Title: Nursery Fertilization and Top Pruning of Slash Pine Seedlings
Abstract: Abstract Top pruning, growing-season fertilization, and fall fertilization were investigated in a Florida nursery to determine the effects on crop yield, morphology, nutrition, and field performance. Top pruning improved crop yield by reducing the number of cull seedlings. Top-pruned seedlings were smaller in diameter, height, and weight and had an increased number of multiple tops. In the field, top-pruned seedlings had the same survival and height growth, and after 3 years the percentage with multiple tops was the same as nonpruned seedlings. From these results, top pruning seems to be a nondetrimental practice for controlling height and producing a uniform crop in the nursery. Reducing growing-season fertilization slightly decreased shoot height, but not as much as top pruning. Also, these seedlings had reduced foliar nitrogen (N) concentration and content and grew less after 1 year in the field indicating that cutting back on N in the nursery may not be a beneficial way to control height. Fall fertilization in the nursery increased N in seedlings but did not affect growth or survival in the field. South. J. Appl. For. 14(2):73-76.
Publication Year: 1990
Publication Date: 1990-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 12
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