Growth development and plant–soil relations in midterm silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) plantations on previous agricultural lands in hemiboreal Estonia

Lutter, Reimo; Tullus, Arvo; Kanal, Arno; Tullus, Tea; Vares, A.; Tullus, Hardi

doi:10.1007/s10342-015-0879-x

Cited by 31 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The results of the studied stand exceed the respective values of the Estonian silver birch yield-table by Henno (1980) and published studies carried out in similar sites in Estonia (Uri et al 2007b(Uri et al , 2012Lutter et al 2015) and in Finland (Hytönen et al 2014). However, our result is lower compared to the 17-year-old grey alder stand growing in similar conditions (stem mass 105 Mg ha -1 ) ) but higher than for 16-to 18-year-old natural grey alder stands growing in the very fertile sites (40-75 Mg ha -1 ) .…”

Section: Biomass and Productioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

“…The increase of soil N content is inherent for symbiotically N-fixing tree species stands (alders) but not for silver birch ecosystem. In a study by Lutter et al (2015), total topsoil N in silver birch stands growing on former arable land remained at the same level during the 13 years of monitoring. The estimated annual N deposition (6.4 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) covered large share of annual soil N storage increase, another possible additional N source would be non-symbiotic N 2 fixation by Frankia in birch forest soils (Smolander and Sarsa 1990;Rönkkö et al 1993), discussed above.…”

Section: Soil Nitrogen and Carbon Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…More intensive use of birch timber along the softwood has affected its price and therefore managing birch stands for commercial purposes is economically feasible. In northern climate, silver birch may be very productive on fertile sites (Hytönen et al 1995;Johansson 1999;Uri et al 2012;Rosenvald et al 2014;Lutter et al 2015) and birch stands growing on former farmland can be relevant timber source. Therefore it is essential to give relevant estimations of the aboveground biomass production ability of such stands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

Aosaar¹,

Mander²,

Varik³

et al. 2016

Silva Fenn.

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Highlights• Leafless aboveground biomass of the 17-year-old natural silver birch stand growing in abandoned agricultural land reached 94 Mg ha -1 .• The largest fluxes in N budget were net nitrogen mineralization and gaseous N 2 -N emission.• Nitrogen leaching was low.• Soil N content increased with the stand age, soil C content remained stable.• N 2 O and N 2 fluxes in boreal deciduous forest were analysed. AbstractSilver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is one of the main pioneer tree species occupying large areas of abandoned agricultural lands under natural succession in Estonia. We estimated aboveground biomass (AGB) dynamics during 17 growing seasons, and analysed soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics for 10 year period in a silver birch stand growing on former arable land. Main N fluxes were estimated and nitrogen budget for 10-year-old stand was compiled. The leafless AGB and stem mass of the stand at the age of 17-years were 94 and 76 Mg ha -1 respectively. The current annual increment (CAI) of stemwood fluctuated, peaking at 10 Mg ha -1 yr -1 at the age of 15 years; the mean annual increment (MAI) fluctuated at around 4-5 Mg ha -1 . The annual leaf mass of the stand stabilised at around 3 Mg ha -1 yr -1 . The stand density decreased from 11600 to 2700 trees ha -1 in the 8-and 17-year-old stand, respectively. The largest fluxes in N budget were net nitrogen mineralization and gaseous N 2 -N emission. The estimated fluxes of N 2 O and N 2 were 0.12 and 83 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively; N leaching was negligible. Nitrogen retranslocation from senescing leaves was approximately 45 kg ha -1 , N was mainly retranslocated into stembark. The N content in the upper 0-10 cm soil layer increased significantly (145 kg ha -1 ) from 2004 to 2014; soil C content remained stable. Both the woody biomass dynamics and the N cycling of the stand witness the potential for bioenergetics of such ecosystems.

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Section: Biomass and Productioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Section: Soil Nitrogen and Carbon Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

Aosaar¹,

Mander²,

Varik³

et al. 2016

Silva Fenn.

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“…In addition to slower depletion of soil water due to decreased transpiration in humidified plots, competitively advantaged B. pendula trees with their horizontally and vertically more extensive and more developed (Uri et al ., ) root system can acquire water from deeper soil horizons and from a greater volume of topsoil than their smaller neighbours. A positive effect of soil available water content (AWC) in abandoned agricultural mineral soils on tree growth has been observed in both B. pendula (Lutter et al ., ) and P. tremula × tremuloides (Tullus et al ., ) plantations in Estonia. Moreover, competitively advantaged B. pendula trees were clearly more capable of benefitting from high AWC than suppressed trees (Lutter et al ., ), and B. pendula is generally known for its high water use (Perala & Alm, ; Atkinson, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A positive effect of soil available water content (AWC) in abandoned agricultural mineral soils on tree growth has been observed in both B. pendula (Lutter et al, 2015) and P. tremula 9 tremuloides (Tullus et al, 2010) plantations in Estonia. Moreover, competitively advantaged B. pendula trees were clearly more capable of benefitting from high AWC than suppressed trees (Lutter et al, 2015), and B. pendula is generally known for its high water use (Perala & Alm, 1990;Atkinson, 1992).…”

Section: Year-specific Responses To Competition and Elevated Air Humimentioning

confidence: 99%

The competitive status of trees determines their responsiveness to increasing atmospheric humidity – a climate trend predicted for northern latitudes

Tullus

Kupper

Kaasik

et al. 2016

Global Change Biology

Self Cite

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The interactive effects of climate variables and tree-tree competition are still insufficiently understood drivers of forest response to global climate change. Precipitation and air humidity are predicted to rise concurrently at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. We investigated whether the growth response of deciduous trees to elevated air humidity varies with their competitive status. The study was conducted in seed-originated silver birch and monoclonal hybrid aspen stands grown at the free air humidity manipulation (FAHM) experimental site in Estonia, in which manipulated stands (n = 3 for both species) are exposed to artificially elevated relative air humidity (6-7% over the ambient level). The study period included three growing seasons during which the stands had reached the competitive stage (trees were 7 years old in the final year). A significant 'treatment×competitive status' interactive effect on growth was detected in all years in birch (P < 0.01) and in one year in aspen stands (P = 0.015). Competitively advantaged trees were always more strongly affected by elevated humidity. Initially the growth of advantaged and neutral trees of both species remained significantly suppressed in humidified stands. In the following years, dominance and elevated humidity had a synergistic positive effect on the growth of birches. Aspens with different competitive status recovered more uniformly, attaining similar relative growth rates in manipulated and control stands, but preserved a significantly lower total growth yield due to severe initial growth stress. Disadvantaged trees of both species were never significantly affected by elevated humidity. Our results suggest that air humidity affects trees indirectly depending on their social status. Therefore, the response of northern temperate and boreal forests to a more humid climate in future will likely be modified by competitive relationships among trees, which may potentially affect species composition and cause a need to change forestry practices.

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Geology and Soils

Zech¹

2015

Tropical Forestry Handbook

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Growth development and plant–soil relations in midterm silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) plantations on previous agricultural lands in hemiboreal Estonia

Cited by 31 publications

References 67 publications

Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

Biomass production and nitrogen balance of naturally afforested silver birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> Roth.) stand in Estonia

The competitive status of trees determines their responsiveness to increasing atmospheric humidity – a climate trend predicted for northern latitudes

Geology and Soils

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