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Autumn fertilization of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. nursery seedlings: effects on morpho-physiology and field performance

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Abstract

• Background

The Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) is an evergreen tree widely distributed in the western Mediterranean Basin. Forest restoration programs using this species have enjoyed only limited success, and knowledge concerning the effect of fertilization on plant quality and post-transplantation response is sparse.

• Methods

We assessed the effect of autumn fertilization using different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (70.0 mg N, 30.5 mg P and 58.1 mg K during the growing phase for all plants; and 30.0 vs 1.5 mg N, 13.1 vs 0.3 mg P and 24.9 vs 0.5 mg K during the hardening phase, depending on the fertilization treatment) on the seedling characteristics and field performance of Holm oak.

• Results and Conclusions

Autumn fertilization, especially with N, did not decrease plant quality but improved overall growth, root growth capacity, cold hardiness, and the nutritional content of nursery-grown seedlings. However, autumn fertilization had only a small effect on field performance, which was affected only by K fertilization, probably because of the adequate N and P nutrient status of all the plants and the mild weather conditions of the field plot. In our site, which had a mild winter climate, late autumn out-planting was more successful than was mid-winter out-planting.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been financed by MEC of Spain (ref. AGL2006-12609-C02-01/FOR). In addition, the work was partially supported by University of Huelva and Andalucía Research Programs to promote research groups activity. The first author benefits from a doctoral grant from the Ministry of Education of Spain. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Rocío Macías, Felipe Carevic and Arantzazu González. Special thanks to the Laboratory of Research and Agrifood Control (LICAH) of the University of Huelva for carrying out chemical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Campus Universitario de La Rábida. Carretera de Palos de la Frontera, S/N, 21071, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain

    Enrique Andivia, Manuel Fernández & Javier Vázquez-Piqué

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  1. Enrique Andivia
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  2. Manuel Fernández
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  3. Javier Vázquez-Piqué
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Correspondence to Manuel Fernández.

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Handling Editor: Douglass Jacobs

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Andivia, E., Fernández, M. & Vázquez-Piqué, J. Autumn fertilization of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. nursery seedlings: effects on morpho-physiology and field performance. Annals of Forest Science 68, 543–553 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0048-4

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