Abstract
Foliar analysis was conducted to determine the differences between macronutrient concentrations and contents of current year's fascicles of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), pitch pine (P. rigida Mill.), and first (F1) and second (F2) generation plantations of the pitch × loblolly hybrid (P. rigida × taeda). No significant differences in foliar P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations were found between any of the species or hybrid families tested. Foliar N concentration differed among F1 families, but not among the F2 families. Foliar N concentrations of loblolly and pitch pine in the F1 plantation were not significantly different. Fascicles of pitch pine tended to be shorter and lighter than those of loblolly pine and the hybrids, and nutrient contents of pitch pine foliage tended to be slightly less. An assessment of site effects on tree growth and nitrogen nutrition in the F1 plantation revealed that the hybrids respond differently to an enriched site. Six of the eight species and hybrids had higher foliar N contents on the better quality site, while four had increased stem volumes.
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Johnson, J.E., Burger, J.A., Rathfon, R.A. et al. Foliar nutrient comparisons of pitch pine, loblolly pine, and the pitch × loblolly hybrid. Plant Soil 132, 1–9 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011006