Phosphorus supply and cycling at long-term forest monitoring sites in Germany

Berlin

Springer

2009

S. 483-492

4 Abb., 3 Tab., 35 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200159369

European Journal of Forest Research 2009, 128(5), S. 483-492

In this study, the supply and input–output balances of phosphorus (P) were investigated for a 10-year-period at 85 long-term monitoring sites in German forest ecosystems under the European Level II programme. These sites encompass 23 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands, 9 oak stands comprised of common oak (Quercus robur L.) and/or sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.), 20 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and 33 Norway spruce (Picea abies H.Karst.) stands. We quantified P concentrations in needles and leaves, P inputs from the atmosphere, P outputs through leaching and harvesting, and total P in the soil and humus layers. The P concentrations in European beech leaves from two sites (>1 mg P g−1 dry weight), and in Norway spruce needles from four sites (>1.2 mg P g−1 dry weight), were deficient over several years. In contrast, the oak and Scots pine sites were well supplied with P. When P removal through harvesting was disregarded, P balances were positive or stable (median 0.21 kg P ha−1 a−1). With harvesting, balances were mostly negative (median −0.35 kg P ha−1 a−1), with long-term P removal from the forest ecosystems.