Project Details
Projekt
Interaction between phosphorus heterogeneity patterns in silicate and calcareous soils and root architecture, P nutrition, and growth of European Beech and Norway spruce
Applicant
Professor Dr. Jörg Prietzel
Subject Area
Soil Sciences
Forestry
Forestry
Term
from 2013 to 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 240711204
Based on and supplementing results obtained for soils on silicate parent material in the previous project, in the proposed follow-up project spatial heterogeneity patterns of total P contents and different P forms in calcareous soils (parent materials: limestone, dolostone) and the most relevant influencing soil variables and other environmental factors (rooting patterns, of advancing pedogenesis) on shall be investigated for different spatial scales, ranging from the submicron to the profile scale. Different P forms shall be quantified by combination of wet-chemical digestion and extraction methods with modern analytical techniques, such as synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy and spectromicroscopy, spatially resolving secondary ion spectrometry at the nano scale (NanoSIMS). Additionally, we will investigate interrelations and interactions between P heterogeneity patterns (total P, different P forms) in silicate and calcareous soils and biotic systems (European beech [Fagus sylvatica] and Norway spruce [Picea abies] seedlings and associated microorganism communities) at the submicron and at the profile scale in two experiments. Interactions between soil P heterogeneity patterns at the (sub)micron scale on one hand and growth and P nutrition of Picea abies seedlings during initial seedling development (0-30 days after germination) on the other will be investigated in a replicated laboratory experiment with defined initial mixtures of P-enriched minerals which are typical for silicate and calcareous soils, respectively. Changes of soil P heterogeneity patterns during seedling development shall be studied by NanoSIMS , P K-edge XANES and wet-chemical methods. Interactions between soil P hetereogeneity patterns at the profile scale and growth, P nutrition, and rooting patterns of Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica seedlings advanced seedling development (1-3 years after germination) will be investigated in two field experiments on silicate (SPP site Mitterfels) and a calcareous soil (new SPP site Achenpass). In both field experiments, four variants, each with four replicates, which are characterized by different, well-defined soil P heterogeneity patterns, can be compared with each other. The soil P heterogeneity patterns were created by artificial enrichment of distinct soil patches either with total P or with a particular P species and subsequent reconstruction of the original soil horizon pattern. Changes of soil P heterogeneity patterns shall be studied by combined utilization of wet-chemical P fractionation methods, NanoSIMS and P K-edge XANES. We expect that our results will substantially contribute to reduce current knowledge deficits concerning (i) P heterogeneity patterns of calcareous soils and their changes with pedogenesis, as well as (ii) interrelations and interactions between soil P heterogeneity patterns, forest ecosystem nutrition strategies, tree P nutrition, and tree growth on silicate and on calcareous sites.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
