Growth and nutrient responses of Betula platyphylla, Larix kaempferi, and Chamaecyparis obtusa to different application methods of solid compound fertilizer

Authors: JEONG MIN SEO, HUONG THI THUY DAO, BYUNG BAE PARK

Abstract: We investigated the effects of different placement methods of applying slow-release fertilizer on the growth and foliar nutrients of three contrasting tree species (i.e., fast-growing Betula platyphylla and Larix kaempferi and slow-growing Chamaecyparis obtusa) to provide implications for increasing their growth and survival in marginal forest lands. We applied 84 g pot^-1 of solid compound fertilizer (SCF) at different positions: no fertilization (CON), subsurface placement (SCF_s), and bottom placement [35-cm depth (SCF_b)] in a greenhouse condition. Results revealed that the height and RCD (root collar diameter) of the three species had the highest growth under SCF_s. Total biomass across SCF_s, SCF_b, and CON ordered as follows 130, 72, and 28 g seedling^-1 in B. Platyphylla, 89, 38, and 27 g seedling^-1 in L. Kaempferi, and 61, 24, and 23 g seedling^-1 in C. obtusa. In contrast, SCF_b resulted in the highest root length across the treatments in all species. The root biomass allocation was also higher in SCF_b (28%-40%) than that of SCF_s (12%-24%). SCF_s had higher N uptake in all species than the other treatments. In conclusion, SCF_s has shown to be the most effective placement method of SCF application for increasing aboveground biomass and nutrient (N) acquisition, while SCF_b was the placement effective for increasing root length and root biomass growth in all species. These results are relevant to the promotion of ecofriendly and cost-effective fertilization approach of increasing growth and survival of economically important forest tree species, especially in steep slope and erosion-prone areas or marginal forest lands.

Keywords: fast-growing species, seedling growth, slow-release fertilizer, vector analysis

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