Abstract
Knowledge on growth and nutrient uptake characteristics of urban trees and effective strategies to grow trees can help accomplish the goal of urban afforestation initiatives in a sustainable way. Thus, the study investigated the effects of different vermicompost (VC) application placements on the growth and nutrient uptake of three contrasting tree species (fast-growing Betula platyphylla and Larix kaempferi and slow-growing Chamaecyparis obtusa) to provide implications for growing tree stocks for sustainable urban afforestation programs. Five placement methods were used in the greenhouse trial: no fertilization (CON), surface placement (VCs), subsurface placement at 6-cm depth (VCc), bottom placement (35-cm depth (VCb)), and mixed with soil (VCm). We measured the growth parameters such as height, root collar diameter (RCD), and biomass and analyzed foliar nutrient concentrations in response to different placement treatments of VC. Relative height growth was the highest at VCc (132% (B. platyphylla), 114% (L. kaempferi)) and VCs ((57%) C. obtusa). Significant improvement in aboveground and belowground biomass growth of all species at VCs and VCc compared to the other treatments was also observed. Generally, VC treatments significantly increased N concentration compared to CON in all species. In conclusion, fertilizing the fast- and slow-growing urban tree species using VCs and/or VCc is relevant to growing high quality planting stocks for sustainable urban afforestation purposes.
Highlights
City planners spend a huge amount of funds undertaking urban projects to afforest large tracks of urban and industrial lands [1,2] for beautification, increasing shade provision, ameliorating the “heat island” effect, and improving air quality
In root collar diameter (RCD) growth, the effects of VCs and VCc were similar for almost all species, which occurred the faSsutsetasintaabnilidtyg20re20a,t1e2s,txaFmORonPgEEtRheREtrVeIaEtWments (Table 1, Figure 3)
We found that the VCs and/or VCc generally resulted in the highest RCD, height, and biomass growth in all species, implying that the broadcasting and localized placement methods were the most effective placements for applying VC
Summary
City planners spend a huge amount of funds undertaking urban projects to afforest large tracks of urban and industrial lands [1,2] for beautification, increasing shade provision, ameliorating the “heat island” effect, and improving air quality. Urban afforestation initiatives focus on planting trees of superior phenotypic and genetic quality, with anticipation that planted seedlings will grow into mature, diverse, and sustainable urban forests. Tree seedling performance, survival, and mortality, especially during transplanting phase, are greatly influenced by different interacting factors including soil conditions and climatic extremes. The problems of available tree species pool (i.e., tree species available that could potentially grow and colonize a focal area) make afforestation objectives even more difficult to achieve. Research giving any information on growth characteristics of urban trees and effective strategies to grow planting stocks will help accomplish the goal of afforesting urban areas in a sustainable way
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