Aspen Bibliography

Responses of quaking aspen (populus tremuloides) seedlings to solution calcium

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Volume

31

Issue

1

First Page

123

Last Page

131

Publication Date

2001

Abstract

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions to investigate their responses to a range of solution Ca levels (10-1000 µM) similar to those found in aspen stands of upper Lakes States. Growth increased significantly with increasing level of solution Ca. The level of solution Ca associated with 90% of maximum elongation (critical level) was 61 µM for shoots and 88 µM for roots. Critical Ca levels for biomass probably were lower. Concentrations of Ca in leaves and roots increased significantly with increasing solution Ca. Elongation of shoots and roots was also strongly and positively related to Ca concentrations in leaves and roots. Critical Ca concentrations (oven-dry mass) for shoot elongation were 0.46% in leaf tissue and 0.12% in root tissue, while critical Ca concentrations for root elongation were 0.54% in leaf tissue and 0.13% in root tissue. Solution Ca may have induced deficiencies of other elements, but direct Ca deficiency was the primary cause of growth reduction. These critical Ca levels in solutions or tissues cannot be used to diagnose Ca deficiency in aspen forests until it is known how other soil and plant factors affect the Ca requirement of aspen.

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