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Nitrogen budgeting and quality of exponentially fertilized Quercus robur seedlings in Ireland

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Abstract

Current policy in Ireland calls for increased quality and quantity of broadleaved seedling plantings. Simultaneously, concerns regarding environmental contamination necessitate development of nursery production methods that minimize impacts. Exponential (E) fertilization has potential for producing high-quality seedlings through nutrient loading, while simultaneously minimizing nitrogen (N) losses during culture. We investigated the effects of a wide range (0.10–1.0 g N seedling−1 year−1) of E fertilization rates on seedling morphology and nutrition of Quercus robur L., as well as soil N status and N budget during one growing season in a bareroot nursery in County Carlow, Ireland. The N budget showed significant N losses, especially in the highest fertilizer treatments, due to high precipitation. Seedlings receiving the 0.5 E rate were morphologically and nutritionally superior to all other treatments. Results indicate that it may be possible to produce 1-0 bareroot seedlings meeting target specifications in Ireland and other countries of similar climate and soils if further manipulations to seedling culture are implemented; however, potential environmental degradation via N leaching must be considered when N loading in wet years.

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Acknowledgments

The National Science Foundation, the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD) in Ireland, and the Fred M. van Eck Foundation are gratefully acknowledged as sources of funding for this research. A&L Great Lakes Laboratories, Fort Wayne, IN, USA is thanked for soil and plant sample processing and analysis. We thank D. O’Leary and P. Doody for their assistance at the nursery, C. Doody for his help with sample collection and processing, and C. Michler for valuable input in study design and manuscript review. Coillte Teoranta generously supplied nursery space and resources that made the study possible. Anonymous peer-reviewers and the subject editor provided helpful input that improved the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2061, USA

    J. L. Schmal & D. F. Jacobs

  2. UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural and Food Science Center, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    C. O’Reilly

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  1. J. L. Schmal
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  2. D. F. Jacobs
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  3. C. O’Reilly
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Correspondence to D. F. Jacobs.

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Communicated by A. Merino.

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Schmal, J.L., Jacobs, D.F. & O’Reilly, C. Nitrogen budgeting and quality of exponentially fertilized Quercus robur seedlings in Ireland. Eur J Forest Res 130, 557–567 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0443-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0443-7

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