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Key message On calcareous soil, European beech roots prefer organic nitrogen, but only arginine and not glutamine or inorganic nitrogen. Nitrogen (N) acquisition is a major factor determining the processes and mechanisms involved in tree productivity, development, and competitiveness. However, only few studies have investigated changes in N capturing with tree age. We conducted  15 N incubation experiments to quantify inorganic (i.e. ammonium and nitrate) and organic (i.e. glutamine-N and arginine-N) net N acquisition capacity of beech trees of five age classes. Our results showed no general pattern, but that net N uptake capacity was rather N source-specific. Inorganic and glutamine-N uptake did not differ between age classes at all. Arginine-N uptake was highest in the youngest and oldest stands reflecting a high N demand by seedlings for root foraging and biomass production despite low internal N storage capacities and by older trees for storage and reproduction. Organic N was preferred over inorganic N regardless of tree age. Overall, our study shows the high significance of organic N sources for N acquisition in beech trees.

Nitrogen uptake capacity of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) only partially depends on tree age