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A comparison of the growth and nutrition ofPicea abies (L.) karst. andPinus resinosa ait. On a K-deficient site subjected to K fertilization

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Summary

On the oldest continuously studied forest fertilization trials in North America, at Pack Forest in New York State, a pronounced tree growth response has been attained with only K fertilization.

In 1951 110 kg per ha of K was applied broadcast to a 19 year oldPicea abies plantation and in 1950 90 kg per ha of K was applied broadcast to a 20 year oldPinus resinosa plantation. After 14 years from treatment for thePicea abies and 12 years from treatment for thePinus resinosa the growth response, and nutrient element uptake and distribution was examined by total tree analysis. There was a highly significant response to fertilization for both species. This response affected the dry weight proportions of the various tissue components, foliage, live branches, dead branches, bolebark and bolewood, in the fertilized and control plots of each species.Pinus resinosa produced more total weight on this site without treatment and responded much more strikingly to fertilization treatment thanPicea abies.

Picea abies nutrient uptake of N, P and Ca was approximately equal to or greater than that uptake byPinus resinosa on the control plots while the reverse was true for K and Mg. K fertilization exaggerated the differences in uptake between species. Fertilization in some cases altered the ranking of nutrient element content in various tissue components and the ranking of tissue components for the various nutrients elements.

This study quantifies the magnitude of the differences between the ecological efficiences of the two species.

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Literature

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California at Davis, USA

    Raymond H. Fornes (Graduate Research Assistant in Soils)

  2. College of Forestry at Syracuse, Italy

    John V. Berglund (Professor of Silviculture) & Albert L. Leaf (Professor of Silviculture)

Authors
  1. Raymond H. Fornes
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  2. John V. Berglund
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  3. Albert L. Leaf
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Additional information

Contribution from the Department of Silviculture, State University College of Forestry at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210.

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Fornes, R.H., V. Berglund, J. & Leaf, A.L. A comparison of the growth and nutrition ofPicea abies (L.) karst. andPinus resinosa ait. On a K-deficient site subjected to K fertilization. Plant Soil 33, 345–360 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378227

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