Understorey-overstorey biotic and nutrient interactions are key factors for Pinus pinaster growth and development under oligotrophic conditions

The main objective of this study was to examine the interactive effects of nutrient availability and understorey plants, including a nitrogen(N)-fixing shrub, on growth, physiology and survival of commercial maritime pines (Pinus pinaster Ait.). Three experimental sites within the Landes de Gascogne...

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Published in:Scandinavian journal of forest research Vol. 36; no. 7-8; pp. 563 - 574
Main Authors: Vidal, David F., Augusto, Laurent, Bakker, Mark R., Trichet, Pierre, Puzos, Luc, Domec, Jean-Christophe
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis 17.11.2021
Subjects:
ecosystems
Environmental Sciences
Fabaceae
forests
gorse
growth and development
heathlands
inter-cropping system
intercropping
mortality
nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation
nutrient availability
perennial grasses
phosphorous
phosphorus
pine plantation
Pinus pinaster
shrubs
soil
spring
stem elongation
stomatal conductance
summer
understory
Nitrogen fixation
stomatal conductance
gorse
pine plantation
phosphorous
inter-cropping system
ISSN:0282-7581, 1651-1891, 1651-1891
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The main objective of this study was to examine the interactive effects of nutrient availability and understorey plants, including a nitrogen(N)-fixing shrub, on growth, physiology and survival of commercial maritime pines (Pinus pinaster Ait.). Three experimental sites within the Landes de Gascogne forest were installed in two wet moorlands (one dominated by gorse, a leguminous shrub and one by a perennial grass), and in one dry moorland dominated by ericaceous plants. In dry moorland, the ericaceous understorey increased pine mortality and decreased pine growth, suggesting a competition for water, the most limiting resource of this ecosystem. In wet moorland, a decrease in pine growth suggested a strong competition for soil resources, with or without phosphorus addition. In the other wet moorland dominated by gorse, pines responded to competition for light through stem elongation and self-pruning, but not by reducing growth. The intercropped gorse improved pine N-nutrition and trees acclimated to shrubs by growing more fine roots. Gorse had a positive effect on stomatal conductance during spring, while pine water status decreased moderately with increasing shrub competition during summer. Our results provide new understanding of the feasibility of using gorse as an intercropping N-fixing plant in managed forests, and revealed the structural and physiological trade-offs that exist between increasing N-availability and competition for water and light.
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ISSN:0282-7581
1651-1891
1651-1891
DOI:10.1080/02827581.2021.1992002