0000000000347462
AUTHOR
Outi H. Manninen
Individual and combined effects of disturbance and N addition on understorey vegetation in a subarctic mountain birch forest
Questions: What are the effects of repeated disturbance and N-fertilization on plant community structure in a mountain birch forest? What is the role of enhanced nutrient availability in recovery of understorey vegetation after repeated disturbance? How are responses of soil micro-organisms to disturbance and N-fertilization reflected in nutrient allocation patterns and recovery of understorey vegetation after disturbance? Location: Subarctic mountain birch forest, Finland. Methods: We conducted a fully factorial experiment with annual treatments of disturbance (two levels) and N-fertilization (four levels) during 1998‐2002. We monitored treatment effects on above-ground plant biomass, plan…
Understorey plant and soil responses to disturbance and increased nitrogen in boreal forests
Question: How do N fertilization and disturbance affect the understorey vegetation, microbial properties and soil nutrient concentration in boreal forests? Location: Kuusamo (66°22′N; 29°18′E) and Oulu (65°02′N; 25°47′E) in northern Finland. Methods: We conducted a fully factorial experiment with three factors: site (two levels), N fertilization (four levels) and disturbance (two levels). We measured treatment effects on understorey biomass, vegetation structure, and plant, soil and microbial N and C concentrations. Results: The understorey biomass was not affected by fertilization either in the control or in the disturbance treatment. Fertilization reduced the biomass of deciduous Vacciniu…