Investigating the variation of diameter and height of Populus sp. clone I-214 under various fertilization treatments in northern Greece - a case study

Abstract

The study of young poplar tree characteristics like initial diameter and height as well as mineral fertilization that promotes the rapid growth of trees for biomass production was the aim of this research. In two forest nurseries of northern Greece, the growth of Populus sp. clone I-214 under five fertilization treatments per dosage was studied, i.e. (i) 120 kg (NH4)2SO4.ha-1, (ii) 200 kg (NH4)2SO4.ha-1, (iii) 150 kg (NH4)2SO4.ha-1 and 300 kg mixed fertilizer 11-15-15 (i.e. 11 kg N, 15 kg P2O5 and 15 kg K2O per 100 kg of fertilizer) per ha, (iv) 150 kg (NH4)2SO4.ha-1, 200 kg mixed fertilizer 16-20-0 (i.e. 16 kg N and 20 kg P2O5 per 100 kg of fertilizer) per ha and 100 kg K2SO4.ha-1, (v) no fertilization. Results showed that initial diameter was the variable that had the greatest effect on growth, while the fertilization with 150 kg (NH4)2SO4.ha-1 and 300 kg mixed fertilizer 11-15-15 per ha improved significantly diameter growth. Nevertheless, no specific pattern was found statistically for the best fertilization treatment concerning the height growth of young poplar trees. These findings could be taken into account for the best management practices for rapid poplar tree growth and biomass production under similar edaphoclimatic Mediterranean conditions.

Keywords

• biomass production
• entisols
• fertilizers
• general linear model multivariate procedure
• young poplar trees