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- Title
Effects of simulated N deposition on understorey vegetation of a boreal coniferous forest.
- Authors
Nordin; NÄsholm; Ericson
- Abstract
1. We report the short-term effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition on the understorey of a boreal forest in northern Sweden. Doses of 15N double-labelled NH4NO3 (0·5, 12·5, 25·0 and 50·0 kg N ha–1) were applied to 1 m2 plots in the summer of 1995 and plants were harvested the following autumn. 2. No significant treatment effects were found in either above- or below-ground biomass which was distributed as follows: the ericaceous shrub Vaccinium myrtillus contributed 76%, the grass Deschampsia flexuosa 4%, and the bryophytes Dicranum majus and Pleurozium schreberi 20%. 3. The recovery of applied N in these species was 24, 27, 27 and 32% of the 0·5, 12·5, 25·0 and 50·0 kg N ha–1 applications, respectively, and thus the recovery increased with the N dose. 4. In the 0·5 kg N ha–1 treated plots, the highest concentrations of fertilizer-derived 15N were found in the bryophytes, while in plots given the three higher N applications, leaves of D. flexuosa had the highest concentrations. 5. N application resulted in elevated concentrations of free amino acid N, which indicate increased storage of N in plant tissues. Furthermore, the N application resulted in increased damage to V. myrtillus by natural enemies. The severity of disease caused by two foliar parasitic fungi showed a clear numerical response to N treatment, as did the amount of herbivory as a result of Lepidoptera larvae.
- Subjects
SWEDEN; EFFECT of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide on plants; TAIGAS; UNDERSTORY plants; COMPUTER simulation
- Publication
Functional Ecology, 1998, Vol 12, Issue 4, p691
- ISSN
0269-8463
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00240.x