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Diagnosing Nutritional Status of Containerized Tree Seedlings: Comparative Plant Analyses
Author(s) -
Timmer V. R.,
Armstrong G.
Publication year - 1987
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/sssaj1987.03615995005100040048x
Subject(s) - nutrient , seedling , pinus <genus> , identification (biology) , toxicity , horticulture , botany , biology , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
Containerized red pine ( Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings were fertilized to test the effectiveness of three approaches (critical levels, optimal ratios, and vector analysis) to diagnose seedling nutrient status. Treatments involved a balanced nutrient solution and six imbalanced solutions lacking (−) or enriched (+) with N, P, or K applied to seedlings raised in peat‐filled paperpots. Growth was significantly reduced by ‐N, ‐P, and +N treatments indicating N and P deficiencies and N toxicity, respectively, and probable sufficiency or luxury consumption of P or K for the other treatments. Diagnosis by vector analysis agreed closely with actual growth and nutritional responses to treatments, and was more precise than the other approaches. Vector analysis was independent of predetermined standards or critical values, and improved identification of dilution effects and nutrient interactions which tend to complicate conventional diagnostic techniques.