Soil nutrients influence growth response of temperate tree species to drought

Soil properties can buffer forest response to global climate change. However, it is unclear how soil characteristics, water availability and their interactions can affect drought response of trees. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of soil nutrients and physical soil properties on the growth sensitivity of Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Abies alba, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris to drought in Central Europe. Yearly growth data from increment cores were obtained from 539 trees and combined with forest inventory and soil data at 52 sites covering a large gradient of water availability and C/N ratios in soil. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the species-specific growth responses to climate and soil properties for the period 1957–2006. The growth of the species was further projected across the full range of C/N and water availability observed at 1029 sites where soil and species cover-abundance data were available. Temperature, water and ...