Fertilization Regulates Accumulation and Allocation of Biomass and Nutrients in Phoebe bournei Seedlings

Abstract

To study the effect of N-P-K fertilization on Phoebe bournei seedlings’ organs dry biomass, and nutrients accumulation and allocation, and to further uncover how nutrients regulating dry biomass formation through fertilization, we utilized the “3414” experiment design. The results showed that N, P, and K fertilizer promoted dry biomass accumulation, and root, stem, and total plant N, P, and K content and accumulation in seedlings. The dry biomass accumulations of root, stem, and total plant increased first and then decreased with the increase of N, P, and K application rates, which was basically consistent with the change in dry biomass allocations and N, P, and K contents, accumulations, and allocations. Root N accumulation, root P accumulation, and total plant K accumulation were the key indicators for seedlings growth. N fertilizer had the greatest effect on total dry biomass and root N accumulation, was the most important fertilizer for the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings, can regulate the growth of root and leaves, is beneficial to root growth at medium-low N fertilizer levels (N: 0.266–0.532 g·plant−1), and leaves growth at high N fertilizer level (N: 0.798 g·plant−1). P fertilizer rate can regulate the seedling stem growth, reaching the maximum at the medium level P application (P2O5: 0.1332 g·plant−1). K fertilizer had the greatest effect on the root P accumulation and total K accumulation, promoting K transport from leaves to root, improved root and stem growth, and inhibited leaves growth. The N, P, and K fertilizer three-factor application can better promote nutrient uptake than double-factor and single-factor fertilization, with highest dry biomass accumulation at the medium level of N, P, K fertilizer (N: 0.532 g·plant−1; P2O5: 0.1232 g·plant−1; K2O: 0.356 g·plant−1). In conclusion, N, P, and K fertilization promoted the N, P, and K absorption, increased root, stem, and leaves N, P, and K content and accumulation, and promoted the seedling dry biomass accumulation, but reversed under excessive application of N, P, and K fertilizer; and N fertilizer was beneficial to root and leaves growth, P fertilizer to stem growth, and K fertilizer to material transfer, which provided a theoretical basis for robust Phoebe bournei seedling cultivation.

Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization management on soil properties and leaf traits and yield of Sapindus mukorossi

“…The leaves were killed at 105°C for 30min, dried at 55°C until constant weight, crushed and sieved to determine the leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content. Leaf nitrogen content was determined by Kjeldahl method; leaf phosphorus content was determined by Molybdenum antimony colorimetric method; leaf potassium content was determined by flame photometric method ( Yang et al., 2021 ).…”

The Application of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Regulate the Growth and Morphological Development of Torreya grandis (Taxaceae) Saplings

“…However, the effects of fertilization on T. grandis growth from September to the following February were less apparent. This may have been attributed to the lower plant metabolism under the colder conditions of a temperate climate, which resulted in a delay of nutrient accumulation in the soil, thus exhibiting a certain lag effect [45][46][47].…”

Long-Term Impact of N, P, K Fertilizers in Different Rates on Yield and Quality of Anisodus tanguticus (Maxinowicz) Pascher

“…In recent years, the "3414" design has been gradually used in the production of medicinal plants [25]. For example, the compound application of 3414 effectively improved the quality of the Bupleurum root [26]. In addition, the "3414" fertilizer design has also been tested on a variety of Chinese herbal medicines such as Panax notoginseng, rhubarb, and atractylodes [27], and the effect is remarkable [28].…”