AUTHOR=Mao Lanhua , Zha Ruibo , Chen Shifa , Zhang Jing , Jie Ling , Zha Xuan 

TITLE=Mixture Compound Fertilizer and Super Absorbent Polymer Application Significantly Promoted Growth and Increased Nutrient Levels in Pinus massoniana Seedlings and Soil in Seriously Eroded Degradation Region of Southern China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.763175

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.763175

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Pinus massoniana is the pioneer tree species in the red soil regions of southern China; however, serious understory soil erosion in that region, nutrient deficiency are the main factors restricting the growth of Pinus massoniana. This field study examined the effects of compound fertiliser and super absorbent polymer (SAP) on the physiology, growth characteristics, biomass, soil nutrient, plant nutrient content, and nutrient uptake efficiency of 1-year-old Pinus massoniana seedlings for two years at Changting, Fujian in south China. One control (no fertiliser, CK) and fertilisation treatments were established, namely single compound fertiliser application (0.94, 1.89, and 3.56 g·plant-1) and mixture compound fertiliser and SAP application (0.94 + 1.01, 1.89 + 1.01, and 3.56 + 1.01 g·plant-1). Fertilisation significantly improved the physiological performance, root collar diameter growth, height growth, biomass, and nutrient uptake of seedlings. Compared to other fertilisation treatments, the mixture compound fertiliser and SAP application significantly improved seedling photosynthesis, meant that the SAP had a significant effect on promoting photosynthesis. Under the mixture compound fertiliser and SAP application, the whole biomass of the seedlings was higher than that of all other treatments. Fertilisation significantly increased the N, P, K content in soils, leaves, stems, and roots of the seedlings, respectively. The P content was the main factor affecting growth characteristics, and contributed to 58.03% of total variation in seedling growth characteristics (P < 0.01). The N:P ratio of CK in soils, leaves, and stems was higher than that of all fertilisation treatments, indicating that the severely eroded and degraded region had little phosphorus and required much of phosphorus. Principal component analysis indicated that the F2S (1.89 + 1.01 g) was the optimum fertilisation amount and method in this experiment. These results provide a theoretical basis for the fertilisation management of Pinus massoniana forests with severely eroded and degraded red soil region.