Above- and below-ground growth of white spruce seedlings with roots divided into different substrates with or without controlled-release fertilizer

Thirty-two one-year-old white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were grown outdoors for one season in 35 L pots buried in the soil. The pots were vertically split in half. One compartment (mineral) was filled with loamy sand. The bottom of the other compartment (organic) was filled with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 1999-01, Vol.217 (1-2), p.131-143
Main Authors: Krasowski, M.J. (British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Prince George, B.C. (Canada). Red Rock Research Station), Owens, J.N, Tackaberry, L.E, Massicotte, H.B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABONOS
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
Cenococcum
Containers
CONTROLLED RELEASE
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
ENGRAIS
FERTILIZERS
Foliage
Forest soils
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods
GROWTH
Leaves
LIBERACION CONTROLADA
LIBERATION CONTROLEE
Minerals
Nutrient content
NUTRIENTES
NUTRIENTS
Organic fertilizers
Organic soils
Peat
PICEA GLAUCA
Plant growth
Plant roots
Planting
PLANTULAS
PLANTULE
RACINE
RAICES
Root systems
ROOTS
Sand
SEEDLINGS
Soil fertility
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
SUBSTANCE NUTRITIVE
Substrates
Surface area
Trees
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Summary:Thirty-two one-year-old white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were grown outdoors for one season in 35 L pots buried in the soil. The pots were vertically split in half. One compartment (mineral) was filled with loamy sand. The bottom of the other compartment (organic) was filled with 10 cm sand topped with 15 cm of organic substrates. Two seedling types (16 seedlings each), (i) polystyroblock-grown and (ii) peat-board grown with mechanical root pruning had their root systems split approximately in half into each of the vertical compartments. Controlled-release (26-12-6 N-P-K) fertilizer was added to one or to none (control) of the compartments. Aboveground growth was positively affected by fertilizer placed in either soil compartmnent. Nutrient content of the foliage was greater in fertilized than in unfertilized seedlings; N and P concentrations were significantly increased. Bud reflushing occurred frequently in fertilized seedlings. Unfertilized container-grown seedlings had the fewest roots in either soil compartment. Unfertilized mechanically-pruned seedlings had significantly greater root length, root surface area, and more root tips in mineral than in organic compartments. They also had more P in currentyear leaves than did unfertilized container-grown seedlings. Fertilizer added to mineral compartments significantly affected root growth in these compartments only, whereas when added to organic compartments it affected root growth in both compartments. Root systems of the two seedling types were differently affected by fertilizer: in mechanically-pruned seedlings, the number of roots was reduced but their length and diameter increased; in container-grown seedlings, root proliferation was stimulated and this increased total root length and root surface area. Five ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were identified. E-strain was the most abundant. Except for Cenococcum, all morphotypes were present in nursery stock prior to planting. Changes in distribution of morphotypes after planting appeared related to root health condition rather than to applied fertilizer.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1023/A:1004604221074