The effects of nutrient enrichment on nursery and field growth of Cappadocian Maple (Acer cappadocicum) saplings

Abstract

Growth and nutrient dynamics of bare-root Cappadocian Maple (Acer cappadocicum) seedlings were investigated in a two-year period in a Kelardasht nursery as well as four seasons after field plantation to assess the effects of nursery fertilization regimes. During the nursery period, NPK and Micronutrient (as chemical treatments) and manure (as organic treatment) were used in different dosages. The transplantation was then established in a randomized complete block design with replicates in three blocks. Twenty randomly-selected saplings per treatment were planted in planting holes. In a 4-year period, sapling stem height and diameter were monitored for all saplings at the end of each growth season. In nursery, the greatest sapling growth rate was observed at manure treatment. The results of 2-year nursery rotation showed that the highest height growth of first year after planting saplings was achieved at the treatment comprised of 90 kg/ha N, 120 Kg/h P, 90 Kg/ha K, 30 t/ha manure and 20 L/ha microelement. The largest height and diameter growth of two- and three- year old saplings were achieved at treatments with both chemical and manure. However, no significant difference was shown for those that solely received manure treatment.

Keywords

• sapling
• fertilizer
• Kelardasht forest
• Acer cappadocicum
• nursery
• growth