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. 2019 Apr 18;9:6296. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42709-6

Table 5.

Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between N or P content in live fine root mass and selected abiotic and biotic factors, across all genotypes and for each genotype, in 14 year-old hybrid poplar plantations.

Factors correlated to N content (kg/ha) in live fine root biomass r P-value Factors correlated to P content (kg/ha) in live fine root biomass r P-value
Across all genotypes (n = 27) Across all genotypes (n = 27)
Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.97 <0.0001 Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.74 <0.0001
Leaf litter P (%) −0.62 0.0005 Leaf litter N (%) −0.53 0.005
Leaf Litter N (%) −0.57 0.002 Leaf litter P (%) −0.40 0.04
Soil base saturation (%) −0.50 0.008 Genotype DN × M (n = 9)
Soil CEC (meq/100 g) −0.50 0.008 Soil clay content (%) 0.83 0.006
Soil NO3 supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) −0.49 0.009 Soil Ca supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) 0.71 0.03
Leaf litter mass remaining after 1 yr (%) 0.48 0.01 Soil P supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) 0.70 0.04
Site elevation (m) 0.47 0.01 Leaf litter P (%) 0.70 0.04
Soil clay content (%) −0.46 0.01 Genotype D × N (n = 9)
Soil bulk density (g/cm3) −0.46 0.02 Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.85 0.004
Soil sand content (%) 0.46 0.02 Soil silt content (%) 0.75 0.02
Soil pH −0.46 0.02 Soil sand content (%) −0.68 0.04
Soil C:N ratio 0.43 0.02 Genotype M × B (n = 9)
Genotype DN × M (n = 9) Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.95 0.0001
Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.88 0.002 Leaf litter N (%) −0.77 0.02
Genotype D × N (n = 9) Soil CEC (meq/100 g) −0.77 0.02
Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.98 <0.0001 Soil pH −0.77 0.02
Leaf litter mass remaining after 1 yr (%) 0.79 0.01 Soil base saturation (%) −0.73 0.03
Site elevation (m) 0.76 0.02 Soil NO3 supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) −0.70 0.04
Soil NO3 supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) −0.66 0.05 Soil NH4 supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) 0.70 0.04
Genotype M × B (n = 9) Site elevation (m) 0.67 0.05
Live fine root mass (kg/ha) 0.99 <0.0001 Leaf litter P (%) −0.67 0.05
Leaf litter P (%) −0.85 0.004 Soil sand content (%) 0.66 0.05
Soil sand content (%) 0.82 0.007
Leaf litter N (%) −0.80 0.009
Soil base saturation (%) −0.74 0.02
Soil C:N ratio 0.72 0.03
Soil CEC (meq/100 g) −0.71 0.03
Leaf litter Ca (%) 0.71 0.03
Soil clay content (%) −0.69 0.04
Soil P supply (µg/10 cm2/42d) −0.67 0.05
Soil NO3 (µg/10 cm2/42d) −0.66 0.05

Only correlations with p ≤ 0.05 are shown. Mean values of N and P content in live fine root mass and of soil nutrient supply rate (across 3 sampling periods) were used in the analysis.