Nutrient Content Of Foliage Research Articles

Effect of different irrigation and fertigation schedules on growth and productivity of Red Velox apple in Northwestern Himalayan region

The present study was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) to study the effect of different irrigation and fertigation schedules on growth and productivity of Red Velox apple in Northwestern Himalayan region. A factorial experiment comprised of sixteen treatment combination of four drip irrigation levels viz. drip irrigation at 100% ETc (I1), drip irrigation at 80% ETc (I2), drip irrigation at 60% ETc (I3), conventional irrigation (I4) and four levels of fertigation viz. absolute control; no application of fertilizer (F0), 100% of adhoc dose of NPK (F1), 75% of adhoc dose of NPK (F2) and 50% of adhoc dose of NPK (F3) were replicated thrice with three plants in each replication. With an increase in the volume of water and an increasing dose of NPK, vegetative growth parameters (tree height, tree spread, trunk girth, tree volume and annual extension growth), leaf nutrient content and yield were noted to be significantly increased. Drip irrigation at 100% ETc (I1) and fertigation at 100% of adhoc dose of NPK (F1) significantly increased the growth, foliage nutrient content and productivity of apple. Interaction I1F1 recorded highest growth parameters, leaf NPK content as well as yield. The results of two years experiment indicated a positive impact of drip irrigation and fertigation schedules on enhanced fertilization effectiveness and improved vegetative growth, leaf nutrient content and yield of apple.

Vegetative Growth and Foliage Nutrient Content of Super Chief Apple under Different Irrigation and Fertigation Schedules in NW Himalayan Region

ABSTRACT In the scheduling of nutrient supply programs, analysis of plant nutrient status has been found to be useful to prevent the deficiency or toxic effects of nutrients in any horticultural crop. So the present study was framed to assess the foliage nutrient content and vegetative growth under different irrigation and fertigation combination modules. Recently apple (Malus ×domestica) orchards in the state Himachal Pradesh of India have converted from the traditional royal delicious orchard at 6 × 6 m spacing with rainfed/basin irrigation to early spur varieties on dwarfing rootstock with drip irrigation, both with or without fertigation. An experimental field trial was started at the end of 2018 in a ‘Super Chief’/MM106 orchard at an experimental farm of the department of Soil Science & Water Management, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). A factorial experiment with 16 treatment combinations of 4 irrigation levels viz. I1 – drip irrigation at 100% ETc, I2 – drip irrigation at 80% ETc, I3 – drip irrigation at 60% ETc, I4 – conventional irrigation, and four fertigation levels viz. F0 – No fertilizer application (absolute control), F1 – 100% of AD (NPK), F2 – 75% of AD (NPK) and F3 – 50% of AD (NPK) were replicated thrice with 3 plants in each replication. Vegetative growth parameters and leaf nutrient contents were affected by both fertilization and water rate. Irrigation and nutrient levels and their interactions exhibited significant effect on leaf N (3.10%), P (0.28%), K (1.77%), and S (0.44%) contents. Significantly maximum contents were observed in the irrigation level I1 (DI at 100% ETc). Among fertigation level, F1 [100% AD (NPK)] recorded highest contents of leaf N (3.17%), P (0.29%), K (1.80%), S (0.46%). Interaction I1F1 registered maximum leaf N (3.36%), P (0.36%), K (1.92%) and S (0.63%). With an increase in the water volume and an increasing dose of NPK, vegetative growth parameters, i.e., tree height, plant spread, tree volume, trunk girth, and annual extension growth were noted to increase proportionately. Treatment DI at 100% ETc (I1), increased the tree height by 9.41, plant spread (EW by 32.0, NS by 16.3), tree volume by 61.36, trunk girth by 8.05, and annual extension growth by 14.22% over conventional irrigation (I4). Drip fertigated trees with F1 [100% AD (NPK)] reported the highest growth parameters. The results of two years apple trial suggested a positive effect of fertigation on enhanced effectiveness of fertilization and improved foliage nutrient content and vegetative growth.

Seasonal nutrient retranslocation in reforested Pinus halepensis Mill. stands in Southeast Spain

Retranslocation, resorption and relocation of nutrients are important adaptive mechanisms developed by plants to acquire the amount of the nutrients required for growth. They are usual mechanisms in deciduous and conifer trees that occur in Mediterranean regions where drought periods are usual. Soil factors, environmental characteristics and species factors are key drivers of nutrient retranslocation in conifers but is not well understood how soil fertility or intraspecific competition influences the process. We studied retranslocation in Pinus halepensis Mill. stands showing different site quality (differences in climate and intraspecific competition) occurring in Southeast Spain. We monitored reforested mature Aleppo pine forests in stands with differences in site quality, climate and intraspecific competition. Stands were characterised, the content of nutrients of soil and green samples (twigs and pine needles) were recorded, and seasonal nutrient retranslocation was obtained. Site characteristics were related to growth rate and nutrient content of foliage and soil. We evaluated whether the retranslocation of nutrients from older to younger foliage was related to the current-year growth rate and to the nutritional status of the plant as influenced by intraspecific competition. Foliar macronutrient concentrations and the amount of retranslocated macronutrients were seasonal, with differences related to site quality and tree density. As a general trend, nutrient concentrations increased after drought (autumn) and decreased during the growth period (spring). However, some micronutrients (mainly Na and Fe) decreased during both periods. The retranslocation pattern in Aleppo pine reinforced the hypothesis that pine adaptations to drought- and fire-prone habitats are linked to the resilience of these forest types. We developed scientific knowledge to assist decision making in adaptive forest management; e.g. fertilizer recommendations or reforestation programmes.

Respuesta del cultivo de pimentón (Capsicum Annuum) a la inoculación con Glomus Manihotis y Acaulospora Lacunosa en suelo con niveles alto de fósforo

Glomus manihotis y Acaulospora lacunosa son hongos formadores de micorrízas-arbusculares; asociaciones simbióticas mutuamente benéficas entre raíces y hongos especializados. Esta formación raíz-hongo realiza diversas funciones en su asociación con las plantas. Investigaciones previas han demostrado que pueden constituir sustitutos biológicos de los fertilizantes minerales. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la inoculación de Glomus manihotis (GL) y Acaulospora lacunosa (ACU) en plantas de pimentón cultivadas en suelos con niveles alto de P. Se utilizó el método de Phillips y Hayman para la determinación del porcentaje de infección. Otras variables fueron: altura, peso fresco total, peso seco aéreo, longitud de la raíz, peso y número de frutos, y contenido de nutrimentos en follaje. Las plantas inoculadas con (GL) registraron un porcentaje de infección de 70,3 %, las inoculadas con (ACU) obtuvieron 45 % y el tratamiento inoculado (GL/ACU) 28 %. La infección tuvo un efecto positivo en la mayoría de variables agronómicas analizadas en las plantas inoculadas con (GL) y (ACU), mas no en el tratamiento mixto (GL/ACU) el cual fue muy similar al control. En cuanto al contenido de nutrimentos en follaje; no hubo diferencias significativas en los tratamientos para NPK, pero se presentaron diferencias significativas en los nutrimentos pocos móviles como Zn, Cu y Fe, favoreciendo a las plantas inoculadas con (ACU). Estos resultados sugieren que la inoculación con hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en condicionesde niveles de fósforo alto puede ser un coadyuvante eficiente en el desarrollo óptimo de una planta, siempre y cuando se determine el hongo específico efectivo bajo estas condiciones.

Nutrient levels of threeEucalyptusspecies/provenances, measured over four seasons in a trial along the sandy, dry, Cape West Coast of South Africa

Foliage nutrient content of 3 to 6-year old Eucalyptus species/provenances (E. camaldulensis, E. globulus and E. grandis x E. tereticornis) were analysed for eleven elements over a four-year period. The trial was planted on three sites, adjacent to each other, all deep acidic sands with an annual rainfall of about 400 mm along the Cape West Coast. With the exception of the elements Ca, Na and Cu, highly significant differences between species means occurred. The elements K, Na, Mn and Cu showed highly significant differences between sites, with Na values constantly higher in each year on the site closest to the ocean and lowest on the site furthest away. The very high Na values in foliage was ascribed to uptake of Na deposited by water or wind from the sea and the high levels might be toxic for sensitive species. Differences between year means were highly significant for all elements analysed but there was no indication that a decline occurred over the years. Except for Fe, Ca, Mn and B, which appeared to be adequately supplied in the soil, all other elements were low to deficient and trees should benefit from fertilisation. Of the three species E. globulus tends to be the most sensitive towards a low N, P, K and Mg status and is expected to benefit most by fertilisation.

Sewage sludge as a fertilizer of pole stage forests: short‐term hydrochemical fluxes and foliar response

Abstract. Proposed restrictions on the disposal of sewage to the marine environment means that alternative land based outlets are required in the UK. Commercial forestry represents a significant land use that could receive and benefit from the application of sewage sludge, to overcome the generally poor soil nutrient status. The oligotrophic and sensitive nature of surface waters in many afforested areas requires that the environmental consequences of the widespread use of organic fertilizers in forestry are carefully considered. This paper compares the effects of an N and P fertilizer with that of sewage sludge on the nutrient content of foliage in a pole stage Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest and of nutrient fluxes in soil. Both conventional fertilizer and sewage treatments had significant but differing effects on the availability and leaching of the major nutrients, especially N and P. Evidence for increased nitrification and nitrate production with time was apparent for both treatments. Fluxes of N and P in mineral horizon leachate were consistently smaller than those from the overlying organic horizon. Foliar nutrient concentrations after one year were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in all of the treatments, and conventional fertilization with urea produced a significantly higher foliar N concentration than that measured in the sludge‐treated plots. There was no evidence for appreciable N or P leaching from the site within a year of sludge application.

Soil Chemistry in a Loblolly/Longleaf Pine Forest with Interval Burning.

We examined the 30-yr cumulative effects of prescribed fires at intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 4 yr in a loblolly and longleaf pine forest in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. The fine fraction of the forest floor (Oe + Oa horizons) contained much more carbon and nitrogen per unit area in the control plots (1.7 and 0.05 kg/m2 , respectively) than in the 1-yr burn interval plots (0.4 and 0.007 kg/m2 , respectively). Mineral soils (0-0.2 m depth) were highly variable in chemistry, and showed only slight differences across the burning treatments for nitrogen and sulfur. No trends were apparent for phosphorus in the forest floor or mineral soil; differences in acidity and extractable cations were also slight. The nutrient content of foliage was generally low, with no differences across burning intervals. Our results are consistent with earlier studies that showed the biogeochemical effects of repeated surface fires in southern pine forests are generally limited to the forest floor, with the possible exception of overall reductions in nitrogen cycling.

Availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in the forest floors of Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

Nutrient supply rate and limitation were measured in forest floors of lodgepole pine, white spruce–lodgepole pine, and Engelmann spruce–subalpine fir (pine, spruce, and fir forests, respectively) forests in the Kananaskis Valley of southwestern Alberta. Earlier analyses of the nutrient content of foliage and litter indicated low N and P supply in the pine forest, high P supply in the spruce forest, and high N–low P supply in the fir forest. Measurements of nutrient supply (insitu rates of net mineralization, extractable P, and uptake of N and P from the forest floor in pot trials) confirmed the differences in N and P supply among the forests and indicated that nutrient concentrations in needle litter were useful as an index of nutrient supply rate. Subtractive tests were useful in identifying the most limiting nutrients in each forest: lodgepole pine seedlings grown in forest floor material from the pine and spruce stands responded with increased growth to the addition of N; those in fir forest floor material responded to P addition. Vector analysis of N and P concentrations and contents in needles from trees fertilized with ammonium phosphate sulphate showed responses to both N and P in the pine site, no response at the spruce site, and response to P at the fir site.

The Effects of Low‐Level Consumption by Canopy Arthropods on the Growth and Nutrient Dynamics of Black Locust and Red Maple Trees in the Southern Appalachians

The effects of low—level consumption by canopy arthropods on foliage nutrient content, canopy leachates (throughfall), and biomass of 4—yr—old black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and red maple (Acer rubrum) were studied in the southern Appalachians of North Carolina. A carbaryl insecticide was used to reduce foliage consumption from °10 to °2% in black locust and from °4 to °1% in red maple. Phosphorus concentrations in untreated black locust foliage were significantly lower than those of insecticide—treated foliage early in summer, but equalled concentrations of treated foliage by late summer. Potassium concentrations in untreated red maple foliage were significantly reduced during late summer; calcium concentrations in untreated red maple foliage were significantly higher later in the summer. Potassium in throughfall from black locus trees (amount of K collected below the canopy minus bulk precipitation inputs) increases from 5.7 kg/ha for insecticide—protected trees to 9.8 kg/ha for unprotected trees (P < .05). Potassium lossesw from unprotected red maple also increased. Black locust lost 0.3 kg/ha of sulfate—S from untreated trees, but adsorbed 0.4 kg/ha of sulfate—S in insecticide—treated trees (P < .05). Total biomass production (net primary production per kilogram of preseason biomass) was unaffected by the low levels of herbivory observed here. Such nominal herbivory did not stimulate biomass and nutrient accretion by these tree species but did increase the cycling of K and perhaps other elements within these systems.