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Home → Publications → Nursery Manuals → Forest Nursery Manual—Bareroot → Chapter 7: Soil Fertility in Forest Nurseries

Chapter 7: Soil Fertility in Forest Nurseries

The soil cation-exchange complex serves as a reservoir of nutrients which are released into the soil solution, where they are accessible to seedlings. Although macronutrients are most readily available in soils of pH 6 to 7, micronutrients are most available in more acid soils; therefore, pH values of 5.0 to 6.0 are recommended for forest nurseries. Under such conditions, available nitrogen is primarily In the ammonium form, and phosphorus can form Insoluble iron and aluminum compounds. Sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients are seldom deficient in forest nurseries because sufficient fertilizer is added as "maintenance" dressings, or supplies from native minerals are adequate. Recommended fertilizer applications for a 2-year nursery rotation range from 112 to 285 kg of nitrogen, 67 to 200 kg of phosphorus, and 75 to 150 kg of potassium per ha. Recommended nutrient levels In both soils and seedlings are tabulated and some effects of nutrients on seedling growth and physiology mentioned.


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Author(s): R. van den Driessche

Publication: Nursery Manuals - Forest Nursery Manual—Bareroot