Nursery fertilization enhances survival and physiological status in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) seedlings planted in a semiarid environment

Luis, Vanessa C. and Puertolas Simon, Jaime and Climent, Jose and Peters, Juliane and Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Agueda M. and Morales, Domingo and Soledad Jimenez, M. (2009) Nursery fertilization enhances survival and physiological status in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) seedlings planted in a semiarid environment. European Journal of Forest Research, 128 (3). pp. 221-229. ISSN 1612-4669

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Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that fertilized containerized Pinus canariensis seedlings increases survival when planted in semiarid sites through the improvement of their physiological status during the establishment phase by an increment in root growth. Seedlings were cultured under two different regimes: traditional (in non-fertilized natural soil) and alternative (in fertilized peat). Morphological attributes and nitrogen content were measured before planting. Measurements of survival and growth in the plantation were made periodically for 2 years and physiological plant responses (leaf water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) during the third summer after planting were tested and finally a set of plants were excavated to measure the same parameters as before planting. Seedlings cultivated using fertilized peat achieved the highest values for all of evaluated parameters. During the third dry season, big seedlings exhibited better physiological status. Therefore, enhanced root growth can result in better water uptake during the dry period thereby increasing survival and growth in the next few years after planting. A feed-back physiological model is proposed to explain P. canariensis establishment in a semiarid environment.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
European Journal of Forest Research
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1110
Subjects:
?? canary island pinec-3 plantsfeed-back modelelectron-transportfield performancepicea-mariana seedlingsfertilizationfield performancechlorophyll fluorescencephysiological statusstomatal conductancegas-exchangeloblolly-pineseedling qualityroot-growthwater-st ??
ID Code:
62640
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
04 Mar 2013 15:25
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 13:39