Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Nursery fertilization enhances survival and physiological status in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) seedlings planted in a semiarid environment
AU - Luis, Vanessa C.
AU - Puertolas Simon, Jaime
AU - Climent, Jose
AU - Peters, Juliane
AU - Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Agueda M.
AU - Morales, Domingo
AU - Soledad Jimenez, M.
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - We tested the hypothesis that fertilized containerized Pinus canariensis seedlings increases survival when planted in semiarid sites through the improvement of their physiological status during the establishment phase by an increment in root growth. Seedlings were cultured under two different regimes: traditional (in non-fertilized natural soil) and alternative (in fertilized peat). Morphological attributes and nitrogen content were measured before planting. Measurements of survival and growth in the plantation were made periodically for 2 years and physiological plant responses (leaf water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) during the third summer after planting were tested and finally a set of plants were excavated to measure the same parameters as before planting. Seedlings cultivated using fertilized peat achieved the highest values for all of evaluated parameters. During the third dry season, big seedlings exhibited better physiological status. Therefore, enhanced root growth can result in better water uptake during the dry period thereby increasing survival and growth in the next few years after planting. A feed-back physiological model is proposed to explain P. canariensis establishment in a semiarid environment.
AB - We tested the hypothesis that fertilized containerized Pinus canariensis seedlings increases survival when planted in semiarid sites through the improvement of their physiological status during the establishment phase by an increment in root growth. Seedlings were cultured under two different regimes: traditional (in non-fertilized natural soil) and alternative (in fertilized peat). Morphological attributes and nitrogen content were measured before planting. Measurements of survival and growth in the plantation were made periodically for 2 years and physiological plant responses (leaf water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) during the third summer after planting were tested and finally a set of plants were excavated to measure the same parameters as before planting. Seedlings cultivated using fertilized peat achieved the highest values for all of evaluated parameters. During the third dry season, big seedlings exhibited better physiological status. Therefore, enhanced root growth can result in better water uptake during the dry period thereby increasing survival and growth in the next few years after planting. A feed-back physiological model is proposed to explain P. canariensis establishment in a semiarid environment.
KW - Canary Island pine
KW - C-3 PLANTS
KW - Feed-back model
KW - ELECTRON-TRANSPORT
KW - Field performance
KW - PICEA-MARIANA SEEDLINGS
KW - Fertilization
KW - FIELD PERFORMANCE
KW - CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE
KW - Physiological status
KW - STOMATAL CONDUCTANCE
KW - GAS-EXCHANGE
KW - LOBLOLLY-PINE
KW - Seedling quality
KW - ROOT-GROWTH
KW - WATER-STRESS
U2 - 10.1007/s10342-009-0257-7
DO - 10.1007/s10342-009-0257-7
M3 - Journal article
VL - 128
SP - 221
EP - 229
JO - European Journal of Forest Research
JF - European Journal of Forest Research
SN - 1612-4669
IS - 3
ER -