Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)
We examined the effects of drought-induced stress on foliar litter production, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) over a two-year period (October 2015–September 2017) in southern Bavaria. A rainfall exclu...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Matthias Ulbricht Peter Biber Thomas Rötzer Enno Uhl Karin Pritsch Bernhard Michalke Hans Pretzsch |
| author_facet | Matthias Ulbricht Peter Biber Thomas Rötzer Enno Uhl Karin Pritsch Bernhard Michalke Hans Pretzsch |
| author_sort | Matthias Ulbricht |
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| description | We examined the effects of drought-induced stress on foliar litter production, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) over a two-year period (October 2015–September 2017) in southern Bavaria. A rainfall exclusion experiment was conducted with six control plots receiving normal rainfall and six roof plots excluding rainfall. Abscised leaf and needle biomass, as well as the contents and masses of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), were monitored across two non-vegetation periods (October–February: NV1, NV2) and two vegetation periods (March–September: V1, V2).Foliar litter on control plots (set at 100 %) was 4000, 329, 4501, 403 kg/ha for European beech and 3534, 1146, 1352, 607 kg/ha for Norway spruce across the four observation periods (NV1, V1, NV2, V2). Roof plots yielded 2917 (73 %), 364 (111 %), 3710 (82 %), 358 (89 %) kg/ha for European beech and 5841 (165 %), 1040 (91 %), 899 (67 %), 447 (74 %) kg/ha for Norway spruce. Significant differences between control and roof plots were observed only during NV1.Foliar K contents were significantly lower under drought in both species. For European beech, values were 2.83, 3.83, 2.76, 4.37 g/kg (control plots), compared to 2.38 (84 %), 3.08 (80 %), 2.30 (83 %), 4.01 (92 %) g/kg (roof plots). For Norway spruce, values were 2.64, 2.77, 2.51, 2.13 g/kg (control plots), compared to 2.26 (86 %), 2.33 (84 %), 2.01 (80 %), 1.66 (78 %) g/kg (roof plots). Drought also significantly decreased foliar Ca content in Norway spruce during NV2, from 8.61 to 7.04 g/kg (82 %).Foliar nutrient masses aligned more closely with biomass abscission patterns than with nutrient translocation patterns. European beech predominantly exhibited significantly reduced abscised nutrient masses under drought during NV1 and NV2, while Norway spruce initially showed significantly increased abscised nutrient masses in NV1, followed by a marked decline in subsequent seasons.We concluded that European beech responded to drought stress by reducing foliage biomass production, suggesting a potential acclimation strategy, whereas Norway spruce mitigated water loss through transpiration by shedding its needles. However, Norway spruce failed to compensate for the initial high needle losses by regenerating sufficient new needles, indicating its lower resilience to drought. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-056f8de3c5f74b919da883dd59da070f2025-08-20T02:28:26ZengElsevierTrees, Forests and People2666-71932025-06-012010085110.1016/j.tfp.2025.100851Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)Matthias Ulbricht0Peter Biber1Thomas Rötzer2Enno Uhl3Karin Pritsch4Bernhard Michalke5Hans Pretzsch6Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, TU Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Corresponding author at: Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany.Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, TU Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyChair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, TU Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyBavarian State Institute of Forestry (LWF), Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 1, 85354 Freising, GermanyResearch Unit for Environmental Simulation, Helmholtz Center Munich, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, GermanyResearch Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Center Munich, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, GermanyChair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, TU Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyWe examined the effects of drought-induced stress on foliar litter production, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) over a two-year period (October 2015–September 2017) in southern Bavaria. A rainfall exclusion experiment was conducted with six control plots receiving normal rainfall and six roof plots excluding rainfall. Abscised leaf and needle biomass, as well as the contents and masses of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), were monitored across two non-vegetation periods (October–February: NV1, NV2) and two vegetation periods (March–September: V1, V2).Foliar litter on control plots (set at 100 %) was 4000, 329, 4501, 403 kg/ha for European beech and 3534, 1146, 1352, 607 kg/ha for Norway spruce across the four observation periods (NV1, V1, NV2, V2). Roof plots yielded 2917 (73 %), 364 (111 %), 3710 (82 %), 358 (89 %) kg/ha for European beech and 5841 (165 %), 1040 (91 %), 899 (67 %), 447 (74 %) kg/ha for Norway spruce. Significant differences between control and roof plots were observed only during NV1.Foliar K contents were significantly lower under drought in both species. For European beech, values were 2.83, 3.83, 2.76, 4.37 g/kg (control plots), compared to 2.38 (84 %), 3.08 (80 %), 2.30 (83 %), 4.01 (92 %) g/kg (roof plots). For Norway spruce, values were 2.64, 2.77, 2.51, 2.13 g/kg (control plots), compared to 2.26 (86 %), 2.33 (84 %), 2.01 (80 %), 1.66 (78 %) g/kg (roof plots). Drought also significantly decreased foliar Ca content in Norway spruce during NV2, from 8.61 to 7.04 g/kg (82 %).Foliar nutrient masses aligned more closely with biomass abscission patterns than with nutrient translocation patterns. European beech predominantly exhibited significantly reduced abscised nutrient masses under drought during NV1 and NV2, while Norway spruce initially showed significantly increased abscised nutrient masses in NV1, followed by a marked decline in subsequent seasons.We concluded that European beech responded to drought stress by reducing foliage biomass production, suggesting a potential acclimation strategy, whereas Norway spruce mitigated water loss through transpiration by shedding its needles. However, Norway spruce failed to compensate for the initial high needle losses by regenerating sufficient new needles, indicating its lower resilience to drought.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000779Drought stressLeaf biomassNeedle biomassFoliar litterNutrient massNutrient content |
| spellingShingle | Matthias Ulbricht Peter Biber Thomas Rötzer Enno Uhl Karin Pritsch Bernhard Michalke Hans Pretzsch Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) Trees, Forests and People Drought stress Leaf biomass Needle biomass Foliar litter Nutrient mass Nutrient content |
| title | Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) |
| title_full | Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) |
| title_fullStr | Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) |
| title_short | Artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall, nutrient contents, and nutrient masses in mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) |
| title_sort | artificially induced drought stress affects seasonal foliar litterfall nutrient contents and nutrient masses in mature european beech fagus sylvatica l and norway spruce picea abies l karst |
| topic | Drought stress Leaf biomass Needle biomass Foliar litter Nutrient mass Nutrient content |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719325000779 |
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