Use of copper in pine nurseries

Abstract

Copper has been used by nursery managers for more than 100 years to suppress fungi and as a fertilizer for more than 50 years. Consequently, nursery seedlings with copper deficiencies are rare, especially for broadleaf species. In many nurseries, soil contains <10 μg-Cu g-1 and in greenhouse trials, pine seedlings are relatively tolerant of soil levels with 35 μg-Cu g-1. A million bareroot pine seedlings may contain 50 to 100 g-Cu and, when soil tests indicate low copper levels, managers might apply 1 kg-Cu per million seedlings. In contrast, it may take only 15 g-Cu to produce one million container-grown seedlings. Copper fertilization is typically not required when 30 cm of applied irrigation water contains 0.1 μg-Cu g-1 (supplying 0.3 kg-Cu ha-1). This review highlights some of the past and current uses of copper in bareroot and container nurseries with a focus on deficiency and toxicity effects as well as the impact of various copper-based products and provides recommendations on ideal soil and foliar ranges.