Effect of Fertilization on Growth of Poplar Clones in Nursery

Abstract

The effect of N, P and K fertilizer treatments was observed on poplar plants in nursery. The nutrients applied in combination to poplar had significant effect on height and collar diameter of entire transplants of poplar (ETP’S) produced in nursery. The nutrient treatment N₂₂₅P₁₅₀K₇₅ was effective to increase in plant height, collar diameter, average leaf area and biomass of ETP’s produced. Among different clones studied clone no. L-47/48 and PL-6 attained maximum height, collar diameter, average leaf area and biomass. The minimum height was recorded in clone PL-1 and Collar diameter in clone PL-2. The average leaf area varied differently in the nine clones studied in the present investigation. The nutrient applied had significant effect on average leaf area of poplar in nursery. The maximum leaf area was recorded with the application of N₁₅₀ P₁₀₀ K₅₀.The biomass produced by the poplar clones under the influence of nutrient applied to Poplar clones in nursery had similar response as to average leaf area. The interaction effect (clone×nutrients) shows that each clone has differential response to nutrient applied in different combinations of N, P and K treatment(N₀P₀K₀), (N₇₅P₅₀K₂₅), (N₁₅₀P₁₀₀K₅₀) and (N₂₂₅P₁₅₀K₇₅) for plant height, collar diameter, average leaf area and biomass growth. This interaction effect is reflection of genetic potential of clones under favourable G×E interaction.