skip to main content

Explore Research Products in the NSF-PAR

Title: Fine Root Growth Increases in Response to Nitrogen Addition in Phosphorus-limited Northern Hardwood Forests
Resource allocation theory posits that increased soil nutrient availability results in decreased plant investment in nutrient acquisition. We evaluated this theory by quantifying fine root biomass and growth in a long term, nitrogen (N) 9 phosphorus (P) fertilization study in three mature northern hardwood forest stands where aboveground growth increased primarily in response to P addition. We did not detect a decline in fine root bio- mass or growth in response to either N or P. Instead, fine root growth increased in response to N, by 40% for length (P = 0.04 for the main effect of N in ANOVA), and by 36% for mass, relative to controls. Fine root mass growth was lower in response to N + P addition than predicted from the main effects of N and P (P = 0.01 for the interaction of N 9 P). The response of root growth to N availability did not result in detectable responses in fine root biomass (P = 0.61), which is consistent with increased root turnover with N addition. We propose that the differential growth response to fertilization between above- and belowground components is a mechanism by which trees enhance P acquisition in response to increasing N availability, illustrating how both elements may co- limit northern hardwood forest production.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1637685
NSF-PAR ID:
10316180
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Ecosystems
ISSN:
1432-9840
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ; ; ( , Ecosystems)
    Functional balance theory predicts that plants will allocate less carbon belowground when the availability of nutrients is elevated. We tested this prediction in two successional northern hardwood forest stands by quantifying fine root biomass and growth after 5–7 years of treatment in a nitrogen (N) x phosphorus (P) factorial addition experiment. We quantified root responses at two different levels of treatment: the whole-plot scale fertilization and small-patch scale fertilization of ingrowth cores. Fine root biomass was higher in plots receiving P, and fine root growth was highest in plots receiving both N and P. Thus, belowground productivity did not decrease in response to long-term addition of nutrients. We did not find conclusive evidence that elevated availability of one nutrient at the plot scale induced foraging for the other nutrient at the core scale, or that foraging for nutrients at the core scale responded to addition of limiting nutrients. Our observations suggest NP co-limitation of fine root growth and indicate complex interactions of N and P affecting aboveground and belowground production in early successional northern hardwood forest ecosystems. 
    more » « less
  2. ( , Environmental Data Initiative)
    The MELNHE study looks at patterns of resource limitation through nutrient manipulations in three study sites in New Hampshire: Bartlett Experimental Forest, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, and Jeffers Brook, located in the White Mountain National Forest. The investigation is monitoring stem diameter, leaf area, sap flow, foliar chemistry, leaf litter production and chemistry, foliar nutrient resorption, root biomass and production, mycorrhizal associations, soil respiration, heterotrophic respiration, N and P availability, N mineralization, soil phosphatase activity, soil carbon and nitrogen, nutrient uptake capacity of roots, and mineral weathering. This data set includes phosphate, nitrate and ammonium availability measured using resin exchange strips. Additional detail on the MELNHE project, including a datatable of site descriptions and a pdf file with the project description and diagram of plot configuration can be found in this data package: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-hbr&identifier=344 These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. The following papers describe and make use of these data: Fisk MC, Ratliff TJ, Goswami S, Yanai RD. 2014. Synergistic soil response to nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilization in hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry 118:195-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9918-1 Goswami S, Fisk MC, Vadeboncoeur MA, Johnston M, Yanai RD, and Fahey TJ. 2018. Phosphorus limitation of aboveground production in northern hardwood forests. Ecology 99: 438-449. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2100 Shan S, Fisk MC, Fahey TJ. 2018. Contrasting effects of N on rhizosphere processes in two northern hardwood species. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 126: 219-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.09.007 Shan S, Devens H, Fahey TJ, Yanai RD, Fisk MC. 2022. Fine root growth increases in response to nitrogen addition in phosphorus-limited northern hardwood forests. Ecosystems, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00735-4 Gonzales KE, Yanai RD, Fahey TJ, Fisk MC. 2023. Evidence for P limitation in eight northern hardwood stands: Foliar concentrations and resorption by three tree species in a factorial N by P addition experiment. Forest Ecology and Management 529: 120696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120696 Li S, Fisk MC, Yanai RD, Fahey TJ. 2023. Co-limitation of root growth by nitrogen and phosphorus in early successional northern hardwood forest. Ecosystems. https://10.1007/s10021-023-00869-7 
    more » « less
  3. ( , Environmental Data Initiative)
    The Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project studies N, P, and Ca acquisition and limitation of forest productivity through a series of nutrient manipulations in northern hardwood forests. We are monitoring resin N and P availability, N mineralization, and soil enzyme activities. This data set includes soil water content, soil pH, organic horizon mass, soil organic matter, bicarbonate extractable P, extractable Ca, and soil texture data. Additional detail on the MELNHE project, including a datatable of site descriptions and a pdf file with the project description and diagram of plot configuration can be found in this data package: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-hbr&identifier=344. This work is a contribution of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study. Hubbard Brook is part of the LTER network, which is supported by the US National Science Foundation. The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is operated and maintained by the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. These data have been described and analyzed in the following publications: Shan S, Devens H, Fahey TJ, Yanai RD, Fisk MC. 2022. Fine root growth increases in response to nitrogen addition in phosphorus-limited northern hardwood forests. Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00735-4 Goswami S, Fisk MC, Vadeboncoeur MA, Johnston M, Yanai RD, and Fahey TJ. 2018. Phosphorus limitation of aboveground production in northern hardwood forests. Ecology 99:438-449. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2100 Ratliff TJ, Fisk MC. 2015. Phosphatase activity is related to N availability but not P availability across hardwood forests in the northeastern United States. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 94:61-69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.009. Bae B, Fahey TJ, Yanai RD, Fisk MC. 2015. Soil nitrogen availability affects belowground carbon allocation and soil respiration in northern hardwood forests of New Hampshire. Ecosystems 18:1179–1191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-015-9892-7. Fisk MC, Ratliff TJ, Goswami S, Yanai RD. 2014. Synergistic soil response to nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilization in hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry 118:195-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9918-1 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; ; ; ( , Environmental Data Initiative)
    The Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project studies N , P, and Ca acquisition and limitation of forest productivity through a series of nutrient manipulations in northern hardwood forests. This data set includes data testing effects of elevated N and P availability on fine root growth (using ingrowth cores) and biomass in the MELNHE project. Subsets of ingrowth cores were treated with nutrients differing from the plot-scale nutrient treatments to test fine root foraging. Additional detail on the MELNHE project, including a datatable of site descriptions and a pdf file with the project description and diagram of plot configuration can be found in this data package: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-hbr&identifier=344 These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 
    more » « less
  5. ( , Environmental Data Initiative)
    The Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project studies N and P acquisition and limitation through a series of nutrient manipulations in northern hardwood forests. This data set includes net N mineralization measured in Oe, Oa, and mineral soil horizons in all 13 of the MELNHE study sites. Samples are collected every several years, beginning with pretreatment (2008 and 2009) through 2017, representing 3 years of N and P fertilization. Additional detail on the MELNHE project, including a datatable of site descriptions and a pdf file with the project description and diagram of plot configuration can be found in this data package: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-hbr&identifier=344 These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. The following papers describe and make use of these data: Kang H, Fahey TJ, Bae K, Fisk MC, Sherman RE, Yanai RD, See C. 2016. Response of forest soil respiration to nutrient addition depends on site fertility. Biogeochemistry 127:113-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-015-0172-6. Ratliff TJ, Fisk MC. 2016. Phosphatase activity is related to N availability but not P availability across hardwood forests in the northeastern United States. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 94:61-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.009. Bae B, Fahey TJ, Yanai RD, Fisk MC. 2015. Soil nitrogen availability affects belowground carbon allocation and soil respiration in northern hardwood forests of New Hampshire. Ecosystems 18:1179-1191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-015-9892-7. Fisk MC, Ratliff TJ, Goswami S, Yanai RD. 2014. Synergistic soil response to nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilization in hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry 118:195-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9918-1. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email