Spatial relationships between nitrogen status and pitch canker disease in slash pine planted adjacent to a poultry operation

Environ Pollut. 2007 May;147(1):101-11. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.08.025. Epub 2006 Oct 16.

Abstract

Pitch canker disease (Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell) causes serious shoot dieback, reduced growth and mortality in pines found in the southern and western USA, and has been linked to nutrient imbalances. Poultry houses with forced-air ventilation systems produce nitrogen (N) emissions. This study analyzed spatial correlations between pitch canker disease and foliar, forest floor, soil, and throughfall N in a slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) plantation adjacent to a poultry operation in north Florida, USA. Tissue and throughfall N concentrations were highest near the poultry houses and remained elevated for 400 m. Disease incidence ranged from 57-71% near the poultry houses and was spatially correlated with N levels. Similarly, stem mortality ranged from 41-53% in the most heavily impacted area, and declined to 0-9% at distances greater than 400 m. These results suggest that nutritional processes exacerbate changes in disease susceptibility and expression in slash pine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / analysis
  • Animals
  • Environmental Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis
  • Environmental Pollutants / metabolism
  • Forestry*
  • Fusarium
  • Mycorrhizae
  • Mycoses / metabolism*
  • Nitrogen / adverse effects*
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Pinus / microbiology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / metabolism
  • Poultry*
  • Soil / analysis

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Soil
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrogen