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The Effect of Multi-nutrient fertilization on Understory Plant Diversity Item Info

This study examined multi-nutrient fertilization effects on understory vegetation diversity at eight forested locations in the inland Northwest. Percent canopy covered by understory plant species of three growth forms (shrubs, forbs, grasses) and total understory were determined over a two year period following treatment. Two diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson's index) were used to quantify multi-nutrient fertilization effects on understory plant diversity. Multi-nutrient fertilization prescribed to increase overstory tree growth did not typically reduce understory vegetation diversity, rather diversity increased following fertilization on some sites. Understory composition at the time of treatment greatly determined fertilizalion effects on diversiry as follows: 1) if most species in the plant community responded relatively the same after treatment then diversity was unchanged even though total biomass increase may have been large; 2) if a highly responsive species was abundant prior to treatment. then diversity decreased following fertilization; and 3) if a highly responsive species was relatively rare prior to treatment, then diversity increased following fertilization. Multi-nutrient forest fertilization generally did not affect understory plant diversity, but where changes did occur diversity increases were more common than decreases.

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Title:
The Effect of Multi-nutrient fertilization on Understory Plant Diversity
Creator:
VanderSchaaf, C.L.; Moore, J.A.; Kingery, J.L.
Date Created (ISO Standard):
2000-08-10
Description:
This study examined multi-nutrient fertilization effects on understory vegetation diversity at eight forested locations in the inland Northwest. Percent canopy covered by understory plant species of three growth forms (shrubs, forbs, grasses) and total understory were determined over a two year period following treatment. Two diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson's index) were used to quantify multi-nutrient fertilization effects on understory plant diversity. Multi-nutrient fertilization prescribed to increase overstory tree growth did not typically reduce understory vegetation diversity, rather diversity increased following fertilization on some sites. Understory composition at the time of treatment greatly determined fertilizalion effects on diversiry as follows: 1) if most species in the plant community responded relatively the same after treatment then diversity was unchanged even though total biomass increase may have been large; 2) if a highly responsive species was abundant prior to treatment. then diversity decreased following fertilization; and 3) if a highly responsive species was relatively rare prior to treatment, then diversity increased following fertilization. Multi-nutrient forest fertilization generally did not affect understory plant diversity, but where changes did occur diversity increases were more common than decreases.
Subjects:
research (document genres) shrubs grasses (plants) fertilizer statistics
Location:
North and Central Idaho; Eastern Washington; Western Montana; Northeastern Oregon
Publisher:
Northwest Science Association
Source:
VanderSchaaf, C.L., J.A. Moore and J.L. Kingery. 2000. The Effects of Multi-Nutrient Fertilization on Understory Plant Diversity. Northwest Science. 74(4): 316-324.
Source Identifier:
The_Effect_of_Multi-Nutrient_Fertilization_on_Understory_Plant_Diversity_NWS_074_004_2000
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Language:
eng

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Preferred Citation:
"The Effect of Multi-nutrient fertilization on Understory Plant Diversity", Idaho Forestry Research Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/forestryresearch/items/forestryresearch926.html
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