No evidence of carbon limitation with tree age and height in Nothofagus pumilio under Mediterranean and temperate climate conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Trees universally decrease their growth with age. Most explanations for this trend so far support the hypothesis that carbon (C) gain becomes limited with age; though very few studies have directly assessed the relative reductions of C gain and C demand with tree age. It has also been suggested that drought enhances the effect of C gain limitation in trees. Here tests were carried out to determine whether C gain limitation is causing the growth decay with tree age, and whether drought accentuates its effect.

Methods

The balance between C gain and C demand across tree age and height ranges was estimated. For this, the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in stems and roots of trees of different ages and heights was measured in the deciduous

SUBMITTER: Piper FI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3177673 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature