JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 226-233.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202111008

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Response and association of the growth and nutrient traits of Pinus massoniana container seedlings to phosphorus addition and inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi

SUN Wei1(), WANG Bin2,*(), CHU Xiuli3, WANG Xiuhua4, ZHANG Dongbei4, WU Xiaolin4, ZHOU Zhichun2   

  1. 1. Linhai City Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Zhejiang Province, Linhai 317099, China
    2. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Masson Pine Engineering Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Hangzhou 311400, China
    3. Shanghai Botanical Garden, Shanghai 200231, China
    4. Qingyuan County Experimental Forest Farm of Zhejiang Province, Qingyuan 323800, China
  • Received:2021-11-03 Accepted:2022-02-22 Online:2023-01-30 Published:2023-02-01
  • Contact: WANG Bin E-mail:lhsunwei@163.com;ylwangbin@sina.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 The aim of this study was to determine the influence of varying phosphorus concentrations and mycorrhizal fungi on Pinus massoniana container seedlings.【Method】A split-plot experimental design was adopted. The main plot was the mycorrhizal fungi treatment with two treatment levels: inoculation and non-inoculation. The inoculation treatment involved placing 0.3 g of solid preparation made of vermiculite and Lactarius deliciosus mycelium suspension under the planting hole during sowing. The sub-plot was the phosphorus addition treatment, which set a P-based water-soluble fertilizerof seven treatment levels. The amount of phosphorus added ranged between 50 and 600 g/m3. From July to October, water-soluble fertilizers of different gradients were dissolved in water for 15 times at equal intervals, and then evenly sprayed on the seedlings. Once this was done, growth was analyzed in relation to N and P uptake, the use of phosphorus and mycorrhizal fungi. 【Result】 After inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi, compared with the non-inoculation treatment, the average seedling height, caliper, total biomass and root diameter of 1-year-old P. massoniana container seedlings increased by 9.87%, 3.35%, 41.50% and 12.41%, respectively, whereas nutrient indices such as N and P uptake and utilization index increased by 5.05%, 25.03%, 100.36% and 70.53%, respectively. The height-to-diameter ratio, total root length, and N and P contents decreased by 5.98%, 22.47%, 24.97%, and 11.26%, respectively. There were significant differences in growth and nutrient traits, except for seedling height and N uptake, before and after inoculation. Along with the increase in P content, the caliper and P uptake of the whole plant increased before and after inoculation, the height-diameter ratio decreased, and the N and P content of the whole plant initially increased and then decreased. For the caliper, total biomass, root diameter, P uptake of the whole plant, and N and P utilization index of different P addition gradients, the values of the inoculated treatment were greater than those of the non-inoculated treatment. As for the height-diameter ratio, total root length, and P content of the whole plant, the non-inoculated values were greater than the inoculated values. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and P addition had no significant interaction effect on the growth and nutrient traits of P. massoniana container seedlings. After inoculation, the growth traits of P. massoniana container seedlings were more sensitive to changes in N content in the whole plant, and the response to N and P uptake and utilization indices was further enhanced. 【Conclusion】 Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi (L. deliciosus) can establish a good synergistic symbiotic relationship with container seedlings of P. massoniana, which not only promoted the growth of P. massoniana container seedlings but also improved the nutrient utilization efficiency of N and P. After inoculation, the height-diameter ratio of seedlings decreased, their utilization index of N and P increased, and the seedlings could experience normal growth and metabolism under low nutrient concentrations, which is vital for cultivating high-quality seedlings while reducing seedling cost.

Key words: Pinus massoniana, container seedling, phosphorus addition, mycorrhizal fungi, Lactarius deliciosus, growth trait, nutrient use efficiency

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