Abstract

Vaccinium myrtillus L. ground vegetation in boreal forests reduces tree seedling survival and growth. We studied below-and above-ground competition and phytotoxicity of V. myrtillus on transplanted Picea abies (L.) Karat. seedlings in a 3-year full factorial field experiment. Exclusion tubes were used to reduce and selectively test for belowground competition by V. myrtillus. Shoots of V. myrtillus were folded back to reduce aboveground competition. Reduced belowground competition by V. myrtillus increased P. abies current-year shoot length, shoot and root biomass, seedling nutrient concentration, and mycorrhizal colonization. Reduced aboveground competition affected P. abies seedling root biomass positively whereas seedling survival, shoot length, and shoot/root ratio were negatively affected Addition of activated carbon to the soil surface to reduce the effect of possible phytotoxic leachates from V. myrtillus leaves and litter had no effects on P. abies seedling survival and growth. No significant interactions among treatments were found. We conclude that suppressed growth of P. abies seedlings in V. myrtillus sites of northern boreal forests is caused mainly by belowground resource competition.

Published in

Canadian Journal of Forest Research
1997, Volume: 27, number: 12, pages: 2017-2025
Publisher: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING

SLU Authors

• Jäderlund, Anders

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Zackrisson, Olle

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte

  • Department of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-27-12-2017

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/115278