Effects of Slow-Release Fertilizer Loading on Growth and Construction of Nutrients Reserves of Phoebe chekiangensis and Phoebe bournei Container Seedlings
A univariate completely randomized block design was applied in this experiment.Growth traits,and the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake of Phoebe chekiangensis and Phoebe bournei under different levels of slow-release fertilizer (SRF) were measured to investigate the effect of SRF loading on seedling growth and construction of nutrients reserves.The result showed that the largest plant height,root volume and dry weight of the two Phoebe species were detected with 3.0 kg · m-3 SRF treatment.SRF loading increased N content and concentration of nutrients reserves,and the largest nutrients reserves was constructed at 3.0 kg · m-3 SRF.P content of seedlings was not changed by increasing SRF applications,whereas the P concentration was decreased by SRF application.Thus,1.5 kg · m-3 SRF would be enough to provide P for constructions of nutrients reserves.Correlation analysis revealed there was a positive correlation between the N and P content and plant height,basal diameter and root growth,and a positive correlation between the N and P concentration and root-shoot ratio of seedlings.It was effective to promote seedling growth by raising the N and P content.The 3.0 kg · m-3 SRF might meet the requirement of high quality seedlings,and with the SRF,N and P nutrients reserves could be constructed and higher biomass was able to be obtained.By choosing SRF with low-P content,or applying other fertilization technology,the problem of excess supply of P might be solved.It was demonstrated that the optimum fertilizing amount of N of Ph.chekiangensis and Ph.bournei would be 420 mg per plant and 360 mg per plant,respectively,while the optimum fertilizing amount of P for the two Phoebe species would be 60 mg per plant.