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• 1. [Article] Similarity of Nutrient Uptake and Root Dimensions of Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir at Two Contrasting Sites in Colorado

  Nutrient uptake capacity is an important parameter in modeling nutrient uptake by plants. Researchers commonly assume that uptake capacity measured for a species can be used across sites. We tested this ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Similarity of Nutrient Uptake and Root Dimensions of Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir at Two Contrasting Sites in Colorado Author: Lucash, Melissa S., Yanai, Ruth D., McFarlane, Karis J., Kulpa, Sarah E., Wood, Dustin M. Year: 2009 Nutrient uptake capacity is an important parameter in modeling nutrient uptake by plants. Researchers commonly assume that uptake capacity measured for a species can be used across sites. We tested this assumption by measuring the nutrient uptake capacity of intact roots of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni Parry) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) at Loch Vale Watershed and Fraser Experimental Forest in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. Roots still attached to the tree were exposed to one of three concentrations of nutrient solutions for time periods ranging from 1 to 96h, and solutions were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Surprisingly, the two species were indistinguishable in nutrient uptake within site for all nutrients (P >0.25), but uptake rates differed by site. In general, nutrient uptake was higher at Fraser (P =0.01, 0.15, 0.03, and 0.18 for NH4+, NO3−, Ca2+, and K+, respectively), which is west of the Continental Divide and has lower atmospheric deposition of N than Loch Vale. Mean uptake rates by site for ambient solution concentrations were , , , and at Loch Vale, and , , , and at Fraser. The importance of site conditions in determining uptake capacity should not be overlooked when parameterizing nutrient uptake models. We also characterized the root morphology of these two species and compared them to other tree species we have measured at various sites in the northeastern USA. Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir were indistinguishable in specific root length and diameter distribution, while most of the other 10 species had statistically distinct diameter distributions across five diameter classes. Title: Similarity of Nutrient Uptake and Root Dimensions of Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir at Two Contrasting Sites in Colorado Author: Lucash, Melissa S., Yanai, Ruth D., McFarlane, Karis J., Kulpa, Sarah E., Wood, Dustin M. Year: 2009 Nutrient uptake capacity is an important parameter in modeling nutrient uptake by plants. Researchers commonly assume that uptake capacity measured for a species can be used across sites. We tested this assumption by measuring the nutrient uptake capacity of intact roots of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni Parry) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) at Loch Vale Watershed and Fraser Experimental Forest in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. Roots still attached to the tree were exposed to one of three concentrations of nutrient solutions for time periods ranging from 1 to 96h, and solutions were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Surprisingly, the two species were indistinguishable in nutrient uptake within site for all nutrients (P >0.25), but uptake rates differed by site. In general, nutrient uptake was higher at Fraser (P =0.01, 0.15, 0.03, and 0.18 for NH4+, NO3−, Ca2+, and K+, respectively), which is west of the Continental Divide and has lower atmospheric deposition of N than Loch Vale. Mean uptake rates by site for ambient solution concentrations were , , , and at Loch Vale, and , , , and at Fraser. The importance of site conditions in determining uptake capacity should not be overlooked when parameterizing nutrient uptake models. We also characterized the root morphology of these two species and compared them to other tree species we have measured at various sites in the northeastern USA. Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir were indistinguishable in specific root length and diameter distribution, while most of the other 10 species had statistically distinct diameter distributions across five diameter classes. Close