. The low levels of active carbonate allow Cistus laurifolius to grow, but impair Tuber melanosporum production. We thus provide a mechanism, based on the inability of Cistus laurifolius to grow in highly carbonated soils, which contradicts the well-known fact that C. laurifolius might act as a transmitter of Tuber melanosporum mycorrhizae. These results indicate that this rockrose can not be considered a useful species for truffle culture. We thus recommend that particular attention should be given to the concentration of active carbonate present in the soil in future studies on the relationship between Cistus species and truffles.     

人工油松林（Pinus tabulaeformis）恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量C、N的变化特征

采用时空替代法,选取15a（PF15）、25a（PF25）、30a（PF30）的人工油松林作为样地,并选取灌丛作为参考植被,研究了植被恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量C、N以及土壤养分的变化特征,同时探讨了它们之间的相互关系。研究结果表明随着恢复的进行,土壤质量得到了改善,主要表现为有机碳、全氮、粘粒含量、土壤含水量的上升和pH值、容重的下降。土壤微生物生物量C、N分别在155.00~885.64mg/kg和33.73~237.40mg/kg的范围内变化。土壤微生物生物量C、N在植被恢复的初期显著低于灌丛,而后随着恢复的进行逐步增长。土壤微生物生物量C、N与植被恢复时间的相关性没有达到统计学上的显著水平,但是土壤微生物生物量C与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷呈显著正相关,这表明植被恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量与土壤养分状况关系密切,植被恢复通过改善土壤养分状况间接地影响土壤微生物生物量的变化。Cmic/TOC在1.38%~4.75%的范围内变化。Cmic/TOC随着植被恢复不断下降,Cmic/TOC与植被恢复时间和土壤有机碳呈显著负相关,这表明植被恢复过程中,惰性有机质积累导致供应土壤微生物的活性有机质减少,Cmic/TOC同时受土壤有机质的数量和质量影响。     

Determination of a Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Winter Oilseed Rape

Several controlled environmental and field experiments werecarried out to define the critical nitrogen dilution curve forwinter oilseed rape, cultivar Goeland. This curve is describedby the following power equation:N=4.48 W^-0.25,whereNis the totalnitrogen concentration in the shoot biomass andWthe shoot biomass.This curve has been validated over the range of shoot dry matterof 0.88 to 6.3 t ha^-1. For lower shoot biomasses this equationoverestimated the critical nitrogen concentration; we proposea constant value of 4.63 (Nis expressed in reduced N, whichis a more stable N fraction in the shoot at these stages ofdevelopment). These results have been validated in several pedoclimaticconditions in France on a single variety in 1994 and 1995. Thehigher position of this curve relative to the C₃species referencecurve (Greenwoodet al.,Annals of Botany67: 181–190, 1990)can be explained by the experimental conditions obtained byGreenwoodet al. (1990); therefore, all their rape data are ratherclose to the critical curve that we propose. The differencesfound between wheat and winter oilseed rape critical N dilutioncurves correspond to their respective leaf:stem dry matter ratioand the specific leaf loss phenomenon occuring in rape. Winteroilseed rape has a higher capacity of N accumulation in itsshoot than wheat for the same aerial dry matter. The proportionof nitrate in shoots rises with the nitrogen nutrition index(N.N.I.) and is more important for rapeseed than for wheat forthe same N.N.I. This difference is especially high at the beginningof flowering when the shade provided by the canopy of rapeseedflowers decreases nitrate reductase activity.Copyright 1998Annals of Botany Company Winter oilseed rape;Brassica napusL.; plant N concentration; nitrate; reduced N; shoot biomass; critical nitrogen concentration; dilution curve; N productivity.     

Different growth responses of C3 and C4 grasses to seasonal water and nitrogen regimes and competition in a pot experiment

Understanding temporal niche separation between C₃ and C₄ species(e.g. C₃ species flourishing in a cool spring and autumn whileC₄ species being more active in a hot summer) is essential forexploring the mechanism for their co-existence. Two parallelpot experiments were conducted, with one focusing on water andthe other on nitrogen (N), to examine growth responses to wateror nitrogen (N) seasonality and competition of two co-existingspecies Leymus chinensis (C₃ grass) and Chloris virgata (C₄grass) in a grassland. The two species were planted in eithermonoculture (two individuals of one species per pot) or a mixture(two individuals including one L. chinensis and one C. virgataper pot) under three different water or N seasonality regimes,i.e. the average model (AM) with water or N evenly distributedover the growing season, the one-peak model (OPM) with morewater or N in the summer than in the spring and autumn, andthe two-peak model (TPM) with more water or N in the springand autumn than in the summer. Seasonal water regimes significantlyaffected biomass in L. chinensis but not in C. virgata, whileN seasonality impacted biomass and relative growth rate of bothspecies over the growing season. L. chinensis accumulated morebiomass under the AM and TPM than OPM water or N treatments.Final biomass of C. virgata was less impacted by water and Nseasonality than that of L. chinensis. Interspecific competitionsignificantly decreased final biomass in L. chinensis but notin C. virgata, suggesting an asymmetric competition betweenthe two species. The magnitude of interspecific competitionvaried with water and N seasonality. Changes in productivityand competition balance of L. chinensis and C. virgata undershifting seasonal water and N availabilities suggest a contributionof seasonal variability in precipitation and N to the temporalniche separation between C₃ and C₄ species. Key words: Chloris virgata, competition, growth, Leymus chinensis, nitrogen seasonality, water seasonality Received 19 November 2007; Revised 29 January 2008 Accepted 4 February 2008     

Effects of mixing pine and broadleaved tree/shrub litter on decomposition and N dynamics in laboratory microcosms

This study was carried out to compare the ecological function of exotic pine (Pinus radiata—Pr) and native pine (Pinus tabulaeformis—Pt) in terms of litter decomposition and its related N dynamics and to evaluate if the presence of broad-leaved tree species (Cercidiphyllum japonicum—Cj) or shrub species (Ostryopsis davidiana—Od) litter would promote the decomposition of pine needles and N cycling. Mass remaining, N release of the four single-species litters and mixed-species (Pt + Cj; Pr + Cj; Pt + Od; Pr + Od) litters and soil N dynamics were measured at microcosm scale during an 84-day incubation period. The Pt and Pr litter, with poorer substrate quality, indicated slower decomposition rates than did the Cj and Od litter. Due to their high C/N ratios, the N mass of Pt and Pr litter continuously increased during the early stage of decomposition, which showed that Pt and Pr litter immobilized exogenous N by microbes. No significant differences of soil inorganic, dissolved organic and microbial biomass N were found between the Pt and Pr microcosm at each sampling. The results showed that the exotic Pr performed similar ecological function to the native Pt in terms of litter decomposition and N dynamics during the early stage. The presence of Cj or Od litter increased the decomposition rates of pine needle litter and also dramatically increased soil N availability. So it is feasible for plantation managers to consider the use of Cj as an ameliorative species or to retain Od in pine plantations to promote the decomposition of pine litter and increase nutrient circulation. The results also suggested that different species litters induced different soil dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). As a major soluble N pool in soil, DON developed a different changing tendency over time compared with inorganic N, and should be included into soil N dynamic under the condition of our study.     

林分密度对杉木人工林林下植被和土壤性质的影响

以杉木人工林为研究对象,探究4种林分密度（A：650株/hm²;B：1100株/hm²;C：1250株/hm²;CK：1650株/hm²）林下物种多样性、生物量以及土壤理化性质及其之间的相关性。结果表明：（1）灌木层Shannon-Wiener指数、Patrick丰富度指数及草本层中Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数、Patrick丰富度指数随林分密度的增加均呈现出双峰型变化趋势,在密度A和C处均出现峰值;灌木层Simpson指数、Pielou均匀度指数随林分密度升高而降低,且灌、草层4种多样性指数最小值均出现在密度CK处。（2）草本层生物量比灌木层高。草本层总生物量（地上+地下）随密度的增大而减少,凋落物的量则随密度的增大而增大。（3）土壤养分含量和林下植物多样性指数随林分密度增大的变化趋势大致相同,且有机质含量在密度A取得最大值。（4）灌木层Shannon-Wiener指数、Patrick丰富度指数与全氮、水解氮、有效磷、有机质呈显著正相关;草本层植被物种多样性与土壤理化性质无显著相关性。（5）各指数与灌木层生物量的相关性较强。综上所述,密度A （650株/hm²）能够促进杉木林林下植被发育,增加林下植被物种多样性、生物量和有机质,可提升维持地力的能力,有利于杉木林稳定持续发展。     

Soil C and N dynamics in a Mediterranean oak woodland with shrub encroachment

Background and aims

Intensive land use has led to degradation and abandonment of Portuguese oak woodlands, and subsequent shrub encroachment may have altered the spatial heterogeneity of soil C and N pools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of shrub invasion on soil C and N dynamics in an oak woodland in Southern Portugal.

Methods

Soil was sampled beneath and outside scattered Quercus suber L. canopies, considering non-encroached areas and areas encroached by shrubs (Cistus ladanifer L. or Cistus salviifolius L.).

Results

The spatial heterogeneity of soil C and N contents was mainly associated with tree presence. Outside tree canopies, the labile C pools were larger (mainly beneath C. ladanifer) and C cycling was faster in encroached areas than in non-encroached areas. Net and gross N mineralization and urease and protease activities were also higher in encroached than in non-encroached areas; however, the metabolic quotient and the Cmicrobial/Corganic ratio were not significantly affected. Beneath the tree canopy, significant effects of encroachment included a small increase in soil labile C and the enzymatic activity beneath C. ladanifer.

Conclusions

The results indicate the potential capacity of shrub encroachment to accumulate soil organic C in the long term. The rate of soil C and N turnover promoted by shrub encroachment may depend on the Cistus species present.     

Nutrient Cycling in an Age Sequence of Western Washington Douglas-fir Stands

The cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium andpotassium in a series of western Washington Douglas-fir [Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco] stands ranging in age from 9 to 95years has been described. The stands were of relatively lowproductivity being limited by low nitrogen. The content of nitrogen,phosphorus, magnesium and potassium in tree foliage all tendedto stabilize at about 40 years whereas calcium continued toincrease. The content of all nutrients in the wood continuedto increase with stand age. Nitrogen in the forest floor accumulatedconstantly at about 5.7 kg ha^–1 year^–1 and thistogether with the above-ground tree accumulation meant about10.5 kg ha^–1 year^–1 nitrogen was immobilized. Calciumalso increased with time in the forest floor with age whereasthe other nutrients were fairly constant after about 30 years.Understorey nutrient content reached a peak at about 20 years,while understorey litter-fall was significant throughout theage sequence. Internal redistribution, especially of nitrogen,represented an increasingly greater proportion of stand requirementwith increasing stand maturity. Pseudotsuga menziesti (Mirb.) Franco, Douglas-fir, biomass, litter-fall, nutrient content, nutrient cycling     

Salmon‐derived nutrient and organic matter fluxes from a coastal catchment in southeast Alaska

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Soil fertility and herb facilitation mediated by Retama sphaerocarpa

Abstract. Woody legumes growing in dry climates can increase soil nutrient content and facilitate plant growth in their understorey. We investigated differences in soil fertility and herbaceous community in relation to the presence and absence of the legume Retama sphaerocarpa in a shrubland in a mediterranean type climate. The results showed a higher content of limiting nutrients for plant growth, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, under the R. sphaerocarpa canopy. Herbaceous biomass, cover and nitrogen content increased below the canopy. However, species richness and diversity were diminished in the presence of a dense canopy of R. sphaerocarpa. Nitrogen isotopic analysis did not indicate a clear relationship between symbiotic fixation in R. sphaerocarpa and nitrogen content of soil and plants under its canopy. Nevertheless, herbs growing in the understorey showed a linear correlation between foliar N content and ¹⁵N values. The existence of a dense shrub canopy induced a smaller monthly variation in herb richness, diversity and biomass, suggesting that it provides a stable microhabitat facilitating herbaceous vegetation establishment and growth. The ‘shelter’ effect was more important when environmental conditions became stressful for herbaceous plants.     

Nitrogen availability affects saprotrophic basidiomycetes decomposing pine needles in a long term laboratory study

Fungi, especially basidiomycetous litter decomposers, are pivotal to the turnover of soil organic matter in forest soils. Many litter decomposing fungi have a well-developed capacity to translocate resources in their mycelia, a feature that may significantly affect carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in decomposing litter. In an eight-month long laboratory study we investigated how the external availability of N affected the decomposition of Scots pine needles, fungal biomass production, N retention and N-mineralization by two litter decomposing fungi – Marasmius androsaceus and Mycena epipterygia. Glycine additions had a general, positive effect on fungal biomass production and increased accumulated needle mass loss after 8 months, suggesting that low N availability may limit fungal growth and activity in decomposing pine litter. Changes in the needle N pool reflected the dynamics of the fungal mycelium. During late decomposition stages, redistribution of mycelium and N out from the decomposed needles was observed for M. epipterygia, suggesting autophagous self degradation.     

Growth Analysis of Solution Culture-grown Winter Rye, Wheat and Triticale at Different Relative Rates of Nitrogen Supply

At low nitrogen (N) supply, it is well known that rye has ahigher biomass production than wheat. This study investigateswhether these species differences can be explained by differencesin dry matter and nitrogen partitioning, specific leaf area,specific root length and net assimilation rate, which determineboth N acquisition and carbon assimilation during vegetativegrowth. Winter rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and triticale (X Triticosecale) were grown in solution cultureat relative addition rates (R_N) of nitrate-N supply rangingfrom 0.03–0.18 d^-1and at non-limiting N supply under controlledconditions. The relative growth rate (R_W) was closely equalto R_Nin the range 0.03–0.15 d^-1. The maximalR_W at non-limitingnitrate nutrition was approx. 0.18 d^-1. The biomass allocationto the roots showed a considerable plasticity but did not differbetween species. There were no interspecific differences ineither net assimilation rate or specific leaf area. Higher accumulationof N in the plant, despite the same relative growth rate atnon-limiting N supplies, suggests that rye has a greater abilityto accumulate reserves of nitrogen. Rye had a higher specificroot length over a wide range of sub-optimal N rates than wheat,especially at extreme N deficiency (R_N=0.03–0.06 d^-1).Triticale had a similar specific root length as that of wheatbut had the ability to accumulate N to the same amount as ryeunder conditions of free N access. It is concluded that thebetter adaptation of rye to low N availability compared to wheatis related to higher specific root length in rye. Additionally,the greater ability to accumulate nitrogen under conditionsof free N access for rye and triticale compared to wheat maybe useful for subsequent N utilization during plant growth.In general, species differences are explained by growth componentsresponsible for nitrogen acquisition rather than carbon assimilation.Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company Growth analysis, nitrogen, nitrogen productivity, partitioning, specific root length, Secale cereale L.,Triticum aestivum L., X Triticosecale, winter rye, winter wheat, winter triticale.     

Seed Bank and Understorey Species Composition in a Semi-arid Environment: The Effect of Shrub Age and Rainfall

Understorey vegetation in patches of Retama sphaerocarpa shrubsin semi-arid environments is dependent on the overstorey shrublife history. Community structure changes with shrub age asa result of physical amelioration of environmental conditionsby the canopy and organic matter accumulation in the soil. Weinvestigated the effect of the canopy on understorey speciesdiversity in the field and its relationships with the soil seedbank under 50 shrubs from 5 to 25+ years old, and compared speciescomposition in the field in a wet and a dry year. Species compositionof the soil seed bank under R. sphaerocarpa shrubs did not differsignificantly with shrub age, but seed density increased asthe shrubs aged. In the field, community composition changedwith shrub age, increasing species richness in a process thatdepended on the amount of spring rainfall. Our results suggestthat the soil seed bank is rather uniform and that the shrubcanopy strongly selects which species appear in the understorey.There were seeds of many species present under both young andold shrubs but which only established under old shrubs. Thisshowed dispersal was not limiting species abundance and suggestedthat the canopy was an important sorting factor for speciespresent in the understorey. Less frequent species contributedthe most to patch diversity, and rainfall effectively controlledspecies emergence. Understorey community composition dependedon multiple interspecific interactions, such as facilitationby the shrub and competition from neighbours, as well as ondispersal processes. Facilitation in this environment is a keyfeature in the structuring of plant communities and in governingecosystem functioning. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Community structure, competition, dispersal, facilitation, species composition, rainfall variability, Retama sphaerocarpa, seed bank, semi-arid environments     

Effect of Root and Shoot Meristem Temperature on Shoot to Root Dry Matter Partitioning and the Internal Concentrations of Nitrogen and Carbohydrates in Maize and Wheat

Maize (Zea mays L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)were grown in nutrient solution at uniformly high air temperature(20 °C), but different root zone temperatures (RZT 20, 16,12 °C). To manipulate the ratio of shoot activity to rootactivity, the plants were grown with their shoot base includingthe apical meristem either above (i.e. at 20 °C) or withinthe nutrient solution (i.e. at 20, 16 or 12 °C). In wheat, the ratio of shoot:root dry matter partitioning decreasedat low RZT, whereas the opposite was true for maize. In bothspecies, dry matter partitioning to the shoot was one-sidedlyincreased when the shoot base temperature, and thus shoot activity,were increased at low RZT. The concentrations of non-structuralcarbohydrates (NSC) in the shoots and roots were higher at lowin comparison to high RZT in both species, irrespective of theshoot base temperature. The concentrations of nitrogen (N) inthe shoot and root fresh matter also increased at low RZT withthe exception of maize grown at 12 °C RZT and 20 °Cshoot base temperature. The ratio of NSC:N was increased inboth species at low RZT. However this ratio was negatively correlatedwith the ratio of shoot:root dry matter partitioning in wheat,but positively correlated in maize. It is suggested that dry matter partitioning between shoot androots at low RZT is not causally related to the internal nitrogenor carbohydrate status of the plants. Furthermore, balancedactivity between shoot and roots is maintained by adaptationsin specific shoot and root activity, rather than by an alteredratio of biomass allocation between shoot and roots.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Wheat, Triticum aestivum, maize, Zea mays, root temperature, shoot meristem temperature, biomass allocation, shoot:root ratio, carbohydrate status, nitrogen status, functional equilibrium     

Effects of soil organic matter and nitrogen supply on competition between Festuca ovina and Deschampsia flexuosa during inland dune succession

We tested the prediction that the successional replacement of plant species during succession on inland sand dunes results from the effects of an increase in nitrogen mineralization on competitive interactions. The growth and competitive strength of Festuca ovina and Deschampsia flexuosa on soil substrates with different amounts of soil organic matter or nitrogen supply were measured. Small tillers of Festuca ovina and Deschampsia flexuosa were grown in monocultures and 1:1-mixtures on soil columns with undisturbed layers of soil organic matter from different successional age. There was (a) no visible soil organic matter, (b) a thin soil organic layer (0.5 cm) and (c) a thicker soil organic layer (6.0 cm) present on the soil columns. The species were also grown on columns with no visible soil organic matter (bare sand) with two different levels of N fertilization to mimic the increased N mineralization in the older successional stages.In monoculture, Festuca produced more biomass on the substrates with a soil organic layer compared to the unfertilized sand substrate. It also produced more biomass on sand substrates with N fertilization. Deschampsia produced more biomass in treatments with a soil organic layer compared to the bare sand treatments, but did not respond to the ammonium-nitrate addition. In competition, Festuca seemed to be the stronger competitor on the unfertilized sand substrate. Festuca was also the better competitor on the N fertilized sand treatments, while on the treatments with a soil organic layer Deschampsia was the winning species. Our results do not support the hypothesis that an increase in N supply is responsible for the replacement of Festuca by Deschampsia that concur with the accumulation of soil organic matter during succession in inland dunes.     

Organic carbon transport and C/N ratio variations in a large tropical river: Godavari as a case study,India

This study gives an insight into the source of organic carbon and nitrogen in the Godavari river and its tributaries, the yield of organic carbon from the catchment, seasonal variability in their concentration and the ultimate flux of organic and inorganic carbon into the Bay of Bengal. Particulate organic carbon/particulate organic nitrogen (POC/PON or C/N) ratios revealed that the dominant source of organic matter in the high season is from the soil (C/N = 8–14), while in the rest of the seasons, the river-derived (in situ) phytoplankton is the major source (C/N = l–8). Amount of organic materials carried from the lower catchment and flood plains to the oceans during the high season are 3 to 91 times higher than in the moderate and low seasons. Large-scale erosion and deforestation in the catchment has led to higher net yield of organic carbon in the Godavari catchment when compared to other major world rivers. The total flux of POC, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from the Godavari river to the Bay of Bengal is estimated as 756 × 10⁹ and 2520 × 10⁹ g yr^–1, respectively. About 22% of POC is lost in the main channel because of oxidation of labile organic matter, entrapment of organic material behind dams/sedimentation along flood plains and river channel; the DIC fluxes as a function of alkalinity are conservative throughout the river channel. Finally, the C/N ratios (12) of the ultimate fluxes of particulate organic carbon suggest the dominance of refractory/stable soil organic matter that could eventually get buried in the coastal sediments on a geological time scale.     

Determination of a Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Winter Wheat Crops

A set of N-fertilization field experiments was used to determinethe 'critical nitrogen concentration', i.e, the minimal concentrationof total N in shoots that produced the maximum aerial dry matter,at a given time and field situation. A unique 'critical nitrogendilution curve' was obtained by plotting these concentrationsN_ct (% DM) vs. accumulated shoot biomass DM (t ha^-1). It couldbe described by the equation: N_ct = 5·35DM^-0·442 when shoot biomass was between 1·55 and 12 t ha^-1. Anexcellent fit was obtained between model and data (r² = 0·98,15 d.f.). A very close relationship was found using reducedN instead of total N, because the nitrate concentrations inshoots corresponding to critical points were small. The criticalcurve was rather close to those reported by Greenwood et al.(1990) for C₃ plants. However, this equation did not apply whenshoot biomass was less than 1·55 t ha^-1. In this case,the critical N concentration was independent of shoot biomass:the constant critical value N_ct = 4·4% is suggested forreduced-N. The model was validated in all the experimental situations,in spite of large differences in growth rate, cultivar, soiland climatic conditions; shoot biomass varying from 0·2to 14 t ha^-1. Plant N concentration was found to vary by a factor of fourat a given shoot biomass level. In the heavily fertilized treatments,shoot N concentration could be 60% higher than the criticalconcentration. Most (on average 80%) of the extra N accumulatedwas in the form of reduced N. The proportion of nitrate to totalN in shoot mainly depended on the crop stage of development.It was independent of the nitrogen nutrition level.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Winter wheat, Triticum aestivum, arable crops, plant N concentration, aerial biomass, critical nitrogen, dilution curve, fertilization, reduced N, nitrate     

Mycorrhizal functioning of Phialocephala fortinii with Pinus contorta on glacier forefront soil: interactions with soil nitrogen and organic matter

 Plants growing on an environmentally stressed glacier forefront on soil low in N and organic matter have abundant root colonizations by dark-septate fungi. As the plants appeared fit for this severe habitat, it was hypothesized that the dark-septate endophytes were neutral or beneficial rather than detrimental to the plants. To test this hypothesis, we designed a growth-room experiment with Pinus contorta grown on forefront soil inoculated with the dark-septate fungus Phialocephala fortinii in the absence of climatic stress. N and organic matter treatments were included to explore their interaction with the fungal inoculation. P. fortinii colonized roots inter- and intracellularly and occasionally formed microsclerotia. Inoculated plants absorbed significantly more P than noninoculated plants in all combinations of N and organic matter. Without added N, neither inoculation nor organic matter addition improved plant growth or N uptake, showing that N indeed limits plant growth in this substrate. With added N, however, both organic matter addition and inoculation significantly increased total pine biomass and N uptake. The enhanced P uptake by the P. fortinii-inoculated pine as well as the increased pine growth and N uptake in the treatment combining P. fortinii and N appear as typical mycorrhizal responses. Accepted: 20 October 1997     

Comparing soil CO2 emission in pine plantation and oak shrub: dynamics and correlations

The magnitude of soil CO₂ emission varying significantly among different vegetation types for plants could alter the microclimatic environment of soil. In a Pinus tabulaeformis plantation and an adjacent Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata shrub, which are located in a dry-hot valley region of Minjiang River in the Southwest of China, the daily soil CO₂ emission dynamics was measured in August 2004 and in May, July, and October 2005. The results showed that the soil CO₂ emission in the oak shrub was significantly higher than the pine plantation in each measurement period. Additionally, soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, and the leaf litter decomposition rate in the two vegetations differed significantly from each other. The variation of soil organic matter and microbial biomass carbon partially contributed to the evident difference in soil CO₂ emission. Moreover, the correlations between soil CO₂ emission, soil temperature, and soil water content were evaluated in this study. The soil temperature positively controlled soil CO₂ emission in the pine plantation and the oak shrub, while the soil water content negatively influenced soil CO₂ emission in the two vegetation types. However, the soil temperature and soil water content played varied roles in the different vegetation types. By the means of stepwise regression, the soil temperature more significantly influenced the dynamics of soil CO₂ emission for the plantation than the soil water content; oppositely, the soil water content was the more significant controlling factor for the shrub. Based on the exponent model between the soil CO₂ emission and soil temperature, the Q ₁₀ values were estimated, which was 1.7 in the pine plantation and 3.0 in the oak shrub. The former was lower than the global average level of 2.0, whereas the latter was higher than the global average level.