Effectiveness of fertilizer application during containerized english oak seedling cultivation in the South-Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Introduction

Ensuring optimal mineral nutrition during seedling cultivation is essential for enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors and improving the quality of planting material. The application of mineral and complex fertilizers represents an effective approach to achieving these objectives. Studies on fertilizer use in the cultivation of English oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings provide a scientific basis for developing intensive technologies for producing high-quality stress-resistant planting material.

The aim of this research was to evaluate biometric parameters, the air-dry aboveground biomass, root system biomass, and the yield of standard-quality one-year-old containerized English oak seedlings under different fertilization regimes.

Materials and Methods

The effectiveness of root and foliar fertilization with solutions of Partner Standart, Rokohumin, Rost Kontsentrat, Master, Help Rost, Brexil Multi, Nutrivant Plus, and Rosasol on biometric parameters, biomass accumulation, and yield of standard-quality one-year-old English oak containerized seedlings was investigated in 2023.

Ten experimental treatments with different fertilizer types and concentrations, along with an unfertilized control, were established. During the growing season, two applications of fertilizer solutions were carried out either through root fertilization (irrigation) or foliar fertilization (spraying).

Fertilizer effectiveness was assessed based on biometric characteristics, biomass parameters, and the proportion of standard-quality seedlings. Differences between treatments and the control were tested for statistical significance using Student’s t-test at a 5% significance level.

Results. The greatest mean seedling height (35.8 cm) was recorded following root fertilization with Partner 20:20:20 at a concentration of 3 g·l^-1, while the lowest height (29.1 cm) was observed with root application of Master 20:20:20 at 2.5 g·l^-1.

The largest mean root collar diameter (4.7 mm) was achieved with root fertilization using Master 6:3:6 at 5 ml·l^-1-?, whereas the smallest diameter (3.9 mm) was observed in treatments with root fertilization using Partner 35:10:10 and Partner 20:20:20 at 3 g·l^-1.

The highest mean air-dry aboveground biomass (3.2 g) resulted from foliar fertilization with Rosasol at 1.5 g·l^-1, while the lowest value (1.9 g) occurred following root fertilization with Master 20:20:20 at 2.5 g·l^-1.

Maximum mean root biomass (9.9 g) was obtained with root fertilization using Help Rost at 3.5 ml·l^-1, whereas the minimum value (3.3 g) was recorded with Partner 20:20:20 applied at 3 g·l^-1.

The proportion of standard-quality containerized seedlings in all fertilized treatments (86–100%) exceeded that of the control (82%). Seedling condition in both experimental and control treatments was assessed as good, with a low incidence of disease (5–10%).

Conclusions.  Compared with the control, fertilization increased seedling height by 18–45%, root collar diameter by 25–52%, air-dry aboveground biomass by 86–218%, and root biomass by 5–213%.

The proportion of standard-quality one-year-old containerized oak seedlings was consistently higher in all fertilized treatments (86–100%) than in the unfertilized control (82%).

The results demonstrate the effectiveness of applying Partner Standart, Rokohumin, Rost Kontsentrat, Master, Help Rost, Brexil Multi, Nutrivant Plus, and Rosasol fertilizers – used in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations – for intensifying the growth of containerized English oak seedlings. These fertilization practices can be recommended for seedling cultivation in open-ground nurseries and for producing high-quality planting material for reforestation and afforestation in the south-eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

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