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Response of Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) to Phosphorus in Sandy Soils
Author(s) -
Pritchett W. L.,
Llewellyn W. R.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000040031x
Subject(s) - slash pine , podzol , phosphorus , fertilizer , soil water , slash (logging) , agronomy , acre , zoology , environmental science , forestry , pinus <genus> , botany , chemistry , biology , soil science , geography , organic chemistry
Rock phosphate or superphosphate band applied to slash pine about 1 year after transplanting resulted in significant height and diameter increases in 5 of 8 experiments, 3 to 5 years after treatment. However, response occurred only on somewhat poorly to poorly drained (flatwood) sands of the Groundwater Podzol and Humic Gley groups. While 50 lb N/acre applied alone usually suppressed tree growth, when applied in combination with 35 lb P/acre, it resulted in additional response. After the third year, 140 lb P/acre from rock phosphate gave about as good results as 35 lb P/acre from superphosphate. The optimum level of tissue P in current needles of 3‐ to 5‐year‐old trees was approximately 0.10%. Total soil P did not appear to be of much value for predicting response of young pine trees to added P. However, the amount of P extracted from unfertilized surface soil with 1.0 N NH 4 OAc (pH 4.8) was negatively correlated with response to phosphate applications on flatwoods sands. Curvilinear regression lines in relation to tree response to varying levels of fertilizer P with amounts of soil extractable P were constructed.