Use of Indigenous Rubidium to Trace Potassium Fertilizer in the Pinus resinosa Ecosystem

Ryan, Douglas F.; Miller, Stuart

doi:10.1126/science.202.4370.912

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…One of those factors is a change in soil pH following liming and (or) fertilization that would affect the relative availability of soil K and Rb (Ryan and Miller 1978). As the pH of the soil solution at our site did not increase significantly following the initial application of fertilizer and lime and soil pH was within a range (3.5-5.0) that has been shown not to affect Rb uptake (Drobner and Tyler 1998) it is therefore unlikely that the soil pH would have had an effect on the relative availability of Rb and K and affected the estimates of percent K derived from fertilizer in our study.…”

Section: Percent K Derived From Fertilizermentioning

confidence: 99%

Short- and long-term nutritional effects and retention of potassium derived from fertilizer in a sugar maple stand in southern Quebec

2015

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The short-term (1-3 years) and long-term (23 years) effects of liming combined with potassium (K) fertilization on forest nutrition and K cycling were examined in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stand in southern Quebec. Sugar maple leaves were sampled annually from 1988 (prefertilization year) to 1991 and in 2011-2012. Ten understory plant species, sugar maple sapwood, and soils were also sampled in 2012 and analyzed for K, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and rubidium (Rb). The recovery of fertilizer K was determined using the Rb/K reverse tracer method. Fertilization neither increased growth nor maintained higher sugar maple leaf K levels over the long term; however, leaf K to Ca and K to Mg ratios were still higher in fertilized plots than in control plots in 2012. The percentage of leaf K derived from fertilizer peaked 3 years after fertilization (36% ± 5%) and was down to 1989 levels by 2012 (15% ± 6%). Understory vegetation generally showed no differences in leaf K concentration between treatments, but percent K from fertilizers was greater than 25% in several species. There was no significant effect of fertilization on soil K, Ca, and Mg availability by 2012. Our results suggest that significant amounts of fertilizer K are still present on the site after 23 years but that base cation levels in leaves and upper soil horizons have returned to near prefertilization levels except for a slight enrichment in K. Although small, the effects of fertilization with liming on soil fertility and plant nutrient status in a maple stand can be long lasting. Résumé: Les effets à court et long terme du chaulage avec une fertilisation au potassium (K) sur la nutrition et le cyclage du K ont été étudiés dans un peuplement d'érable à sucre. Les feuilles d'érable ont été échantillonnées annuellement de 1988 (préfertilisation) à 1991 et en 2011-2012. Dix espèces de sous-bois, l'aubier et les sols furent échantillonnés en 2012 et analysés pour le K, calcium (Ca), magnésium (Mg) et le rubidium (Rb). Le captage du fertilisant K a été déterminé par traçage inversé. La fertilisation n'a pas augmenté la croissance et le K foliaire de l'érable à long terme mais les ratios foliaires K à Ca et K à Mg étaient encore plus élevés en 2012. Le pourcentage de K dérivé du fertilisant était maximum 3 ans après la fertilisation (36 ± 5 %) mais était revenu au niveau de 1989 en 2012 (15 ± 6 %). Les concentrations foliaires en K de la végétation de sous-bois n'étaient pas plus élevées en parcelles fertilisées mais le pourcentage de fertilisant K était de plus de 25 % chez plusieurs espèces. La fertilisation n'avait plus d'effet sur la disponibilité en K, Ca et Mg en 2012. Nos résultats suggèrent qu'il y a encore des quantités significatives de K dérivé du fertilisant 23 ans après la fertilisation mais que la disponibilité en cations basiques est revenue au niveau de préfertilisation excepté pour un léger enrichissement en K. L'effet de la fertilisation avec chaulage sur la fertilité du sol et le statut nutritif de l'érable peut être durable.Mot...

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Section: Percent K Derived From Fertilizermentioning

confidence: 99%