A root bioassay test for nitrogen deficiency in forest trees

A test for nitrogen deficiency in forest trees was developed, in which the uptake of 15N from a solution of labelled ammonium chloride by excised roots was measured. Laboratory development of the method involved the growth of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr and Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings in sand cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 1991, Vol.42 (3), p.267-282
Main Authors: Jones, Helen E., Quarmby, C., Harrison, A.F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
AZOTE
BIOASSAYS
Biological and medical sciences
CARENCE MINERALE
DEFICIENCIA DE MINERALES
Deficiencies. Phytotoxicity of elements. Salinity
DOSAGE BIOLOGIQUE
ENSAYO BIOLOGICO
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
NITROGEN
NITROGENO
PICEA ABIES
PICEA SITCHENSIS
PINUS SYLVESTRIS
RACINE
RAICES
ROOTS
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
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Summary:A test for nitrogen deficiency in forest trees was developed, in which the uptake of 15N from a solution of labelled ammonium chloride by excised roots was measured. Laboratory development of the method involved the growth of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr and Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings in sand culture supplied with nutrient solution containing varying concentrations of nitrogen as ammonium nitrate. When the roots of these seedlings were assayed, a negative curvilinear relationship was demonstrated between 15N uptake and the concentration of nitrogen previously supplied in sand culture. No differences were found in the total corrected rate of nitrogen uptake from 20 or 98% 15N-enriched solutions. In field trials of the bioassay, roots were excised from a Picea abies (L.) Karst. mixture experiment and from P. sitchensis nitrogen fertilization experiments. The pattern of 15N up-take by these roots indicated that the method is potentially useful as a rapid test for nitrogen deficiency in forest trees.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/0378-1127(91)90029-U