Summary
Published in Canadian Journal of Forest Research 43: 66-77
Along with climate, multiple global or large-scale change agents shape forest ecosystem health. We present a case study where we attempted to elucidate the driving factors causing decline symptoms in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in young spruce–fir boreal stands. Tree defoliation rate in the studied areas was related to the foliage discoloration intensity of the 2-year old needles and the decreasing stem basal area increment from 1997 to 2008. The onset of this growth decline in 1997 coincided with the occurrence of extremes for four climatic indices. The foliage of affected trees was deficient in K. The relationship between tree decline and K deficiency was tested through a diagnostic fertilization trial using a two-level factorial combination of N, K, and Mg. The trial indicated that K was the single limiting nutrient among the three tested elements. A single K addition increased stem basal area by 43% on average after 11 years. It is hypothesized that the poor K status of trees can be attributed to a series of natural and anthropogenic disturbances along with past forest management activities. Climate change in the region since the last decades also may have contributed to exacerbate K deficiency in such forest ecosystems.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Ecosystems and Environment, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
OUIMET, Rock, Jean-David MOORE, Louis DUCHESNE and Claude CAMIRÉ
Year of publication :
2013
Format :
PDF available upon request
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
dépérissement, changement climatique, Picea glauca, potassium, écosystèmes et environnement, ecosystems and environment, forest decline, climate change, article scientifique de recherche forestière
