Potassium, phosphorus, or nitrogen limit root allocation, tree growth, or litter production in a lowland tropical forest

Ecology. 2011 Aug;92(8):1616-25. doi: 10.1890/10-1558.1.

Abstract

We maintained a factorial nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) addition experiment for 11 years in a humid lowland forest growing on a relatively fertile soil in Panama to evaluate potential nutrient limitation of tree growth rates, fine-litter production, and fine-root biomass. We replicated the eight factorial treatments four times using 32 plots of 40 x 40 m each. The addition of K was associated with significant decreases in stand-level fine-root biomass and, in a companion study of seedlings, decreases in allocation to roots and increases in height growth rates. The addition of K and N together was associated with significant increases in growth rates of saplings and poles (1-10 cm in diameter at breast height) and a further marginally significant decrease in stand-level fine-root biomass. The addition of P was associated with a marginally significant (P = 0.058) increase in fine-litter production that was consistent across all litter fractions. Our experiment provides evidence that N, P, and K all limit forest plants growing on a relatively fertile soil in the lowland tropics, with the strongest evidence for limitation by K among seedlings, saplings, and poles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ecosystem*
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Nitrogen / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Phosphorus / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / growth & development*
  • Potassium / chemistry
  • Potassium / pharmacology*
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Trees / drug effects
  • Trees / growth & development*
  • Tropical Climate

Substances

  • Soil
  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen
  • Potassium