The nutritional status and root development of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) seedlings growing on decaying deadwood in temperate forest ecosystem

Abstract

Abstract The study aimed to compare two substrates, soil and deadwood, for the regeneration of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) seedlings. Three-year-old fir seedlings growing both on deadwood and in the soil were collected. The examination involved determining the physical, chemical, and biochemical properties of soil and deadwood, as well as assessing the morphology of the roots and the nutrition of seedlings growing on the soil and deadwood. The examined substrates differed in physical, chemical and biochemical properties. It was shown that strongly decomposed fir logs are a good substrate for the growth of fir seedlings, mainly due to the high content of exchangeable cations (especially calcium, magnesium and potassium) and high phosphorus and nitrogen content. The type of substrate had a significant impact on the root morphology of fir seedlings. In our study, the most responsive root traits to differences in growing substrates were specific root area (SRA) and specific root length (SRL). Our analyses did not confirm significant differences in the stoichiometry of C, N and P in the roots and needles of seedlings grown on different substrates. The stoichiometry of roots and needles suggests no limitations in the uptake of nutrients by seedlings growing on deadwood. This study validated that heavily decomposed wood can provide favourable microhabitats for the growth of the young generation of fir.