Characterizing base-cation immobilization in the stem of six hardwoods of eastern Canada

Abstract

-Rates of base-cation immobilization in the stem of basswood, beech, red oak, red maple, sugar maple and white ash were compared to identify the relative potential for impoverishing soils. Two natural stands in southern Quebec were studied. Allometric equations predicting stem nutrient content from stem diameter were developed. Between 20 and 25 trees per species were sampled for age and stem diameter at breast height, and the area covered by the projection of the tree crown on the ground. Rates of K, Ca and Mg immobilization were assessed by dividing stem nutrient content by age and crown projection. Stem K and Ca content for similar stem diameter classes were highest in white ash and sugar maple, respectively, whereas red oak was lowest in stem Mg content. Overall rates of base-cation immobilization were highest in mid-successional white ash (1.9 g m -2 yr -1 ) and red oak (1.4 g m -2 yr -1 ). cation basique / équation allométrique / feuillu / immobilisation / tige Ann. For. Sci. 59 (2002) 397-407 397

Base-cation Cycling by Individual Tree Species in Old-growth Forests of Upper Michigan, USA

“…Numerous studies have documented the control of individual tree species on soil properties both within plantations (Challinor 1968;Alban 1982) and by individual trees in mixed stands (Boettcher and Kalisz 1990;Finzi et al 1998a, b;Boucher and Coˆte´2002;Dijkstra and Smits 2002;Dijkstra 2003). We likewise found significant species-related differences in transfer of base cations in canopy exchange and litterfall and transformation of base cations from mineralization + weathering (Table 3; Figures 1-3).…”

Macronutrients in tree stems and foliage: a comparative study of six temperate forest species planted at the same sites

“…Nutrient concentrations may vary within tree stems in both the vertical and horizontal directions in different ways, depending on element and tree species [13,15,37,41]. Bark usually has higher nutrient concentrations than the rest of the stem [13,40,44,52], while differences between heartwood and sapwood seem to be more variable depending on species and nutrient elements [31].…”

“…The study of Canadian hardwoods referred to above [13] showed that while the Ca concentration in the heartwood of red oak was low; the concentration in bark was about twice that in beech. If the same is true for European species, this may partly explain why the Ca concentrations in oak and beech were similar in our study, as the bark was included in the analysed samples.…”

“…This is the most probable explanation of the considerably lower Mg concentrations in oak stemwood, than in other deciduous species, found in our study. A study of Canadian hardwoods [13] revealed similar low concentrations of Mg in the heartwood of red oak, as well as lower nutrient stem content, compared with other American hardwoods.…”

“…Bark usually has higher nutrient concentrations than the rest of the stem [13,40,44,52], while differences between heartwood and sapwood seem to be more variable depending on species and nutrient elements [31].…”