Foliar Nutrient Concentrations Related to Soil Sources across a Range of Sites in the Northeastern United States

Abstract

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher. Foliar Nutrient Concentrations Related to Soil Sources across a Range of Sites in the Northeastern United StatesForest, Range & Wildland Soils S oil base cations have declined in soils in the northeastern United States in the 20th century (Likens et al., 1998) due to forest harvesting (Federer et al., 1989;Johnson et al., 1991) and acidic deposition (Likens et al., 1996). Reductions in exchangeable soil Ca and Mg have been associated with declines of sugar maple (Bailey et al., 2004;Juice et al., 2006), an economically and ecologically important species. Sugar maple is thought to have high Ca requirements (Fujinuma et al., 2005;Page et al., 2008) while other species, such as beech, are less sensitive to soil base cation status (Duchesne et al., 2005;Park and Yanai, 2009). Acid deposition has also increased the concentration of dissolved inorganic Al in soil, which is toxic to plants (Foy et al., 1978;Delhaize and Ryan, 1995). Diff erences in the responses of tree species to regional variation in soil conditions may provide clues as to which species will be most sensitive to continued soil acidifi cation and base cation depletion.Sources of nutrients to forest soils include atmospheric deposition and mineral weathering (e.g., Graustein and Armstrong, 1983). Apatite, a ubiquitous but trace mineral in parent material, has been shown to be disproportionately important as a source of Ca and P in young soils, because of its high weathering rate

Soil nitrogen affects phosphorus recycling: foliar resorption and plant–soil feedbacks in a northern hardwood forest

“…The residue was extracted in 30% H 2 O 2 to determine organically bound P. That residue was extracted in 1 mol/L HNO 3 at 108C to dissolve apatite-bound P in contact with the solution. Apatite is the primary source of P from mineral weathering, and using our method a previous study showed estimates of soil apatite correlate with litterfall P in northern hardwood forests (Lucash et al 2012). Finally, the residue from the apatite digestion was further digested in concentrated HNO 3 at 1508C for 3 h to estimate the amount of apatite P armored in biotite and chlorite.…”

Sampling effort and uncertainty in leaf litterfall mass and nutrient flux in northern hardwood forests

“…, Lucash et al. ). Compositing allows greater sampling intensity for the same cost, giving a better estimate of the mean, but at the expense of characterizing the variability.…”

“…The cost of analyzing multiple samples can be reduced by compositing sequential samples. It is also common to composite samples from multiple traps before chemical analysis (Knoepp et al 2008, Lucash et al 2012. Compositing allows greater sampling intensity for the same cost, giving a better estimate of the mean, but at the expense of characterizing the variability.…”

Regional growth decline of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and its potential causes

“…Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) is arguably the most ecologically and economically important species in the northern hardwood forests of eastern North America. Ecologically, sugar maple provides nutrient-rich litter to forest soils (Long et al 2009, Lucash et al 2012, promotes N mineralization and reduces leaching of nitrate into groundwater (Lovett et al 2004), and shapes the diversity of plant and animal communities (Beier et al 2012a). Economically, the tree provides the raw materials for a profitable maple syrup industry, provides dura-ble hardwood for furniture and flooring, and offers aesthetically pleasing fall foliage (Millers et al 1989).…”