Spatial relationships between nitrogen status and pitch canker disease in slash pine planted adjacent to a poultry operation.
Pitch canker disease (Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell) causes serious shoot dieback, reduced growth and mortality in pines found in the southern and western USA, and has been linked to nutrient imbalances. Poultry houses with forced-air ventilation systems produce nitrogen (N) emissions. This study analyzed spatial correlations between pitch canker disease and foliar, forest floor, soil, and throughfall N in a slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) plantation adjacent to a poultry operation in north Florida, USA. Tissue and throughfall N concentrations were highest near the poultry houses and remained elevated for 400 m. Disease incidence ranged from 57-71% near the poultry houses and was spatially correlated with N levels. Similarly, stem mortality ranged from 41-53% in the most heavily impacted area, and declined to 0-9% at distances greater than 400 m. These results suggest that nutritional processes exacerbate changes in disease susceptibility and expression in slash pine.
Lopez-Zamora
Isabel
I
Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Bliss
Christine
C
Jokela
Eric J
EJ
Comerford
N B
NB
Grunwald
Sabine
S
Barnard
E
E
Vasquez
G M
GM
D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016468:Forestry; D005670:Fusarium; D038821:Mycorrhizae; D009181:Mycoses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011200:Poultry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen