Nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation of tree growth in northern hardwood forests.

ABSTRACT: Nutrient limitation of forest growth has been difficult to predict, and in temperate forests, long-term tests of single-nutrient versus multiple-element limitation are few. Nutrient co-limitation is the expected outcome of the ability of plants to adjust allocation to minimize limitation by any single resource. Nutrient limitation of productivity in northern hardwood forests was predicted by the Multiple Element Limitation (MEL) model to shift over time since harvest from single limitation by N to P at ~30 years and then, in mature forests, to co-limitation by N and P. Our work tested those predictions for tree growth in a fully factorial N and P addition experiment in 13 forest stands that we grouped in young (20-30 years), mid-age (40-50 years), and mature (>100 years old) age classes in

SUBMITTER: Blumenthal NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501703 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature