Contribution of mycorrhizae and soil fungi to nutrient cycling in a Douglas-fir ecosystem

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fogel ◽  
Gary Hunt

The allocation of biomass and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) was measured from August 1976 to September 1978 in a young, second-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand in the Oregon Coast Range. Tree biomass comprised 78–79% of the total standing crop of organic matter with the remainder allocated as follows: soil organic matter, 17%; forest floor, 4%; and fungi, 2%. Bole biomass accounted for 64–66% of the total tree standing crop; the remainder was apportioned among: nonmycorrhizal roots, 17–18%; branches, 7–8%; mycorrhizae, 6%; and foliage, 4%. Nutrient stocks in aboveground tree components exceeded those in belowground components by one to nine times. For all nutrients except Ca, roots and mycorrhizae contained larger stocks than either the forest floor or fungi; amounts of Ca in the forest floor and in fungi were twice those in roots and mycorrhizae. Return of organic matter to the soil by fine roots and mycorrhizae ranged from 84 to 78% of total tree return. About 73% of total net primary production was invested in growth and maintenance of roots and mycorrhizae. Return of N, P, and K to the soil by mycorrhizae comprised 83–87% of total tree return and 25–51% of Ca and Mg return. Return by mycorrhizae of N, P, and K was four to five times greater than that of roots, nearly equal for Ca, and three times less for Mg.

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fogel ◽  
Gary Hunt

The allocation of biomass and the turnover time of various components were measured from August 1976 to August 1977 in a young, second-growth Douglas-fir stand in the Oregon Coast Range. Allocation of biomass among the tree components was 14 732 kg foliage ha−1, 30 455 kg branches ha−1, 212 941 kg boles ha−1, 49 289 kg nonmycorrhizal roots ha−1, and 15 015 kg host portion of mycorrhizae ha−1. Biomass allocation of fungal components was 10 009 kg mycorrhizal mantles ha−1, 2785 kg Cenococcumgeophilum sclerotia ha−1, 65 kg sporocarps ha−1, 369 kg litter hyphae ha−1, and 6666 kg soil hyphae ha−1. The forest floor was composed of 6970 kg fine (<2 mm) litter ha−1, 6564 kg coarse (2–25 mm) litter ha−1, and 5500 kg log (>25 mm) litter ha−1. Soil organic matter (<0.494 mm) was 87 600 kg ha−1. Total annual stand throughput was 30 324 kg ha−1, excluding soil organic matter throughput. Of this total, 50.5% was accounted for by fungal throughput, 39.5% by tree throughput, and 10.0% by forest floor throughput.


1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Turner ◽  
James N. Long

The total aboveground biomass of a series of Douglas-fir stands which are located in western Washington increased with age while the foliar biomass and total crown biomass reached a steady state of about 11 000 kg/ha at between 40 and 50 years, depending upon stand density. Maximum wood productivity occurred near the time of crown closure, but the age of crown closure varied, with denser stands reaching crown closure at a younger age. Understory aboveground biomass and returns represented a significant portion of stand organic matter before crown closure but decreased in importance as the stand increased in age. In terms of relative contribution to stand organic matter, the vascular species of the understory were supplanted by mosses during the later stages of stand development. While the understory represented a small proportion of organic matter distribution, that is, less than 5% of standing plant biomass, it was a significant proportion of total productivity (up to 17%) and an even higher proportion of organic matter that was returned to the forest floor (up to 43% of total return). The forest floor in this series of stands did not reach a steady state but continued to increase in weight. The decomposition rate appeared to decrease with age.


1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Carter ◽  
L. E. Lowe

Lateral variability of forest floor physical and chemical properties is examined in LF and H horizons under six naturally regenerated, second-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stands in coastal southwestern British Columbia. The number of samples required to predict a mean value at two confidence levels (P = 0.01 and 0.05) and two allowable errors (10 and 20%) are given for each variable. Total C, N, P, S, Zn, pH, and lipids were the least variable, requiring 2–13 samples to estimate a plot mean with a 10% allowable error at the 95% confidence level in LF horizons and 3–51 samples per lot in H horizons. Total K, Cu, and Mn were found to have moderately high lateral variability, while total Ca, Mn, Al, and Fe all required large numbers of samples to estimate the plot mean. In the second part of the paper, composite samples weighted by field depth and bulk density are compared with the depth and bulk density–weighted arithmetic mean of subsamples analyzed individually. Values from analysis of composite samples were within one standard deviation of the mean, with the exception of P and Cu in the LF horizons and lipids in both horizons. Composite values and mean values were significantly correlated across the six sites for all variables except lipids in LF horizons and total C and Mn in both horizons. Composite samples are suggested to provide an adequate estimate of the mean value of subsamples analyzed individually for most purposes and, for some variables (i.e., Ca, Fe, Al, and Mn), the only feasible method of obtaining an estimate of the mean.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Cross ◽  
Steven S. Perakis

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species – soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Foliar P and N:P variations largely reflected soil P variation across sites. The four tree species that we examined exhibited a number of individualistic effects on soil nutrient levels that contribute to biogeochemical heterogeneity in these ecosystems. Where fire suppression and long-term succession favor dominance by highly shade-tolerant western hemlock, our results suggest a potential for declines in both soil Ca availability and soil biogeochemical heterogeneity in old-growth forests.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A Entry ◽  
William H Emmingham

The amount and type of carbon (C) in a forest soil reflects the past balance between C accumulation and loss. In an old-growth forest soil, C is thought to be in dynamic equilibrium between accumulations and losses. Disturbance upsets this equilibrium by altering the microclimate, the amount and type of vegetation growing on a site, and properties that affect organic matter decomposition. We measured total C and forms of soil C in the L, F, and H layers and in the light fraction of soil organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil in old-, second-, and young-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) soils in the Oregon Coast Range. Total C in L, F, and H layers and in organic material in the top 10 cm of mineral soil in old-growth forests was higher than in young- or second-growth forests. Old-growth forests had a higher lignin concentration and lower concentrations of sugar, hemicellulose, and cellulose in the L, F, and H layers and in the light fraction of organic material than second- or young-growth forests. Old-growth forests had greater amounts of fats, waxes, and oils, sugar, cellulose, and lignin, in the L, F, and H layers per square hectare and greater amounts of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin in the light fraction of organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil per square hectare than young- and second-growth forests. Concentrations of fats, waxes, and oils, sugar, and tannin in the light fraction of organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil did not differ with forest age.


1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Fried ◽  
James R. Boyle ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Kermit Cromack Jr.

Soil chemical and physical properties, forest floor weights, nutrient content and turnover rates, and litter fall weights and nutrient content under bigleaf maple (Acermacrophyllum Pursh) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) were compared on five sites on the eastern margin of the Oregon Coast Range. Litter fall weight and nutrient content were significantly greater under maple on every site for every macronutrient and for most micronutrients. Forest floor biomass and nutrient content were extremely variable, much more so than litter fall, and there were no consistent differences between the two species. However, turnover rates for forest floor biomass and nutrients were significantly faster under maple for every nutrient at every site. Bulk density of mineral soil was also highly variable with significant differences at only two sites. Soil under maple was consistently higher in nitrogen, and less consistently, in potassium. There were no consistent trends in amounts of calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus. Soil organic carbon content under maple was significantly greater than under Douglas-fir on four of five sites. These differences may result from the more rapid turnover of forest floors under maple trees.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 665
Author(s):  
Ladislav Holik ◽  
Jiří Volánek ◽  
Valerie Vranová

Soil proteases are involved in organic matter transformation processes and, thus, influence ecosystem nutrient turnovers. Phytohormones, similarly to proteases, are synthesized and secreted into soil by fungi and microorganisms, and regulate plant rhizosphere activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of auxins, cytokinins, ethephon, and chlorocholine chloride on spruce forest floor protease activity. It was concluded that the presence of auxins stimulated native proteolytic activity, specifically synthetic auxin 2-naphthoxyacetic acid (16% increase at added quantity of 5 μg) and naturally occurring indole-3-acetic acid (18%, 5 μg). On the contrary, cytokinins, ethephon and chlorocholine chloride inhibited native soil protease activity, where ethephon (36% decrease at 50 μg) and chlorocholine chloride (34%, 100 μg) showed the highest inhibitory effects. It was concluded that negative phytohormonal effects on native proteolytic activity may slow down organic matter decomposition rates and hence complicate plant nutrition. The study enhances the understanding of rhizosphere exudate effects on soil microbial activity and soil nitrogen cycle.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1541-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Smith ◽  
H. M. Craig ◽  
D. Chu

Fungal deterioration of second-growth Douglas-fir logs, felled each month from August 1961 to May 1962, was studied 2, 4, and 6 years after felling. Decay increased from 10% of log volumes after 2 years to 47% after 6 years. The rate of decay, particularly for the brown cubical type, was greater for autumn- and winter-felled logs than for those felled in the spring and late summer, and closely paralleled the seasonal pattern of ambrosia beetle attack.Decay rates increased with decreasing log size, increasing percentage of sapwood, and increasing height of log above ground. For the same diameter of log, base logs decayed less rapidly than second logs, possibly because of their lower proportion of sapwood in relation to heartwood.Decay expressed as a percentage of total log volume (Y) may be estimated (R2 = 0.71) with the following equation: Y = 13.2 + 10.7X1 − 3.2X2, where X1 = years elapsed and X2 = d.i.b. (diameter inside bark) top of log.Of 30 wood-decay fungi isolated, Naematoloma sp. (N. capnoides or N. fasciculare), which causes a white rot, was associated with the most decay. Fomes pinicola was mainly responsible for brown cubical sap rot, while Poria monticola and P. carbonica caused a brown cubical heart rot at the ends of logs.The significance of variations in deterioration rate and fungal associates is discussed in relation to log durability and salvability.


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