Foliar Nutrient Concentrations and Hardwood Growth Influenced by Cultural Treatments

Abstract

Six species of hardwoods were planted at a 3 by 3 m spacing on a slackwater clay soil (Vertic Haplaquept) in western Mississippi and subjected to three intensities of cultural treatments. Periodic disking- significantly increased heights, diameters, and survival of trees. Cultural treatments during the 4 years of the study did not cause any significant changes in soil nutrient levels. Disking eliminated vines and weeds and thus made more water available to trees. Trees growing on disked plots had significantly higher N and Ca and significantly lower P and Mg concentrations in foliage than trees in mowed and control plots. Trees in mowed plots had significantly lower K than control plots, while disked plots had K concentrations that were intermediate between mowed and control. Cottonwood had the highest nutrient concentrations and sycamore the lowest for most elements tested. Other species were intermediate, and no ranking was apparent.

Citation

Kennedy, Harvey E. 1981. Foliar Nutrient Concentrations and Hardwood Growth Influenced by Cultural Treatments. Plant and Soil 63:307-316.