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Can the drought tolerance of Norway spruce and European beech be improved through liming?

concluded 02/2019

Abstract

Liming has been implemented in many federal states in Germany since the 1980s. The main goal of liming is to stop the decrease in soil quality caused by acid deposition. Through liming the acid buffer capacity is improved and thus, it is expected to restore forest soils in the long run. Such measures might lead to higher nutrient availability for trees, more favorable types of humus in forest floor, higher amounts of humus in the mineral soil, and to deeper root penetration. As a result, the drought tolerance of forests might also be lastingly improved by liming.

However, it was neither studied in Baden-Wuerttemberg nor in any other regions, to which extent the reiterated application of lime or dolomite to forest soils actually improves the drought tolerance of trees. Therefore, this project investigates in cooperation with the Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg (FVA) the impact of repeated, decades-long liming on growth reactions of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica). Here, radial growth of the trees is analyzed retrospectively for the last 30 years. This methodological approach allows an examination of both drought events shortly after first liming (short-term effect) and posterior drought events (long-term effects).

If an increase of the drought tolerance of forest trees due to liming can be observed, statistical models will be developed to predict for which time period and amount of applied lime or dolomite a stabilizing effect on drought tolerance of the studied tree species can be expected. Results of this study will contribute to an enhanced assessment of future risks and potentials of the cultivation of spruce and beech under the climatic conditions expected in future.

 

Supervision:Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus, Dr. Martin Kohler
Researcher:Jörg Kunz
Funding:KLIMOPASS (Ministerium für Umwelt, Klima und Energiewirtschaft Baden-Württemberg)
Duration:01.04.2017 – 30.11.2018

 

 

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