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Nutrient Uptake in Fertilized Plantations of American Sycamore
Author(s) -
Wittwer R. F.,
Immel M. J.,
Ellingsworth F. R.
Publication year - 1980
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/sssaj1980.03615995004400030035x
Subject(s) - nutrient , fertilizer , human fertilization , soil water , ammonium , agronomy , environmental science , ammonium nitrate , biomass (ecology) , terrace (agriculture) , nitrogen , zoology , botany , chemistry , biology , ecology , geography , soil science , archaeology , organic chemistry
Annual applications of ammonium nitrate (169 kg/ha elemental N), alone and in combination with concentrated superphosphate (112 kg/ha elemental P), increased biomass of 4‐ and 5‐year‐old American sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.) by approximately 45 and 205% on a bottomland and a terrace site, respectively, in the Ohio River Valley region of western Kentucky. Growth response and nutrient contents of trees fertilized with N and P were not significantly different from those receiving N only. After 5 years, N fertilization has increased elemental content of aboveground tree components by 189% for N, 48% for P, 90% for K, 93% for Ca, and 106% for Mg. Initial spacing of the seedlings in these closely‐spaced (0.3 by 0.9 m, 0.9 by 0.9 m, 1.8 by 0.9 m) trials did not have a significant effect on nutrient contents. Recovery of added N, as indicated by increased above ground tree contents after 5 years, represented 11 and 14% of the quantity added in fertilizer applications on the bottomland and terrace, respectively. After 5 years, levels of available P in soils receiving annual P fertilization had increased by 140 kg/ha, representing about 25% of the total P added. After 5 years exchangeable Ca had decreased in the bottomland soils and exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg had decreased in the less fertile terrace soil.