Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of acid irrigation and liming on nitrate reduction and nitrate content of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Oxalis acetosella L.

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nitrate reductase activities (NRA) and nitrate concentration per unit biomass in Picea abies (L.) Karst. roots from four different soil horizons and in leaves and roots of the frequent field-layer species Oxalis acetosella L. were measured on six different irrigation and liming treatments within the Höglwald project, S-Bavaria, Germany. Liming increased and acid irrigation reduced soil nitrate availability when compared to control plots. Nitrate assimilation capacities of the respective plant compartments per unit of soil volume or ground area were calculated from the NRA per unit of biomass and from the biomass distribution on the various treatments.

Mean NRA per unit of biomass in Picea abies roots ranged between 0.23 and 0.09 μmol NO -2 g-1 d.w. h-1 without significant effects of soil horizon or treatment. Limed and non-limed treatments showed for Picea different root distributions within the soil profile, but root biomass per unit of ground area (295 to 220 g d.w. m-2) was not affected by the various treatments. Thus, nitrate assimilation capacity of Picea roots per unit of ground area ranged between 19.5 and 11.4 μmol NO -2 m-2 h-1 without major treatment effects.

In laminae of Oxalis acetosella mean NRA per unit of biomass ranged between 2.91 and 0.27 μmol NO -2 g-1 d.w. h-1 and, in contrast to Picea abies, treatment effects were found with NRA on limed plots increased and on acid irrigated plots reduced when compared to control plots. Mean leaf biomass of Oxalis per unit of ground area ranged between 9.57 and 0.66 g d.w. m-2 and responded in a similar manner to the various treatments. Thus, for the Oxalis leaf NRA per unit of ground area (27.85 to 0.18 μmol NO2 m-2 h-1) a cumulative response to the variations in nitrate availability was found.

The different responses of Picea abies and Oxalis acetosella to changes in soil nitrate availability are discussed with respect to their suitability to prevent soil nitrate leaching.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Gharbi A and Hipkin C R 1984 Studies on nitrate reductase in British angiosperms. I. A comparison of nitrate reductase activity in ruderal, woodland-edge and woody species. New Phytol. 97, 629–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchmann N, Gebauer G and Schulze E-D 1996 Partitioning of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate among soil, litter, below-and above-ground biomass of trees and understory in a 15-year-old Picea abies plantation. Biogeochemistry 33, 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchmann N, Schulze E-D and Gebauer G 1995 15N-ammonium and 15N-nitrate uptake of a 15-year-old Picea abies plantation. Oecologia 102, 361–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downs M R, Nadelhoffer K J, Melillo J M and Aber J D 1993 Foliar and fine root nitrate reductase activity in seedlings of four forest tree species in relation to nitrogen availability. Trees 7, 233–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durka W and Schulze E-D 1992 Hydrochemie von Waldquellen des Fichtelgebirges. UWSF. Z. Umweltchem. Ökotox. 4, 217–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durka W, Schulze E-D, Gebauer G and Voerkelius S 1994 Effects of forest decline on uptake and leaching of deposited nitrate determined from 15N and 18O measurements. Nature 372, 765–767.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G, Melzer A and Rehder H 1984 Nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity in Rumex obtusifolius L. I. Differences in organs and diurnal changes. Oecologia 63, 136–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G, Rehder H and Wollenweber B 1988 Nitrate, nitrate reduction and organic nitrogen in plants from different ecological and taxonomic groups of Central Europe. Oecologia 75, 371–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G and Schulze E-D 1991 Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in different compartments of a healthy and a deelining Picea abies forest in the Fichtelgebirge, NE Bavaria. Oecologia 87, 198–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G and Schulze E-D 1997 Nitrate nutrition by Central European forest trees. In Trees-Contributions to Modern Tree Physiology. Eds. H Rennenberg, W Eschrich and H Ziegler. SPB Academic Publ., The Hague (In press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G and Stadler J 1990 Nitrate assimilation and nitrate content in different organs of ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior). In Plant Nutrition — Physiology and Applications. Ed. M L van Beusichem. pp 101–106. Kluwer, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Göttlein A and Kreutzer K 1991 Der Standort Höglwald im Vergleich zu anderen ökologischen Fallstudien. In Ökosystemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein. pp 22–29. Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn G 1994 Wurzelwachstum von Fichten unter dem Einfluβ von saurer Beregnung und Kalkung (Höglwald-Projekt). Diss. Univ. Hohenbeim, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn G and Marschner H 1993 Wurzelwachstum und pH-Wert in der Rhizosphäre von Fichten in Abhängigkeit von saurer Beregnung und Kalkung. Abschluβbericht BMFT-Projekt 0339175. Inst. Pflanzenernährung, Univ. Hohenheim.

  • Högberg P, Johannisson C, Nicklasson H and Högbom L 1990 Shoot nitrate reductase activities of field-layer species in different forest types. I. Preliminary surveys in Northern Sweden. Scand. J. For. Res. 5, 449–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Högbom L 1994 Shoot nitrate reductase activities of field-layer species in different forest types. III. A preliminary survey in beech forests in southern Sweden. Scand. J. For. Res. 9, 124–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K 1995 Effect of forest liming on soil process. Plant Soil 168–169, 447–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K and Weiss T 1998 The Höglwald field experiments-aims, concept and basic data. Plant Soil 199, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K, Göttlein A, Pröbstle P and Zuleger M 1991a Höglwaldforschung 1982–1989. Zielsetzung, Versuchskonzept, Basisdaten. In Ökosystemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein. pp 11–21. Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K, Göttlein A and Pröbstle P 1991b Dynamik und chemische Auswirkungen der Auflösung von Dolomitkalk unter Fichte (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). In Ökosystemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein. pp 186–204. Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H, Häussling M and George E 1991 Ammonium and nitrate uptake rates and rhizosphere pH in non-mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Trees 5, 14–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norusis MJ 1986 SPSS/PC+. SPSS Inc. America, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodenkirchen H 1991 Entwicklung der Waldbodenvegetation auf den Versuchsflächen des Höglwald-Experiments im Beobachtungszeitraum 1983 bis 1989. In Ökosytemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein. pp 74–86. Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodenkirchen H 1998a Evidence for a nutritional disorder of Oxalis acetosella L. on an acid forest soils. I. Control situation and effects of dolomitic liming and acid irrigation. Plant Soil 199, 141–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodenkirchen H 1998b Evidence for a nutritional disorder of Oxalis acetosella L. on acid forest soils. II. Diagnostic field experiments and nutrient solution studies. Plant Soil 199, 153–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodenkirchen H and Forster E-M 1991 Untersuchungen zur potentiellen Stickstoffnettomineralisation und Nitrifikation in der organischen Auflage eines Fichtenbestandes nach Kalkung und künstlicher saurer Beregnung. In Ökosystemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein. pp 103–110. Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt G, May C, Gebauer G and Schulze E-D 1996 Uptake of [15N]ammonium and [15N]nitrate in a 140-year-old spruce stand (Picea abies) in the Fichtelgebirge (NE Bavaria). Isot. Environ. Health Stud. 32, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smirnoff M, Todd P and Stewart G R 1984 The occurrence of nitrate reduction in the leaves of woody plants. Ann. Bot. 54, 363–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stadler J and Gebauer G 1992 Nitrate reduction and nitrate content in ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior L.): distribution between compartments, site comparison and searsonal variation. Trees 6, 236–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamm C O 1991 Nitrogen in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecological Studies 81. Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich B 1981 Ökologische Gruppierung von Böden nach ihrem chemischen Bodenzustand. Z. Pflanzenernaehr. Bodenkd. 144, 289–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel B and Ulrich B 1988 Kompensationskalkung-Risiken und ihre Minimierung. Forst Holzwirt 43, 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenökologie, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    G. Gebauer

  2. Institut für Pflanzenernährung, Universität Hohenheim, D-70593, Stuttgart, Germany and

    G. Hahn

  3. Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde und Standortslehre, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Hohenbachernstr. 22, D-85254, Freising, Germany

    H. Rodenkirchen & M. Zuleger

Authors
  1. G. Gebauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Hahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Rodenkirchen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Zuleger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gebauer, G., Hahn, G., Rodenkirchen, H. et al. Effects of acid irrigation and liming on nitrate reduction and nitrate content of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Oxalis acetosella L.. Plant and Soil 199, 59–70 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004263223917

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004263223917

Search

Navigation