Effect of N, P, and K Fertilization on Yield and Sugar Content of Sap of Sugar Maple Trees

Abstract

AbstractSap yield, sap sugar concentration, and sugar yield data from sugar maple trees collected over 3 years revealed great intra‐ and interseasonal variations. The effect of N, P, and K fertilizers, applied singly and in combination, affected the yield of sugar by affecting sap yield and/or sap sugar concentration. The combination fertilizer depressed sugar yield the first sap flow season after treatment and increased this yield in the second season. The N or K fertilizer resulted in little change in sugar yield over the control trees while P fertilizer produced a significant effect on sap sugar concentration, thus affecting sugar yield.