The effect of liming on the mineral nutrition of the mountain Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) forest

Abstract

Mineral nutrition represents the uptake, transport, metabolism and utilization of nutrients by the forest stand. These processes influence all physiological functions of trees. A specific minimum amount of all nutrients is necessary for the healthy development and growth of forest trees. The uptake of nutrients is influenced not only by natural conditions but also by anthropogenic activities. During the period of 2000-2005 the mineral nutrition of mountain Norway spruce stands was studied at the study site Bílý Kříž (Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mts., Czech Republic). Research was carried out in a spruce stand that was limed in the past years (in 1983, 1985 and 1987) and in a spruce stand that was not limed in order to compare the liming effect on the mineral nutrition of spruce stands. A positive liming effect was detected in the calcium, magnesium and phosphorus nutrition because their contents in current needles were higher on the limed plots. No liming effect was determined in the nitrogen, potassium and microelement (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al) content in current needles. Sufficient nutrition of spruce stands only with calcium was recorded on all studied plots.

Keywords

• macroelements and microelements content in needles
• norway spruce
• liming
• moravian-silesian beskids mts.
• czech republic