Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Nutrient Uptake By Intact And Disturbed Roots Of Loblolly Pine Seedlings, Melissa S. Lucash, Ruth D. Yanai, J. Devereux Joslin

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most measurements of nutrient uptake use either hydroponic systems or soil-grown roots that have been disturbed by excavation. The first objective of this study was to test how root excavation affects nitrate uptake. Rates of NO3− uptake by mycorrhizal loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings were measured in intact sand-filled columns, hydroponics, and disturbed sand-filled columns. Total nitrate uptake in intact sand-filled columns was higher than in disturbed columns, indicating that disturbance lowers uptake. Transferring plants from the sand-filled columns to hydroponics had little effect on NO3− uptake beyond delaying uptake for an hour. The second objective of this study …