Differences in N, P, and K status and N efficiency of some North American willow species and their clones were observed and evaluated. Salixeriocephala Michx., S. lucida Mühl., and S. exigua Nutt., represented by five clones each, were raised from cuttings in potted loamy sand for 113 days. Plants were subjected to three levels of fertilization (equivalent to 125, 250, or 500 kg N/ha) applied at exponential rates of addition (0.06, 0.071, and 0.082, respectively), using complete nutrient solutions and were compared with control plants (no fertilizer added). The experiment showed that nutrient concentration and nutrient uptake in the plants depended not only on treatments but also on species and clones. Thus, species and clones that removed smaller amounts of nutrients per unit of biomass could be selected. Species had a larger effect than clones on nutrient concentration and content. Total nutrient content, at the same treatment level, depended primarily on biomass production. Significant variation existed among species and clones in the ratio of biomass/total N. Salixeriocephala (the best species) produced 35.1% more than the other species, and the best experimental clones within species produced 27.8–41.6% more stem per unit of N than the poorest clones.
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