Nursery fertilization enhances survival and physiological status in Canary Island pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus canariensis</Emphasis>) seedlings planted in a semiarid environment |
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Authors: | Vanessa C Luis Jaime Puértolas José Climent Juliane Peters Águeda M González-Rodríguez Domingo Morales M Soledad Jiménez |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Plant Biology (Plant Physiology),La Laguna University,Tenerife,Spain;2.Centro Nacional de Mejora Forestal “El Serranillo”,Guadalajara,Spain;3.Unidad de Genética Forestal,CIFOR-INIA,Madrid,Spain;4.Departamento de Fruticultura Tropical,Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA),Tenerife,Spain;5.Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM),Alicante University,Alicante,Spain |
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Abstract: | We tested the hypothesis that fertilized containerized Pinus canariensis seedlings increases survival when planted in semiarid sites through the improvement of their physiological status during
the establishment phase by an increment in root growth. Seedlings were cultured under two different regimes: traditional (in
non-fertilized natural soil) and alternative (in fertilized peat). Morphological attributes and nitrogen content were measured
before planting. Measurements of survival and growth in the plantation were made periodically for 2 years and physiological
plant responses (leaf water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) during the third summer after planting were
tested and finally a set of plants were excavated to measure the same parameters as before planting. Seedlings cultivated
using fertilized peat achieved the highest values for all of evaluated parameters. During the third dry season, big seedlings
exhibited better physiological status. Therefore, enhanced root growth can result in better water uptake during the dry period
thereby increasing survival and growth in the next few years after planting. A feed-back physiological model is proposed to
explain P. canariensis establishment in a semiarid environment. |
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Keywords: | Canary Island pine Fertilization Feed-back model Field performance Seedling quality Physiological status |
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