Nutrient limitations regulate soil greenhouse gas fluxes from
tropical forests: evidence from an ecosystem-scale nutrient
manipulation experiment in Uganda

Tamale, Joseph; Hüppi, Roman; Griepentrog, Marco; Turyagyenda, Laban F.; Barthel, Matti; Doetterl, Sebastian; Fiener, Peter; Straaten, Oliver van

doi:10.5194/soil-2020-94

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

(98 reference statements)

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“…Apart from N, all other nutrients primarily originate from the weathering of soil parent material and then cycled in the forest ecosystem (soil–biomass–litter–soil). In both direct and indirect observations, N and phosphorus (P) are commonly recognized to limit tree growth and other ecosystem processes in most terrestrial ecosystems (Elser et al, 2007; Tamale et al, 2021). Soil age and climatic regimes are known large‐scale controllers of nutrient limitations in tropical forests (Cai et al, 2009; Walker & Syers, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Africa

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Aleeje

et al. 2022

Ecology

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Experimental evidence of nutrient limitations on primary productivity in Afrotropical forests is rare and globally underrepresented yet are crucial for understanding constraints to terrestrial carbon uptake. In an ecosystem‐scale nutrient manipulation experiment, we assessed the early responses of tree growth rates among different tree sizes, taxonomic species, and at a community level in a humid tropical forest in Uganda. Following a full factorial design, we established 32 (eight treatments × four replicates) experimental plots of 40 × 40 m each. We added nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), their combinations (NP, NK, PK, and NPK), and control at the rates of 125 kg N ha−1 year−1, 50 kg P ha−1 year−1 and 50 kg K ha−1 year−1, split into four equal applications, and measured stem growth of more than 15,000 trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥1 cm. After 2 years, the response of tree stem growth to nutrient additions was dependent on tree sizes, species and leaf habit but not community wide. First, tree stem growth increased under N additions, primarily among medium‐sized trees (10–30 cm dbh), and in trees of Lasiodiscus mildbraedii in the second year of the experiment. Second, K limitation was evident in semi‐deciduous trees, which increased stem growth by 46% in +K than –K treatments, following a strong, prolonged dry season during the first year of the experiment. This highlights the key role of K in stomatal regulation and maintenance of water balance in trees, particularly under water‐stressed conditions. Third, the role of P in promoting tree growth and carbon accumulation rates in this forest on highly weathered soils was rather not pronounced; nonetheless, mortality among saplings (1–5 cm dbh) was reduced by 30% in +P than in –P treatments. Although stem growth responses to nutrient interaction effects were positive or negative (likely depending on nutrient combinations and climate variability), our results underscore the fact that, in a highly diverse forest ecosystem, multiple nutrients and not one single nutrient regulate tree growth and aboveground carbon uptake due to varying nutrient requirements and acquisition strategies of different tree sizes, species, and leaf habits.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Africa

Manu

Corre

Aleeje

et al. 2022

Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Apart from N, all other nutrients primarily originate from the weathering of soil parent material and then cycled in the forest ecosystem (soil-biomass-litter-soil). In both direct and indirect observations, N and phosphorus (P) are commonly recognized to limit tree growth and other ecosystem processes in most terrestrial ecosystems , Tamale et al 2021. Soil age and climatic regimes are known large-scale controllers of nutrient limitations in tropical forests Syers 1976, Cai et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of net primary production and plant-available soil nutrients to elevated nutrient input in a tropical forest on highly weathered soil

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94.0 m 3 ha -1 removed . This resulted in a higher abundance of mid-stage succession tree species (e.g. Funtumia elastica). Logging was mainly on trees of the Meliaceae Bulk density (g/cm 3 ) 1.23 ± 0.03 1.53 ± 0.03 1.38 ± 0.03 Soil pH (1:2.5 H2O) 6.43 ± 0.04 6.08 ± 0.09 5.90 ± 0.10 Total soil nitrogen (kg/m 2 ) 0.42 ± 0.01 0.57 ± 0.02 0.56 ± 0.02 Total organic carbon (kg/m 2 ) 4.02 ± 0.13 4.59 ± 0.20 4.09 ± 0.19 Soil C:N ratio 9.54 ± 0.10 7.99 ± 0.08 7.22 ± 0.11 15 N natural abundance (‰) 7.79 ± 0.06 9.22 ± 0.13 9.51 ± 0.16 Bray II phosphorus (g/m 2 ) † 1.80 ± 0.24 0.85 ± 0.08 0.65 ± 0.06 Effective cation exchange capacity (mmol + /kg) 149.

show abstract

Nutrient limitations regulate soil greenhouse gas fluxes from tropical forests: evidence from an ecosystem-scale nutrient manipulation experiment in Uganda

Cited by 2 publications

References 66 publications

Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Africa

Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Africa

Responses of net primary production and plant-available soil nutrients to elevated nutrient input in a tropical forest on highly weathered soil

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