Fertilization Regulates Accumulation and Allocation of Biomass and Nutrients in Phoebe bournei Seedlings

Zhi-Jian Yang, Xiao-Hui Wu, Lai-He Chen, Lan-Ming Huang, Yu Chen, Juan Wu, Yousry A. El-Kassaby, Steven C. Grossnickle and Jin-Ling Feng
Additional contact information
Zhi-Jian Yang: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xiao-Hui Wu: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Lai-He Chen: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Lan-Ming Huang: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Yu Chen: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Juan Wu: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Yousry A. El-Kassaby: Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Steven C. Grossnickle: NurserytoForest Solutions, North Saanich, BC V8L 5K7, Canada
Jin-Ling Feng: College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: To study the effect of N-P-K fertilization on Phoebe bournei seedlings’ organs dry biomass, and nutrients accumulation and allocation, and to further uncover how nutrients regulating dry biomass formation through fertilization, we utilized the “3414” experiment design. The results showed that N, P, and K fertilizer promoted dry biomass accumulation, and root, stem, and total plant N, P, and K content and accumulation in seedlings. The dry biomass accumulations of root, stem, and total plant increased first and then decreased with the increase of N, P, and K application rates, which was basically consistent with the change in dry biomass allocations and N, P, and K contents, accumulations, and allocations. Root N accumulation, root P accumulation, and total plant K accumulation were the key indicators for seedlings growth. N fertilizer had the greatest effect on total dry biomass and root N accumulation, was the most important fertilizer for the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings, can regulate the growth of root and leaves, is beneficial to root growth at medium-low N fertilizer levels (N: 0.266–0.532 g·plant −1 ), and leaves growth at high N fertilizer level (N: 0.798 g·plant −1 ). P fertilizer rate can regulate the seedling stem growth, reaching the maximum at the medium level P application (P 2 O 5 : 0.1332 g·plant −1 ). K fertilizer had the greatest effect on the root P accumulation and total K accumulation, promoting K transport from leaves to root, improved root and stem growth, and inhibited leaves growth. The N, P, and K fertilizer three-factor application can better promote nutrient uptake than double-factor and single-factor fertilization, with highest dry biomass accumulation at the medium level of N, P, K fertilizer (N: 0.532 g·plant −1 ; P 2 O 5 : 0.1232 g·plant −1 ; K 2 O: 0.356 g·plant −1 ). In conclusion, N, P, and K fertilization promoted the N, P, and K absorption, increased root, stem, and leaves N, P, and K content and accumulation, and promoted the seedling dry biomass accumulation, but reversed under excessive application of N, P, and K fertilizer; and N fertilizer was beneficial to root and leaves growth, P fertilizer to stem growth, and K fertilizer to material transfer, which provided a theoretical basis for robust Phoebe bournei seedling cultivation.

Keywords: N-P-K fertilization; dry biomass accumulation and allocation; nutrients accumulation and allocation; Phoebe bournei seedling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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