Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Short-term effects of fertilization on photosynthesis and leaf morphology of field-grown loblolly pine following long-term exposure to elevated CO(2) concentration.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Maier, CA; Palmroth, S; Ward, E
Published in: Tree physiology
April 2008

We examined effects of a first nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on upper-canopy needle morphology and gas exchange in approximately 20-m-tall loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) exposed to elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO(2)]) for 9 years. Duke Forest free-air CO(2) enrichment (FACE) plots were split and half of each ring fertilized with 112 kg ha(-1) elemental N applied in two applications in March and April 2005. Measurements of needle length (L), mass per unit area (LMA), N concentration (N(l)) on a mass and an area basis, light-saturated net photosynthesis per unit leaf area (A(a)) and per unit mass (A(m)), and leaf conductance (g(L)) began after the second fertilizer application in existing 1-year-old foliage (F(O)) and later in developing current-year first-flush (F(C1)) and current-year second-flush (F(C2)) foliage. Elevated [CO(2)] increased A(a) by 43 and 52% in F(O) and F(C1) foliage, respectively, but generally had no significant effect on any other parameter. Fertilization had little or no significant effect on L, LMA, A or g(L) in F(O) foliage; although N(l) was significantly higher in fertilized trees by midsummer. In contrast, fertilization resulted in large increases in L, N(l), and A in F(C1) and F(C2) foliage, increasing A(a) by about 20%. These results suggest that, although both needle age classes accumulate N following fertilization, they use it differently-current-year foliage incorporates N into photosynthetic machinery, whereas 1-year-old foliage serves as an N store. There were no significant interaction effects of elevated [CO(2)] and fertilization on A. Elevated [CO(2)] increased the intercept of the A:N(l) relationship but did not significantly affect the slope of the relationship in either foliage age class.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Tree physiology

DOI

EISSN

1758-4469

ISSN

0829-318X

Publication Date

April 2008

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

597 / 606

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Seasons
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Pinus taeda
  • Photosynthesis
  • Nitrogen
  • Light
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Fertilizers
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Maier, C. A., Palmroth, S., & Ward, E. (2008). Short-term effects of fertilization on photosynthesis and leaf morphology of field-grown loblolly pine following long-term exposure to elevated CO(2) concentration. Tree Physiology, 28(4), 597–606. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/28.4.597
Maier, Chris A., Sari Palmroth, and Eric Ward. “Short-term effects of fertilization on photosynthesis and leaf morphology of field-grown loblolly pine following long-term exposure to elevated CO(2) concentration.Tree Physiology 28, no. 4 (April 2008): 597–606. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/28.4.597.
Maier, Chris A., et al. “Short-term effects of fertilization on photosynthesis and leaf morphology of field-grown loblolly pine following long-term exposure to elevated CO(2) concentration.Tree Physiology, vol. 28, no. 4, Apr. 2008, pp. 597–606. Epmc, doi:10.1093/treephys/28.4.597.
Journal cover image

Published In

Tree physiology

DOI

EISSN

1758-4469

ISSN

0829-318X

Publication Date

April 2008

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

597 / 606

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Seasons
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Pinus taeda
  • Photosynthesis
  • Nitrogen
  • Light
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Fertilizers