Whole-tree biomass and carbon allocation of juvenile trees of loblolly pine (Pinustaeda): influence of genetics and fertilization

To assess the contribution of belowground biomass allocation towards total carbon (C) allocation of two provenances of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), we examined the total biomass allocation of a fast- and slow-growing family from each provenance. Since planting on a xeric, infertile site in Scotland County, N.C., U.S.A., trees in this study have been subjected to one of two nutrient treatments: optimal nutrition or control (no fertilization). Total biomass of 24 (1 tree/family plot × 2 families × 2 provenances × 2 treatments × 3 blocks) 5-year-old (juvenile) trees was harvested in January 1998. Fertilization increased total root, total shoot, and total tree biomass in all families as compared with harvested trees in control plots. Fertilization also increased biomass of coarse-root, woody-root, taproot, stem, branch, and foliar components of families as compared with trees in control plots. Although there were treatment and family differences in standing-crop biomass of the total root, total shoot, total tree, and various individual root and shoot components, the percent biomass (whole-tree) allocation to these tissues remained similar across treatments. Total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) analysis indicated some treatment, family, and provenance differences in TNC concentrations and partitioning to starch and soluble sugars. At the time of harvest, TNC concentrations of belowground tissues were much higher than those of aboveground tissues, and enhanced partitioning towards starch in root tissues indicates an important C storage role for belowground tissues at this time. Indeed, more than 90% of the trees starch content was present in root tissue in January. Although constrained by a sample size of three harvested trees per family, this study suggests that biomass allocation on a whole-tree level was similar between fast- and slow-growing families of different provenances of juvenile loblolly pine and was not affected by fertilizer treatment.