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Species‐specific differences in nitrogen uptake and utilization by six European tree species
Author(s) -
Schulz Horst,
Härtling Sigrid,
Stange Claus F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201000004
Subject(s) - beech , cambisol , fagus sylvatica , picea abies , fraxinus , quercus petraea , botany , tilia , seedling , lime , soil water , agronomy , biology , horticulture , ecology , pollen , paleontology
Species‐specific uptake and allocation mechanisms for N are scarce, in particular when trees are cultivated in potted soil under more natural conditions than in hydroponic culture. The objective of this study was to compare specific N‐uptake rates for economically and ecologically important tree species in Central European forests: pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), spruce ( Picea abies ), oak ( Quercus petraea ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), lime ( Tilia cordata ), and ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) when they grow in mineral soil from an old fallow site with a pH of 6. We used an 15 N‐labeling method to measure tree seedling 15 N uptake in potted soils (Humic Cambisol) when both N forms NH $ _4^+ $ and NO $ _3^- $ were simultaneously present in the soil solution for interspecies comparison and assessment of relationships between specific 15 N‐uptake rates and amino acid–accumulation rates or relative growth rates (RGR). The results demonstrate that tree species varied significantly in their capacity to take up NH $ _4^+ $ or NO $ _3^- $ into roots, stems, or leaves, but indicate only marginal differences in their preference for NH $ _4^+ $ or NO $ _3^- $ when they grow in mineral soil. The ranking of specific 15 N‐uptake rates for NH $ _4^+ $ and NO $ _3^- $ was oak < beech < spruce < pine < lime < ash. Fine roots of all species had the highest specific 15 N‐uptake rates for both N forms, followed by total roots, leaves/needles, and stems. As regards tree seedling species, we found negative relationships between glutamine (Gln)‐accumulation rates in leaves/needles and total 15 N‐uptake rates in fine roots. Noteworthy was the fact that, at high Gln‐accumulation rates, the N‐uptake system in fine roots of ash was probably lower under feedback inhibition by the amino acid.