Growth, nutrient, water relations, and gas exchange in a holm oak plantation in response to irrigation and fertilization

• Published in: New forests Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 75 - 94
• Main Authors: Pardos, M, Royo, A, Pardos, J.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Climatic conditions; climatic factors; fertilizer application; Gas exchange; Growing season; Irrigation; leaf water potential; leaves; Nutrient concentrations; nutrient content; Nutrient status; Photosynthesis; plant-water relations; Quercus ilex; seasonal variation; seedling growth; Seedlings; soil treatment; soil water content; Stomatal conductance; tree growth; Water availability; Water potential; Water relations; Spain
• ISSN: 0169-4286; 1573-5095
• DOI: 10.1007/s11056-004-2553-x

Eighty 6-years-old Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota seedlings planted on a former agricultural land were subjected during two growing seasons to one of four treatments: fertilization and irrigation, irrigation, fertilization, and control. Seasonal and between-treatment variations on water relations, gas exchange parameters, growth and nutrient status were analyzed. Water potential (psi) was related to climatic conditions. Thus, the frequent rain storms during the summer allow seedlings to maintain relatively high psi values, joined to moderate photosynthetic activity. Differences on psi, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance due to irrigation were shown at the onset and end of growth, related with lower water availability. Fertilization had a greater effect on growth than irrigation. Both fertilization and irrigation positively affected the relative increment on leaf nutrient concentration at the end of the second year. The results indicate that water availability was not a limited factor, thus irrigation is not justified; while fertilization improve growth.