RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 61, Number 2 (2018) → The Nutrition of Loblolly Pine Seedlings Exhibits Both Positive (Soil) and Negative (Foliage) Correlations with Seedling Mass

The Nutrition of Loblolly Pine Seedlings Exhibits Both Positive (Soil) and Negative (Foliage) Correlations with Seedling Mass

Sulfur and lime experiments at a sandy nursery in Texas detected no significant rate effect on height, root-collar diameter, or seedling mass of 1-0 loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings. Location of replications, however, had a large effect (P < 0.001) on seedling growth, which was related to nutrient levels in the soil. Positive correlations occurred between seedling height and the level of four macronutrients and three micronutrients in the soil. In contrast, due to carbohydrate dilution, negative correlations occurred between seedling mass and concentrations of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) in needles. Height of seedlings at time of lifting was negatively related to foliar levels of aluminum and five other nutrients. In this study, low levels of organic matter (0.5 to 0.8 percent) and low levels of cation exchange capacity (0.9 to 1.9 meq 100 g–1) were not correlated with seedling morphology. It appears that applied fertilizers and inherent levels of soil nutrients affect seedling growth more than soil pH (3.6 to 6.3) or small changes in organic matter.


Download this file:

PDF document Download this file — PDF document, 1945Kb

Details

Author(s): David B. South, Ryan L. Nadel, Scott A. Enebak, Gene Bickerstaff

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 61, Number 2 (2018)

Volume: 61

Number: 2