JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 53-60.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.201909002

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Effects of slow-release fertilization rates on seedling quality and field survival rates of four exotic oaks

WEI Ning1(), LI Guolei1,*(), CAI Mengxue1, SHI Wenhui2, LIU Wen3, XUE Liu3, LI Jinyu4   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University,Hangzhou 311300, China
    3. Xishan Experimental Forest Farm of Beijing, Beijing 100093, China
    4. Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture, Beijing 100102, China
  • Received:2019-09-02 Revised:2020-04-08 Online:2021-05-30 Published:2021-05-31
  • Contact: LI Guolei E-mail:wning9556@163.com;glli226@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】Oaks are widely distributed species which have high ornamental values. This study analyzes the effects of nitrogen rates on seedling growth, nutrient storage, non-structural carbon (NSC) content, and survival rates of four exotic oaks seedlings to explore the optimum nitrogen rate. These information is important for cultivating high quality seedlings of these four oaks. 【Method】 During the first growing season, Quercus robur, Q. coccinea, Q. rubra, Q. palustris seedlings were produced by applying five N fertilization application rates (25, 100, 150, 200 and 400 mg per seedling) by using a slow-release fertilizer. Seedling height, root-collar diameter (RCD), biomass, nutrient content and NSC content were measured at the end of the first growing season. At the beginning of the second growing season, seedlings were transplanted into the field and the survival rate was measured one year later. 【Result】 The height, RCD, biomass, nutrient content, starch content, and soluble sugar content of Q. robur seedlings reached a maximum with 200 mg per seedling applied, while the seedling biomass reduced with 400 mg per seedling applied. For Q. coccinea, height, RCD, biomass and soluble sugar content reached highest values with 150 mg per seedling applied while the nutrient content and starch content reached highest values with 200 mg per seedling applied. For Q. rubra, the nutrient content increased with the increasing of N applied and no significant difference showed in height, RCD, biomass and NSC content. For Q. palustris, RCD content increased significantly with the increasing of the fertilization rate. Height and biomass had no longer increase when N applied more than 100 mg per seedling. The nutrient content increased significantly among the fertilization treatments and no significant difference showed in NSC content. One year after transplantation, the highest survival rates of Q. palustris, Q. coccinea, Q. robur and Q. rubra were 95.0%, 30.0%, 55.0%, and 45.0%, respectively. 【Conclusion】 Based on the results at the first growing season, the optimum N rate for Q. robur one-year-old container seedling is 200 mg per seedling, while 150-200 mg per seedling for Q. coccinea. For Q. rubra and Q. palustris, the optimum N rates are higher than 400 mg per seedling. The survival rates of the four species were not affected by the fertilization treatments.

Key words: Quercus robur, Q. coccinea, Q. rubra, Q. palustris, slow-release fertilizer, seedling quality, survival rate

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