Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical Australia. II. foliar nutrient response to fertilization (original) (raw)

Abstract

In the previous paper, we reported the stand growth of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) during the first 11.5 years of plantation in response to (1) initial fertilization at plantation establishment with P rates of 11, 22, 45 and 90 kg P ha−1 which were either banded or broadcast in the presence or absence of basal fertilizers containing 50 kg N ha−1, 50 kg K ha−1 and 5 kg Cu ha−1 and (2) application of additional 40 kg P ha−1 at age 10 years. Here we present the responses in foliar nutrient concentrations of slash pine in the first 11.5 years to the initial fertilization and the additional P applied at age 10 years.

Foliar N and K concentrations in the first 9.6 years of plantation decreased with the initial P rate. Application of the basal fertilizers improved foliar Cu concentration. Foliar Ca and Mg concentrations increased linearly with the initial P rate. The initial fertilization did not affect foliar Mn concentration in the first 9.6 years. Foliar P concentration increased quadratically with the initial P rate, which accounted for 77–86% of the variation in foliar P concentration. Most of the explained variation in foliar nutrient concentrations was attributable to the plantation age except for foliar P concentration. In the case of foliar P concentration, 53% was explained by the initial P rate, 31% by the plantation age and 2% by the positive interaction between the initial P rate and the plantation age. Foliar P concentration of slash pine at age 11.5 years increased quadratically with the initial P rate and linearly with the additional 40 kg P ha−1 applied at age 10 years, accounting for 81% of the variation in the foliar P concentration. Foliar nutrient analysis indicated that P was the major limiting nutrient affecting the stand growth of slash pine in the first 11.5 years.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
• Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
• Cancel anytime View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

• Bevege DI and Richards BN (1972) Principles and practice of foliar analysis as a basis for crop-logging in pine plantations. II. Determination of critical phosphorus levels. Plant and Soil 37: 159–169
  Google Scholar
• Lambert MJ and Turner J (1988) Interpretation of nutrient concentrations in_Pinus radiata_ foliage at Belanglo State Forest. Plant and Soil 108: 237–244
  Google Scholar
• Mead DJ (1984) Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies in plantations. In: Bowen GD and Nambiar EKS (eds) Nutrition of Plantation Forests. pp 259–291. Academic Press, London
  Google Scholar
• Richards BN and Bevege DI (1972) Principles and practice of foliar analysis for crop-logging in pine plantations. I. Basic considerations. Plant and Soil 36: 109–119
  Google Scholar
• Siegel J (1992) STATISTIX Version 4.0 User's Manual. 319 p, Analytical Software, St. Paul, MN.
  Google Scholar
• Simpson JA and Grant MJ (1991) Exotic pine fertilizer practice and its development in Queensland. Queensland Forest Services Technical Paper No. 49, 17 p. VR Ward, Government Printer, Brisbane, Australia
  Google Scholar
• Simpson JA and Osbome DO (1993) Relative fertilizer requirements and foliar nutrient levels of young slash pine, Honduras Caribbean pine and the hybrid in Queensland. Commonw For Rev 72: 105–113
  Google Scholar
• Timmer VR and Stone EL (1978) Comparative foliar analysis of young Balsam fir fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and lime. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42: 125–130
  Google Scholar
• Turner J and Lambert MJ (1987) Nutritional management of_Pinus radiata_ at Gurnang State Forest, New South Wales. Fert Res 13: 127–137
  Google Scholar
• Xu ZH, Saffigna PG, Myers RJK and Chapman AL (1993) Nitrogen cycling in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) alley cropping in semi-arid tropics. I. Mineralization of nitrogen from leucaena residues. Plant and Soil 148: 63–72
  Google Scholar
• Xu ZH, Simpson JA and Osborne DO (1995a) Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical Australia. I. Stand growth response to fertilization. Fert Res (In press)
• Xu ZH, Simpson JA and Osborne DO (1995b) Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical Australia. III. Relationships between foliar P concentration and stand growth. Fert Res (In press)
• Zhong AL and Hsiung WY (1993) Evaluation and diagnosis of tree nutritional status in Chinese-fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb) Hook) plantations, Jiangxi, China. For Ecol Manage 62: 245–270
  Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Queensland Forest Research Institute, MS 483, Fraser Rd., 4570, Gympie, Queensland, Australia
   Z. H. Xu, J. A. Simpson & D. O. Osborne

Authors

1. Z. H. Xu
2. J. A. Simpson
3. D. O. Osborne

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, Z.H., Simpson, J.A. & Osborne, D.O. Mineral nutrition of slash pine in subtropical Australia. II. foliar nutrient response to fertilization.Fertilizer Research 41, 101–107 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00750751

Download citation

• Received: 19 December 1994
• Accepted: 10 April 1995
• Issue date: June 1995
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00750751

Key words