Growth and nutrition of black spruce seedlings in pot culture: Effect of nutrient loading, fertilization and interplanting.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 79
ISBN-13: 9780494161364
Description: The importance of nutrient loading to improve early performance of tree seedlings is well established. However, the potentiality of nutrient loading has only been examined in monoculture. I examined the nutrient loading effects on early performance of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) seedlings in pure and mixed plantings with white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings on a fertility gradient. Seedlings were planted in soil bioassays from a mixed wood boreal site and grown for one season in a greenhouse. Fertilization increased height, dry mass and N uptake. Response of loaded seedlings was superior than that of non-loaded seedlings. In contrast interplanting reduced black spruce growth somewhat because of competition from companion species. Study results confirmed the importance of nutrient loading as an immediate nutrient source for seedlings, and suggest that fertilization prior to outplanting may benefit initial plantation establishment.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-06, page: 2671.

Thesis (M.Sc.F.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

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