Aspen Bibliography

Atmospheric CO2, soil-N availability, and allocation of biomass and nitrogen by Populus tremuloides

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Ecological Applications

Volume

10

Issue

1

First Page

34

Last Page

46

Publication Date

2000

Abstract

Our ability to predict whether elevated atmospheric CO2 will alter the cycling of C and N in terrestrial ecosystems requires understanding a complex set of feedback mechanisms initiated by changes in C and N acquisition by plants and the degree to which changes in resource acquisition (C and N) alter plant growth and allocation. To gain further insight into these dynamics, we grew six genotypes of Populus tremuloides Michx. that differ in autumnal senescence (early vs. late) under experimental atmospheric CO2 (35.7 and 70.7 Pa) and soil-N availability (low and high) treatments. Atmospheric CO2 concen- trations were manipulated with open-top chambers, and soil-N availability was modified in open-bottom root boxes by mixing different proportions of native A and C horizon soil. Net N mineralization rates averaged 61 ng N·g-1·d-1 in low-N soil and 319 ng N·g-1·d-1 in high-N soil. After 2.5 growing seasons, we harvested above- and belowground plant components in each chamber and determined total biomass, N concentration, N content, and the relative allocation of biomass and N to leaves, stems, and roots.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS