Soil nutrition and temperature as drivers of root suckering in trembling aspen

Abstract

In two separate studies, the suckering of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) roots was assessed in response to different daily maximum soil temperatures and in relation to available nutrients (CaSO4 and NH4NO3). In the first study, aspen root sections were incubated under high:low temperature regimes of 12:8, 14:8, 16:8, 18:8, or 20:8°C until 124 degree-days above 8°C had been reached. Daily maximum temperature did not affect the number of suckers produced per square centimetre of root surface area or per root section. However, more time was required to initiate suckers on root sections grown under the 12:8°C temperature regime compared with those grown at 20:8°C. Furthermore, when calculated from a base temperature of 5°C, the number of degree-days needed to initiate aspen suckers was not different across the temperature regimes. In the second study, CaSO4, NH4NO3, or distilled water was added to aspen root sections. While nutrients did not affect the number of suckers produced, the addition of CaSO4 or NH4NO3 significantly increased sucker dry mass. Nutrient addition appeared to stimulate sucker growth and mobilization of stored reserves to support this growth.