THE EFFECT OF WATER-TABLE DEPTH ON WHITE SPRUCE (PICEA-GLAUCA) SEEDLING GROWTH IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MARSH REED GRASS (CALAMAGROSTIS-CANADENSIS) ON WET MINERAL SOIL

All spruce seedlings grown alone survived, whereas 16.7% of the trees died when grown with reed grass. Root weight and total weight of spruce seedlings and marsh reed grass increased as the water table decreased. Over 80% of the roots by weight for both species were found in the upper 10 cm of the soil profile regardless of water table depth. The nutrient concentration of the white spruce foliage was significantly affected by water table depths and the presence of grass. -from Authors