Site-specific growth and nutrition of planted Piceamariana in the Ontario Clay Belt. III. Biomass and nutrient allocation

Abstract

First and second-season morphological responses of outplanted Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P. (black spruce) seedlings to site conditions of three cutover boreal ecosystems were analysed in terms of biomass and nutrient allocation to structural components (current shoots, previous year's shoots, stem, and roots). Improved N nutrition on an upland Feathermoss site had the greatest positive effect on biomass and nutrient allocation to current shoots, while allocation to other components was reduced. Seedlings on lowland Alnus – Herb poor and Ledum sites responded to site nutrient stress by allocating more biomass to the stem and roots. Multivariate procedures indicated that the overall pattern of biomass and nutrient allocation was significantly affected by site, and also differed depending on the individual element considered (N, P, K, Ca, Mg). Changes in nutrient-use efficiency with site were also investigated. With decreased seedling N uptake on the two lowland sites, biomass production per unit N increased, but specific absorption rate of roots decreased. Under N limitation, evidence for nutrient retranslocation was noted by decreases in nutrient content in the same component over 2 years and by lower concentrations in older shoots than in current growth. The alternative allocation of biomass and nutrients to seedling components with changes in site nutrition has implications for tree development on specific sites, and also for management of site nutrient regime to improve early seedling performance.