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Current uptake of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate in flooded and non-flooded black spruce and tamarack seedlings

Absorption courante de 15N ammonium et nitrate chez des plants de Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.) et de mélèze Tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) ennoyés et non ennoyés

Annals of Forest Science volume 66, page 102 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • We investigated the effects of flooding for three weeks on physiological responses and uptake of NH +4 and NO −3 by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.) and tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) seedlings fertilized with labeled (15NH4)2SO4 or K15NO3 in a growth chamber experiment.

  • • Flooding reduced photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and current uptake of NH +4 and NO −3 in both species.

  • • Under flooding, there were no significant differences between the two species in uptake of either NH +4 or NO −3 at the whole-plant level but black spruce had higher translocation of NH +4 to the shoots than did tamarack.

  • • Under non-flooded conditions, black spruce seedlings exhibited higher uptake of both NH +4 and NO −3 than did tamarack and demonstrated preferential uptake of NH +4 (19. 7 mg g−1dw) over NO −3 (12.3 mg g−1dw after three weeks). In contrast, non-flooded tamarack seedlings had equal uptake of NH +4 (4.96 mg g−1dw) and NO −3 (4.97 mg g−1dw).

  • • We hypothesize that the ability of tamarack to equally exploit both 15NH +4 and 15NO −3 would confer an advantage over black spruce, when faced with limitations in the availability of different forms of soil nitrogen.

Résumé

  • • Nous avons étudié les effets d’un ennoyage pendant trois semaines sur les réponses physiologiques et l’absorption de NH +4 et de NO −3 par des plants d’épinette noire (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.) et de mélèze Tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) fertilisés et marqués (15NH4)2SO4 ou K15NO3 et installés dans une chambre d’expérimentation.

  • • L’ennoyage réduit la photosynthèse (A), la transpiration (E), l’efficience d’utilisation de l’eau (WUE), et l’absorption de NH +4 et de NO −3 des deux espèces.

  • • Sous ennoyage, il n’y avait pas de différence significative entre les deux espèces dans l’absorption de NH +4 ou de NO −3 au niveau de l’ensemble du plant, mais l’épinette noire a présenté des translocations plus élevées de NH +4 vers les pousses que le mélèze Tamarack.

  • • En l’absence d’ennoyage, les semis d’épinette noire ont présenté une absorption plus élevée de NH +4 et de NO −3 que le mélèze Tamarack et ont montré une absorption préférentielle de NH +4 (19,7 mg g−1de poids sec) par rapport à NO −3 (12,3 mg g−1 de poids sec) après trois semaines. En revanche, les jeunes plants de mélèze sans ennoyage ont présenté la même absorption de NH +4 (4,96 mg g−1de poids sec) et de NO −3 (4,97 mg g−1 de poids sec).

  • • Nous faisons l’hypothèse que la capacité du mélèze à absorber également les deux 15NH +4 et 15NO −3 lui conférerait un avantage par rapport à l’épinette noire, lorsqu’ils sont confrontés à des limitations de la disponibilité des différentes formes d’azote dans le sol.

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  1. M. Anisul Islam

    Present address: Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, 47907, West Lafayette, IN, USA

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  1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, T6G 2H1, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    M. Anisul Islam & S. Ellen Macdonald

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Islam, M.A., Macdonald, S.E. Current uptake of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate in flooded and non-flooded black spruce and tamarack seedlings. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 102 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008077

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X