Effects of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on development of bare-root Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) seedlings

Abstract

Soil productivity is one of the most important factors affecting seedling quality. Unfavorable conditions such as excessively acidic or alkaline soil reaction, poor aeration or over-dense seedlings may results in nutritional and developmental abnormalities in forest nurseries. In this study, effects of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on 1+0 year-old bare root Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) seedlings were investigated in a nursery bed, where some nutritional and growth problems are commonly observed. One control and three fertilizer treatments (N10: 10 g N m-2, S11: 11 g S m-2 and S75: 75 g S m-2) were applied in accordance with randomized block design with three replications. Changes in soil reaction and morphological properties of seedlings were determined at the end of the growing season. In addition, effects of fertilization on N and S nutrition of the seedlings were determined. As a result, it was determined that N10 treatment had a pronounced effect on morphological properties of the seedling, but S11 and S75 treatments did not have any significant effect. According to TSE seedling quality classes, N10 fertilization resulted in 315 quality seedlings per m2, while number of quality seedling were 34 seedlings per m2 in control treatment. As a conclusion, it was shown that N10 fertilization is necessary when growing bare-root Taurus cedar in Eğirdir Forest Nursery.

Keywords

• toros sediri
• gübreleme
• azot
• kükürt
• fidan morfolojisi
• görüntü analizi
• fidan kalitesi
• taurus cedar
• fertilization
• nitrogen
• sulfur
• seedling morphology
• image analysis
• seedling quality