The effect of peat substrate compaction on the macronutrient content of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. container seedlings

Various factors, such as availability of light, water, nutrients and soil properties have impact on plant growth. Macroelement content in the seedlings affects their biometric features (such as height and weight) which in turn affects the likelihood that the seedling would survive and thrive later in the forest. This research focuses on analyzing how changes in bulk density of the substrate affect the selected biometric features and the content of macroelements in different parts of the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings (needles, shoot and root). This paper presents the results of research carried out using Scots pine seedlings grown in 120 cm containers. The seedlings grew at 9 different peat substrate bulk densities (ranging from 0.208−0.342 g·cmsup–3/sup). Here, we have determined the macroelements (N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg) content of individual parts of the seedlings (needles, shoot, root system) and substrate furthermore their selected biometric features (height of the above ground plant, dry weight of needles, shoot, root system, length of fine roots). It was found that higher bulk density of the substrate had a limiting effect on the uptake of most macroelements by seedlings and on the examined biometric features. The analysed macroelement content in the assimilation apparatus was compared to the optimal values given in the literature and it was shown that the best concentration of peat substrate for the cultivation of Scots pine seedlings, in terms of this criterion, is in the range of 0.103−0.117 g·cmsup–3/sup dry bulk density.
Sylwan 166 (3): 211-223