Impact of elevated CO(2) and nitrogen fertilization on foliar elemental composition in a short rotation poplar plantation.
The experiment was carried out on a short rotation coppice culture of poplars (POP-EUROFACE, Central Italy), growing in a free air carbon dioxide enriched atmosphere (FACE). The specific objective of this work was to study whether elevated CO(2) and fertilization (two CO(2) treatments, elevated CO(2) and control, two N fertilization treatments, fertilized and unfertilized), as well as the interaction between treatments caused an unbalanced nutritional status of leaves in three poplar species (P. x euramericana, P. nigra and P. alba). Finally, we discuss the ecological implications of a possible change in foliar nutrients concentration. CO(2) enrichment reduced foliar nitrogen and increased the concentration of magnesium; whereas nitrogen fertilization had opposite effects on leaf nitrogen and magnesium concentrations. Moreover, the interaction between elevated CO(2) and N fertilization amplified some element unbalances such as the K/N-ratio.
Marinari
Sara
S
Department of Agrochemistry and Agrobiology, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Via S Camillo de Lellis, Viterbo, Italy. marinari@unitus.it
Calfapietra
Carlo
C
De Angelis
Paolo
P
Mugnozza
Giuseppe Scarascia
GS
Grego
Stefano
S
D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005308:Fertilizers; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D032107:Populus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity
D005308:Fertilizers; D008670:Metals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium