Nitrogen supply methods affect the root growth dynamics in Eucalyptus grandis

Abstract

Sandy soils presenting low organic matter levels do not provide enough N to meet Eucalyptus sp. demands. Nitrogen fertilizers can be applied to soil surface, although N losses tend to happen and to decrease the amounts of this component used by plants. Alternatively, N can be applied to planting pits at seedling transplantation time or to small holes dug close to the plants. However, aspects such as the impact of different N supply modes applied to the soil on the growth parameters of root systems and the way these supply modes can affect morphological and physiological parameters of the shoot remain poorly known. The aim of the current study is to assess shoot and root growth in Eucalyptus grandis trees grown in soil subjected to different N supply modes. Eucalyptus grandis clones (GPC 23) were subjected to three N supply modes, namely: control (without N application) (C), N application to soil surface (SN) and N application to the pit (PN). Plant height, stem diameter, N concentration and chlorophyll a fluorescence in leaves, morphological parameters of the root system (total root surface area and mean root diameter), total length of active roots and total number of living and dead roots were analyzed. The PN supply mode has led to the highest mineral N levels (NH4+ and NO3−) in the soil, as well as increased the total length of active roots, the number of living roots and the root surface area in soil layers 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm. This process has enabled greater N uptake by plants, which, in its turn, has increased N concentrations in leaves, favored photosynthetic processes and resulted in taller plants presenting greater stem diameter. The SN supply method did not increase the mineral N in the soil, and it restricted the total length of active roots in soil layer (0–20 cm) and resulted in higher mean root diameter.