Changes in Growth and Nutrient Contents of Populus alba var. pyramidalis treated with Fertilizers and Absorbents in an Arid Region of China

摘要

To investigate soil management practices for increasing tree growth in arid regions of China, Xinjiang poplar (Populus alba var. pyramidalis) seedlings were planted in a nursery and windbreak and were treated with fertilizers (nitrogen and phosphorus)and absorbents (artificial; K-SAM and natural: Yuho (Artemisia ordosicd)) at Dengkou in Inner Mongolia. Seedling height, diameter at breast height (DBH), biomass, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were measured 1.5 years after the treatments. Soil texture was sandy loam for nursery and clay loam for windbreak, soil pH was 8.78 for nursery and 8.51 for windbreak, and total soil N concentration was 0.06% for nursey and 0.08% for windbreak. In general, seedling height and DBH increased inthe N fertilizer treatment compared to control or other treatments both in nursery and windbreak. Also seedling growth increased after the treatments of artificial and natural absorbents in windbreak. Total above- and belowground biomass increased afterthe N + P treatment. Foliage N and P concentrations following N and/or P treatments were same in the nursey, however, they significantly increased in the windbreak indicating N deficiency. It appeared that N was a limiting factor for early growth of Xinjiang poplar seedlings and artificial and natural absorbents (K-SAM and Yuho) would be useful to increase seedling growth in the arid region.