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Browsing by Author "Tyree, Michael Christopher"

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    Genetics by Nutrient Availability Interactions on Short-term Carbon Pools and Fluxes in Young Pinus taeda Plantations
    Tyree, Michael Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2008-09-11)
    The objective of this research was to determine how genetics and nutrient availability influence C cycling in intensively managed southern pine forests. This work consisted of a two year field and a complimentary one year greenhouse study each split into above- and below-ground pools and fluxes. Both the greenhouse and field experiment showed differences between contrasting genotypes in gas exchange parameters and C partitioning patterns, but genetic by nutrient availability interactions were only observed in the field. In the field study, some genotypes were better able to tolerate nutrient limitations due to more favorable canopy architecture and lower N demand. Our results clearly show that contrasting ideotypes have the potential to respond differently to differences in nutrient availability in terms of biomass partitioning, leaf physiology, and leaf biochemistry (Chapter 3). Both experiments showed short-term improvements to soil physical and chemical properties, which have been shown to correlate with higher site quality. In both the greenhouse and field experiment, we concluded that increased C loss by way of total soil CO₂ efflux (FS) made up only a small percent total C incorporated as LR. Short-term results led us to conclude that combining LR treatments and planting of genotypes with low nutrient demand or high nutrient use efficiency may increase soil organic matter (SOM) while avoiding loss of stem volume from nutrient immobilization. Data from our field study showed a strong genotype by soil amendment interaction for FS over all sampling dates with the relative importance of contributing factors (heterotrophic or root respiration) also changing (Chapter 5). Overall, logging residue incorporation increased total system C gain per ha more than did fertilization alone, but there were differences between genotypes planted (Chapter 6). Data from the field experiment show that although LR incorporation did not decrease overall net primary productivity, it did decrease biomass partitioning to merchantable products (main stem) depending on genotype. These data underline the importance of matching appropriate genotypes to specific site conditions and silvicultural prescriptions.
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    The Short-term Effects of Fertilization on Total Soil CO2 Efflux, Heterotrophic, and Autotrophic Respiration of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.)
    Tyree, Michael Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2005-08-26)
    Fertilization is a common, cost effective treatment for increasing forest productivity within managed forests of the southeastern United States. However, little is known about how fertilization affects the below-ground processes that drive soil CO2 efflux in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). A thorough understanding of below-ground carbon dynamics is necessary for the estimation of net ecosystem productivity and the carbon storage potential of these managed systems. In April 2004, we began monitoring total soil CO2 efflux (EC), heterotrophic (RH), and root respiration (RR) in response to fertilization with diammonium phosphate (DAP). Respiratory components were measured prior to fertilization, weekly following fertilization, and bi-weekly after respiratory components stabilized using a dynamic closed chamber and an infrared gas analyzer. We found that EC differed significantly (P<0.0001) between fertilized and unfertilized plots, but the direction was dependent on date. In the early period of the study, fertilized plot values were lower than control plots. However, by the latter periods fertilized plot values returned to control levels except for one sampling date in March 2005 when fertilized plot values were greater then control plots. Heterotrophic respiration was consistently and significantly (P=0.0002) lower in fertilized plots. Root respiration was significantly (P=0.0597) increased in fertilized plots when analyzed over the study and showed a 20% increase due to fertilization. We concluded that an increase in RR and possibly root biomass was enough to balance the decrease in RH leading to no difference in EC later in the growing season. We performed a pair of greenhouse studies to observe the effects of fertilization in the form of diammonium phosphate (DAP) on RR. The objectives were to determine how nutrient additions initially affect RR in one-year-old loblolly pine seedlings. Secondly, we wanted to determine if Captan [N-(trichloromethylthio) cyclohex-4-ene-1, 2-dicarboximide], a mild fungicide, could be used to reduce or eliminate ecto-mycorrhizae upon visual inspection. Both studies showed that initially, at a high rate (100 ppm N and 49 ppm P) of fertilization, RR was significantly (P<0.10) increased relative to seedlings that did not receive fertilization. This increase was only temporary with rates returning to, or decreasing below, control levels by the end of the study. No consistent trend was found between low (25 ppm N and 13 ppm P) and moderate (50 ppm N and 25 ppm P) rates of fertilization. Captan was shown to generally have no affect on RR. Captan and fertilization both showed (visual inspection) a decrease in fine-roots and mycorrhizae, which could explain the reduction in respiration rates observed in these treatments by the end of the studies.