engleski

Influence of phosphorus nutrition on leaf functional traits of common beech and sessile oak saplings

This research was conducted on five-year-old saplings of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea /Matt./ Liebl.) originating from two mature mixed beech-oak stands from the Republic of Croatia. One stand is from the area of Slavonski Brod and one from the area of Karlovac. These two provenances are characterized by similar orographic and edaphic (chemical composition and mechanical soil structure) conditions, but differ in climate, especially in precipitation. In Slavonski Brod provenance average total annual precipitation is 770 mm (dry provenance) and in Karlovac provenance 1112 mm (wet provenance). During 2021, after the establishment of field trial, the saplings grew into two types of substrates. One type of substrate was a treatment with an increased phosphorus concentration (+P) and another type of substrate was a treatment with a lower phosphorus concentration (-P). The aim of this study was to examine the influence of different phosphorus concentrations in the substrate on leaves functional traits (phosphorus concentration in leaves, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf mass per area (LMA), etc.) in beech and oak saplings originating from dry and wet provenance. The results showed that in the +P treatment there was a significant increase in the concentration of phosphorus in the leaves of both species originated from both provenances. However, LDMC and LMA in the +P treatment were significantly higher than the -P treatment in common beech, while LDMC and LMA in sessile oak were the same in both treatments. Saplings originating from dry provenance had a significantly higher LDMC and LMA than saplings from wet provenance. Research has shown that different phosphorus concentrations have different effects on the functional traits leaves depending on the species and provenance.

Croatia, Fagus sylvatica, LDMC, LMA, provenance, Quercus petraea

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