Journal article

Publication year: 1991

Pages: 125-131

Journal: Oecologia

Volume number: 88

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0029-8549

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328412

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
The physiological activity and C and N allocation of beech seedlings planted in two different beech forest soils (acid brown earth, rendzina) were studied over 80 days. One adult earthworm Octolasion lacteum (Orley) was placed in half of the containers. Transpiration, CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll synthesis and N incorporation were higher in the acid brown earth than in the rendzina. Fine root production was also higher in the acid brown earth. Production of stems and total N incorporation were higher in the O. lacteum treatments than in the controls. Burrowing activity of O. lacteum did not affect total root production but stimulated the transfer of C and N towards aboveground parts of the plants and shifted the large root to fine root ratio towards large roots. O. lacteum effects were similar in both soils. It is concluded that endogeic earthworms significantly affect resource allocation patterns of beech seedlings over a wide range of soils. This effect can be partly explained by an increased availability of N in soils worked by earthworms.

Harvard Citation style: Wolters, V. and Stickan, W. (1991) Resource allocation of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) —relationship to earthworm activity and soil conditions, Oecologia, 88(1), pp. 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328412

APA Citation style: Wolters, V., & Stickan, W. (1991). Resource allocation of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) —relationship to earthworm activity and soil conditions. Oecologia. 88(1), 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328412