Effect of fertilization on growth and ectomycorrhizal development of container-grown and bare-root nursery conifer seedlings

• Published in: New forests Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 179 - 197
• Main Authors: KHASA, P. D, SIGLER, L, CHAKRAVARTY, P, DANCIK, B. P, ERICKSON, L, MCCURDY, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer 01-11-2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Artificial regeneration. Forest nurseries. Planting; Biological and medical sciences; Colonization; Containers; Economic plant physiology; Environmental quality; Fertilizers; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Pine trees; Seedlings; Sowing and planting; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Canada; Saskatchewan; Alberta; North America; America; Silviculture; Growth; Basidiomycetes; Inorganic fertilizer; Inorganic element; Field experiment; Fungi; Mineral fertilization; Gymnospermae; Softwood forest tree; Ectomycorrhiza; Nitrogen fertilizer; Greenhouse study; Thallophyta; Symbiosis; Macronutrient(mineral); Symbionte; Nutrition; Root; Nursery (plant); Container growing; NPK fertilizer; Seedlings; Seed bed; SEEDLING PRODUCTION; Forestry; Mycorrhiza; Spermatophyta; Coniferales; Comparative study; bare-root planting stock
• ISSN: 0169-4286; 1573-5095
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1015674921878

The effect of three levels of fertilizer on thegrowth of three species of containerized-grownconifer seedlings (Pinus contorta, Picea glauca, and Picea mariana) and twospecies of bare-root conifer seedlings (Pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica),and on the colonization of these seedlings bysix species of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Hebeloma longicaudum, Laccaria bicolor,Paxillus involutus, Pisolithustinctorius, Rhizopogon vinicolor andSuillus tomentosus), was studied. Thegrowth of the seedlings in both container-grownand bare-root nurseries increased as the levelsof fertilizer increased. For better seedlinggrowth and environmental quality it may be possible to reduce the level of fertilizers in commercial nurseries upto 33% by using selected mycorrhizal fungi.Ectomycorrhizal colonization in all seedlingswas not affected by fertilizer levels. Hebeloma longicaudum, L. bicolor, P.involutus, and P. tinctorius formedwell-developed ectomycorrhizae, whereasectomycorrhizal development by R.vinicolor and S. tomentosus was poor.Native mycorrhizal fungi colonizednon-inoculated control seedlings; however,their colonization was always lower than withinoculated fungi.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]