Guangxi Zhiwu (Jun 2023)

Effects of slow-release fertilizer on growth, photosynthetic physiology and nutrient accumulation of container seedlings of Cunninghamia lanceolata

  • Lingyan LI,
  • Yin TANG,
  • Minghui ZHONG,
  • Xueyan ZHENG,
  • Shanshan XU,
  • Guangqiu CAO,
  • Yiquan YE

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11931/guihaia.gxzw202203084
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 6
pp. 1059 – 1069

Abstract

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In order to explore the responses of growth, photosynthetic characteristics and nutrient accumulation of Cunninghamia lanceolata container seedlings to different amounts of slow-release fertilizer application. In this paper, the effects of different amounts of slow-release fertilizer application treatments (0, 200, 400, 800, 1 000 and 1 200 g·m-3) on the growth of seedlings height, ground diameter, biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and nutrient content of C. lanceolata seedlings were investigated. Moreover, subordinate function value method was also employed to comprehensive evaluate the growth and physiology indexes of seedlings under different fertilization treatments, and screening suitable slow-release fertilizer levels for the growth of C. lanceolata seedlings, which providing reference for the efficiency cultivation of high quality C. lanceolata seedlings. The results were as follows: (1) Compared with the control, the slow-release fertilizer application could promote the growth of seedling height, ground diameter and the accumulation of total biomass of C. lanceolata seedlings to varying degrees. (2) The slow-release fertilizer treatments could significantly increase the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid in leaves of C. lanceolata compared with control. In addition, slow-release fertilizer treatments also increased the values of maximum fluorescence(Fm), variable fluorescence(Fv), maximum photochemical efficiency of PS Ⅱ(Fv/Fm), potential photochemical efficiency of PS Ⅱ(Fv/Fo) and actual quantum yield(QY) to varying degrees compared with control. (3) The slow-release fertilizer treatments could promote the nutrient accumulation in seedlings of C. lanceolata to varying degrees, among which the contents of Mn, Fe and Zn were found to be changed most significantly. (4) The results of subordinate function value method showed that when the amount of slow-release fertilizer application was 1 000 g·m-3, its membership value was the largest, which indicated that the comprehensive growth of seedlings under this treatment was the best. In conclusion, the amount of 1 000 g·m-3 slow-release fertilizer application is the most suitable treatment for the cultivation of high quality seedlings of C. lanceolata in the present study, under this treatment, the growth of C. lanceolata seedlings can be improved by increasing the accumulation of nutrient elements closely related to photosynthesis, thus increasing the contents of photosynthetic pigment in leaves, which in turn enhance the PS Ⅱ photosynthetic efficiency and electron transfer rate, further enhance the efficiency of light energy capture and utilization of leaves, and ultimately improve seedling growth.

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