Fertilizer concentration and moisture tension affect growth and foliar N, P, and K contents of two woody ornamentals

Abstract

Crabapple [Malus xzumi (Rehd.) 'Calocarpa'] and maple (Acer xfreemanii E. Murray 'Jeffersred') trees were grown in containers from 22 June to 3 Oct. with three fertilizer concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg·L-1 N) and two levels of moisture tension in the medium [low setpoint (moist) = 5 kPa and high setpoint (dry) = 18 kPa]. Whole-plant growth was enhanced more by minimizing water stress than by increasing fertilizer concentration. Shoot length and whole-plant dry weight were greater (>29 % for crabapple and >90% for maple) in low tension treatments (low water stress) but were unaffected by fertilizer concentration. Moisture tension also had a dominant effect on dry-weight allocation to leaves, stems, and roots. In contrast, foliar nutrient concentrations increased with fertilizer concentration but were affected to a lesser degree by moisture tension. Seasonal patterns in biomass allocation were little affected by treatments; the largest proportions of leaf and root biomass accumulated during summer and fall, respectively.