Open AccessEffects of water and mineral nutrient supply on a deciduous and an evergreen dwarf shrub: Vaccinium uliginosum L. and V. vitisidaea L.
Author(s) -
Karlsson P. Staffan
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1985.tb01146.x
Subject(s) - evergreen , deciduous , vaccinium , shrub , nutrient , biology , human fertilization , botany , ericaceae , phosphorus , irrigation , agronomy , horticulture , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry
The effects of irrigation and fertilization on nutrient content, shoot growth and photosynthetic rate of the deciduous Vaccinium uliginosum L. and the evergreen V. vitis‐idaea L. were studied in a field experiment at Abisko, Swedish Lapland. V. vitis‐idaea responded to fertilization with a greater increase in leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations, as well as with a relatively greater change in shoot growth than V. uliginosum . Also to irrigation did V. vitis‐idaea respond more strongly. Decreased leaf longevity was indicated in both irrigated and fertilized plants of V. vitis‐idaea . It is concluded that no general response pattern for evergreen and deciduous plants can be expected to emerge unless one also takes other plant characteristics, and also site characteristics, into consideration.