Fertilizer Application Method Affects Growth, Nutrient, and Water Use Efficiency of Container-Grown Shade Tree Whips

Abstract

<jats:p>The mineral nutrition requirements and fertilizer application methods for container-grown shade tree whips are not well understood. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of fertility method (water soluble vs. controlled release) on growth, water, and N use efficiency of four taxa [(<jats:italic>Acer ×freemanii</jats:italic> `Jeffersred' (Autumn Blaze® maple), <jats:italic>Cercis canadensis</jats:italic> L. (Eastern redbud), <jats:italic>Malus</jats:italic> (Mill.), `Prairifire' (Prairifire crabapple), and <jats:italic>Quercus rubra</jats:italic> L. (red oak)] in two production environments [outdoor gravel pad vs. a retractable roof structure (RRS)]. No single fertilizer method consistently resulted in the greatest growth. In the RRS, maple and crabapple heights, and crabapple and redbud caliper were larger when whips were fertilized with controlled-release fertilizer (CRF); outdoors, CRF resulted in taller maples and larger caliper crabapples. However, in the RRS, maple whips fertilized with water-soluble fertilizer had higher production water use efficiency than those fertilized with CRF, whereas crabapple whips had higher N use efficiency when fertilized with CRF. Nitrogen use efficiency was higher for redbud and crabapple whips fertilized with CRF than with CRF. Outside, crabapple whips fertilized with CRF had higher production water use efficiency than those fertilized with water-soluble fertilizer. There were no differences in N use efficiency attributed to fertilizer method. When averaged over fertilizer application methods, height, caliper, water, and N use efficiency were greater when whips were grown in RRS than outdoors. There were two exceptions: Maple caliper and production water use efficiency were marginally higher when whips were grown outdoors. The greater growth for whips produced in the RRS was attributed to reduced ambient and substrate temperature stress.</jats:p>

Replacing Conventional Nursery Crop Nutrient Inputs with Vermicompost for Container Production of Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Luna Blush’

“…For 20VC + NPK, 20VC + NK, 20VC + N, and PBS + NPK, the NUE N was 12%, 11%, 15%, and 9% and NUE P was 8%, 11%, 12%, and 7%, respectively (Tables 4 and 5). These nutrient use efficiency values are at the lower end of the ranges reported by others (Owen et al, 2008;Ristvey et al, 2007;Stoven et al, 2006). For azalea (Rhododendron var.…”

“…Specific crop nutrient requirements will also influence nutrient use efficiencies. Stoven et al (2006) reported NUE N of 6%, 14%, 36%, and 55% for Quercus rubra L. (red oak), Malus (Mill.) 'Prairifire' (Prairifire crabapple), Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern redbud), and Acer ·freemai 'Jeffersred' (Autumn Blaze Ò maple), respectively, when grown outdoors and fertilized with CRF.…”

‘Hongyi’: A New Columnar Ornamental Crabapple

“…Sufficient basal fertilizer should be put in place before planting. Two months after planting, according to the nutrient requirement of the tree, it should be judged whether to apply additional compound fertilizers to the seedlings to promote the robust and healthy formation of the trees (Milosevic et al, 2019;Rose, 1999;Rose et al, 1999;Stoven et al, 2006). According to the nutrient demand of fruit trees and the environmental benefit characteristics of fertilization at this stage, we can judge whether to add compound fertilizer with different components before or after flowering to promote the normal development of flowers and fruit (Ge et al, 2017;Neilsen et al, 2001).…”

Combined Application of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Promotes the Growth and Nutrient Accumulations of Cinnamomum camphora Container Seedlings

“…However, the gradual release of nutrients from the growth media necessitates the use of fertilization to improve plant growth and strengthen resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fertilization is an important measure in seedling cultivation, which can promote seedling growth, soil fertility, and seedling quality [10]. At present, numerous scholars have begun to pay attention to the study of C. camphora seedlings, mainly from the aspects of landscaping [1,11], gene identification [12,13], pest control [7] and other aspects.…”