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Micronutrient Limitations in Two Managed Southern Pine Stands Planted on Florida Spodosols
Author(s) -
Vogel Jason G.,
Jokela Eric J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2010.0312
Subject(s) - slash pine , micronutrient , human fertilization , podzol , slash (logging) , pinus <genus> , loblolly pine , nutrient , agronomy , botany , zoology , biology , chemistry , soil water , horticulture , ecology , organic chemistry
Fertilization in the managed pine stands of the southeastern United States is a cost‐effective means to increase forest production; however, most studies have focused on N and P fertilization. Here we report results from two minus‐micronutrient (−B, −Cu, −Fe, −Mn, −Mo, −Zn, All, and Nil) × increasing levels of N addition (0, 112, 224, 326 kg N ha −1 ) split‐plot experiments in managed slash pine ( Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii ) and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) forests located on Florida Spodosols. We hypothesized that if tree growth were limited by a micronutrient, this limitation would be exacerbated at higher levels of N addition. At both sites, N additions caused a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in growth between 0 and the two greatest N fertilization rates, but contrasts among higher N levels were not significant for any N–micronutrient combination. At the slash pine site, the effect of micronutrient fertilization was not significant for stand volume, but for the loblolly pine site, the micronutrient treatment was significant because the −Cu treatment volume was less than that of the All, Nil, −Zn, −Mo, and −Fe treatments. Some combination of micronutrients may have interfered with Cu uptake, as suggested by foliar Cu concentrations in the Nil treatment that were greater than in the −Cu treatment. Extremely low soil concentrations of Cu at the loblolly pine site suggest that this antagonism was exacerbated by low background levels. Notably, the −Cu treatments had 40% less volume than the −Zn treatments, highlighting the substantial effect that a Cu deficiency could have on the economic value of these forests.