White spruce foliar nutrient concentrations in relation to tree growth and soil nutrient amounts

Abstract

Concentrations of foliar N, P, S, K, Ca, and Mg were studied in relation to stand age, tree growth, site index, and soil nutrient amounts for natural white spruce stands on a wide range of site conditions in the sub-boreal spruce zone of British Columbia, Canada. While Ca was sufficient in every sampled stand, relatively widespread deficiency in N was diagnosed. Deficiencies of other nutrients were diagnosed only on wet to very wet sites. Foliar N, P and K were negatively correlated with stand age and positively correlated with height and diameter growth. White spruce site index was positively correlated with foliar nutrients, and their relationships were quantified using a quadratic function. Foliar nutrients, except Ca, are positively correlated with soil nutrients measured in routine chemical analysis, and their relationships were quantified using Mitscherlich's function. It is recommended that the existing standards need to be modified should they be applied to nutrient diagnosis in natural white spruce stands. These standards appear too high for N and too low for P, K, and Ca.