Addition of phosphorus to subsoil promotes root development of yellow birch

Merrill C. Hoyle

Treesearch

Addition of phosphorus to subsoil promotes root development of yellow birch

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Merrill C. Hoyle

Year:

1965

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Research Note NE-42. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 1-7

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Abstract

Pot-culture studies have indicated that roots of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) develop more prolifically in humus than in sandy mineral soil (Hoyle 1965; Winget et al. 1963; Redmond 1954; and Tubbs 1963). This situation has also been observed during root-excavation studies (Redmond 1957; Spaulding and MacAloney 1931). Results of these studies generally indicated that soil temperature, soil moisture, and bulk density were not limiting factors in mineral horizons. Better root development in humus, and in mineral soil with high organic matter content, suggested that nutrient conditions were critical in sands. However, Tubbs (1963) did not obtain a rooting response after fertilizing mineral soil.

Citation

Hoyle, Merrill C. 1965. Addition of phosphorus to subsoil promotes root development of yellow birch. Research Note NE-42. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 1-7