Estimating the relative nutrient uptake from different soil depths in Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 286; no. 1-2; pp. 87 - 97
• Main Authors: Goransson, H, Wallander, H, Ingerslev, M, Rosengren, U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-08-2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ammonia; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Beech; Bioassay; Bioassays; Biologi; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Sciences; ectomycorrhizae; Ectomycorrhizas; Fagus sylvatica; Forest soils; forest trees; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal biomass; Geographical distribution; Herbivores; Monoculture; Mycelia; mycorrhizal fungi; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Nutrient uptake; Nutrient utilization; Nutrients; Oak; Picea abies; Pine trees; Plant nutrition; Plant roots; Plant species; Quercus robur; root systems; Roots; Rubidium; Sandy soils; Soil depth; Soil layers; Soil nutrients; Trees; Denmark; Mycorrhiza 15N; Root distribution; Root bioassay; 86Rb; Soil plant relation; Root length
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-006-9028-0

The distribution of fine roots and external ectomycorrhizal mycelium of three species of trees was determined down to a soil depth of 55 cm to estimate the relative nutrient uptake capacity of the trees from different soil layers. In addition, a root bioassay was performed to estimate the nutrient uptake capacity of Rb⁺ and NH ₄ ⁺ by these fine roots under standardized conditions in the laboratory. The study was performed in monocultures of oak (Quercus robur L.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] on sandy soil in a tree species trial in Denmark. The distribution of spruce roots was found to be more concentrated to the top layer (0-11 cm) than that of oak and beech roots, and the amount of external ectomycorrhizal mycelia was correlated to the distribution of the roots. The uptake rate of [⁸⁶Rb⁺] by oak roots declined with soil depth, while that of beech or spruce roots was not influenced by soil depth. In modelling the nutrient sustainability of forest soils, the utilization of nutrient resources in deep soil layers has been found to be a key factor. The present study shows that the more shallow-rooted spruce can have a similar capacity to take up nutrients from deeper soil layers than the more deeply rooted oak. The distribution of roots and mycelia may therefore not be a reliable parameter for describing nutrient uptake capacity by tree roots at different soil depths.