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Combined effects of water stress and fertilization on the morphology and gas exchange parameters of 3-year-old Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir

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Abstract

Three-year-old (plug + 2) containerized Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) seedlings were treated to various irrigation and fertilization regimes in a greenhouse factorial experiment. We assessed physiological and growth responses to these two factors’ single and combined effects. Irrigation significantly (P < 0.05) affected relative height (RHG) and ground-level diameter growth (RDG) and some physiological parameters, including stomatal conductance (gs), stem water potential, net photosynthetic rate (Anet), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE), transpiration rate (E), and photosynthetic pigments concentrations (Chls). Fertilization had only a significant effect on RDG. The increased fertilizer rates decreased some physiological parameters, including Anet, gs, and E, while increased fertilizer rates increased Chls and total nitrogen concentration (TKN). Chls and carotenoids usually increased through the treatment periods. The irrigation and fertilization interaction did not significantly affect RHG and RDG; however, the interaction significantly affected (P < 0.05) Anet, gs, E, and WUE. The interaction did not affect the TKN and Chls (P > 0.05). As a result, fertilization affected plant growth positively but caused some adverse effects on a few plant physiological functions, such as photosynthesis and Chls and carotenoid concentrations in plants under water stress. In our study, plant water status was the most critical parameter for growth and physiological processes compared to fertilization. Plants have the best responses to water stress in terms of physiological parameters under the interaction of low fertilization and increased irrigation. Under water-stress (375 ml irrigation per week), the medium fertilized (5.0 g N−1) treatment would be proposed as best morphologically and physiologically for 3-year-old Fraser fir seedlings.

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  1. Forestry Vocational School, Düzce University, 81620, Düzce, Turkey

    İsmail Koç

  2. Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Pascal Nzokou

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Koç, İ., Nzokou, P. Combined effects of water stress and fertilization on the morphology and gas exchange parameters of 3-year-old Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. Acta Physiol Plant 45, 49 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-023-03529-4

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