Phosphorus fertilizer induced changes in the soil available P, the P nutrition and the growth of Pinus radiata seedlings grown in association with understory

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate changes in the soil plant-available P, the P nutrition and the growth of Pinus radiata seedlings grown in association with understory, broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) or ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on Orthic Allophanic Soil, following the application of three rates of triple superphosphate (TSP) (0, 50, and 100 mg·kg⁻¹P) under a glasshouse condition. The application of P fertilizer enhanced P availability in the rhizospheric of radiata seedlings and the bulk soils in a P-deficient site. P availability in the rhizospheric soils of ryegrass and broom, grown in association with radiata, were also increased by the presence of radiata roots. P concentrations in new shoot needles, old shoot needles, stem and roots of radiata pine increased with increase rates of TSP application, but the effects of ryegrass and broom on P nutrition of radiata seedlings depended on the soil P status. In the absence of P fertilizer addition (control treatment), P concentrations in new shoot needles, old shoot needles, stem, and roots of radiata grown in association with broom were higher than those with ryegrass, whereas, when P fertilizer was added (50 and 100 mg·kg⁻¹) the P concentration was lower. This is probably related to the growth of broom that may have removed much of the plant-available P in the soil as indicated by the consistently lower Bray-2 P concentration in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with broom than that in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with grass at the two high P rates. Furthermore, in the high P fertile soil (application rate of 100 mg·kg⁻¹), the dry matter yield of radiata was lower when it was grown with broom than with ryegrass. This result suggests that in moderate to high P fertile soils, P. radiata seedlings grow better with ryegrass than with broom, because broom grows vigorously in high P fertile soil and competes with P. radiata for P and perhaps for other nutrients as well.

Keywords

phosphorus fertilizer / Pinus radiata / understory / rhizosphere / soil available P / P nutrition / plant growth

References

[1] Adamo P., Edwards A.C., Wilson M.J.. Date R. A., Grundon N. J., Rayment G. E., Probert M. E.. Acidity and phosphorus interaction: some preliminary observations on rhizosphere soil. Plant-soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management. 1995, Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 635 639

[2] Anonymous. 2000. Analysis of Experiments for Researchers. Course Material. Institute of Information Sciences and Technology, College of Science, Massey University, 203 pp.

[3] Ballard R.. Use of soil testing for predicting phosphate fertilizer requirements of radiata pine at time of planting. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1974, 4: 27-34.

[4] Belcher J.W., Keddy P.A., Twolan-Strutt L.. Root and shoot competition intensity along a soil depth gradient. Journal of Ecology, 1995, 83: 673-682.

[5] Blakemore LC, Searle PL, Day BK. 1987. Methods for chemical analysis of soils. New Zealand Soil Bureau, Scientific Report, NZ Soil Bureau, Lower Hutt, 80 pp.

[6] Chen C.R., Condron L.M., Davis M.R., Sherlock R.R.. Effects of afforestation on phosphorus dynamics and biological properties in a New Zealand grassland soil. Plant and Soil, 2000, 220: 151-163.

[7] Chen C.R., Condron L.M., Sinaj S., Davis M.R., Sherlock R.R., Frossard E.. Effects of plant species on phosphorus availability in a range of grassland soils. Plant and Soil, 2003, 256: 115-130.

[8] Clark C.J., McBride M.B.. Cation and anion retention by natural and synthetic allophane and imogolite. Clays and Minerals, 1984, 22: 291-299.

[9] Clinton P.W., Frampton C.M., Mead D.J.. Modelling competitive pasture effects on nutrient uptake by Pinus radiata. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1994, 24: 268-278.

[10] DeLucia E.H., Callaway R.M., Thomas E.M., Schlesinger W.H.. Mechanisms of phosphorus acquisition for ponderosa pine seedlings under high CO₂ and temperature. Annals Botany, 1997, 79: 111-120.

[11] Freckleton R.P., Watkinson A.R.. The mis-measurement of plant competition. Functional Ecology, 1999, 13: 285-287.

[12] Freckleton R.P., Watkinson A.R.. Design for greenhouse studies of interactions between plants: an analytical perspective. Journal of Ecology, 2000, 88: 386-391.

[13] Gadgil R.L., Charlton J.F.L., Sandberg A.M., Allen P.J.. Establishment of selected legumes in a mid-rotation Pinus radiata plantation. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1988, 18: 210-220.

[14] Hedley M.J., White R.E., Nye P.H.. Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) seedlings. II. Origins of the pH change. New Phytologist, 1982, 91: 31-44.

[15] Hedley M.J., White R.E., Nye P.H.. Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) seedlings. III. Changes in L-value, soil phosphate fractions and phosphatase activity. New Phytologist, 1982, 95: 69-82.

[16] Hewitt A.E.. New Zealand soil classification. 1998, Lincoln, New Zealand: Manaaki Whenua Press, Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.

[17] Hunter IR, Rodgers BE, Dunningham A, Prince JM, Thorn AJ. 1991. An atlas of radiata pine nutrition in New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry of Forestry. FRI Bulletin No.165, 24 pp.

[18] Law R., Watkinson A.R.. Response-surface analysis of two-species competition: an experiment on Phleum arenarium and Vulpia fasciculata. Journal of Ecology, 1987, 75: 871-886.

[19] Leco Corporation. CNS-2000 Elemental Analyzer — Instruction Manual. 1996, St. Joseph (MI): LECO Corporation

[20] Li L., Zhang F., Li X., Christie P., Sun J., Yang S., Tang C.. Interspecific facilitation of nutrient uptake by intercropped maize and faba bean. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 2003, 65: 61-71.

[21] Li L., Tang C., Rengel Z., Zhang F.. Chickpea facilitates phosphorus uptake by intercropped wheat from an organic phosphorus source. Plant and Soil, 2003, 248: 297-303.

[22] Liu Q., Loganathan P., Hedley M.J., Skinner M.F.. The mobilisation and fate of soil and rock phosphate in the rhizosphere of ectomycorrhizal Pinus radiata seedlings in an Allophanic soil. Plant and Soil, 2004, 264: 219-229.

[23] MacLaren J.P.. Radiata pine growers’ manual. 1993, Rotorua, New Zealand: New Zealand Forest Research Institute

[24] Mead D.J., Lucas R.J., Mason E.G.. Studying interaction between pasture and Pinus radiata in Canterbury’s subhumid, temperate environment — the first two years. New Zealand Forestry, 1993, 38: 26-31.

[25] Mead D.J., Mansur I.. Vector analysis of foliage data to study competition for nutrients and moisture: an agroforestry example. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1993, 23: 27-39.

[26] Middleton K.R., Toxopeus M.R.J.. Diagnosis and measurement of multiple soil deficiencies by a substractive technique. Plant and Soil, 1973, 38: 219-226.

[27] Murphy J., Riley J.P.. A modified single solution method for the deter mination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1962, 27: 31-36.

[28] Nambiar EKS, Squire RO, Sands R, Will GM. 1984. Manipulation of water and nutrients in plantations of fast growing species. In: D.C. Grey, A.P.G. Schonau, C.J. Schutz (eds), Site and Productivity of Fast Growing Plantations. Proceedings of the IUFRO Symposium, 30 April–11 May 1984, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, pp 489–506.

[29] Pannel C.A.. The Influence of Phosphorus Supply on Below-ground Interferences Between Browntop and White Clover. 1993, New Zealand: Massey University

[30] Payn T.W., Skinner M.F., Clinton P.W.. Currie L.D., Loganathan P.. Future nutrient requirements of New Zealand plantation forests. Long-term Nutrient Needs for New Zealand’s Primary Industries. 1998, New Zealand: Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, 97 110

[31] Payn T.W., Skinner M.F., Hill R.B., Thorn A.J., Scott J., Downs S., Chapman H.. Scaling up or scaling down: the use of foliage and soil information for optimising the phosphate nutrition of radiata pine. Forest Ecology and Management, 2000, 138: 79-89.

[32] Parfitt R.L.. Phosphate reactions with natural allophane, ferrihydrite and goethite. Journal of Soil Science, 1989, 40: 359-369.

[33] Richardson B., Vanner A., Davenhill N., Balneaves J., Miller K., Ray J.. Interspecific competition between Pinus radiata and some common weed species — first-year results. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1993, 23(2): 179-193.

[34] Richardson B., Vanner A., Ray J., Davenhill N., Coker G.. Mechanisms of Pinus radiata growth suppression by some common forest weed species. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 1996, 26(3): 421-437.

[35] Roy B., Popay I., Champion P., James T., Rahman A.. An illustrated guide to common weeds of New Zealand. 1998, Canterbury, New Zealand: New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc), Canterbury, New Zealand

[36] Scott J.T.. Soil Phosphorus Dynamics in a Temperate Silvopastoral System. 2002, New Zealand: Lincoln University

[37] Searle P.L.. Automated colorimetric determination of ammonium ions in soil extracts with ‘Technicon Autoanalyser II equipment’. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1975, 18: 183-187.

[38] Silvertown J.W., Doust J.L.. Introduction to Plant Population Biology. 1993, MA, USA: Blackwell Scientific Publication

[39] Smethurst P.J., Nambiar E.K.S.. Role of weeds in the management of nitrogen in a young Pinus radiata plantation. New Forests, 1989, 3: 203-224.

[40] Snaydon R.W.. Replacement or additive designs for competition studies. Journal of Applied Ecology, 1991, 28: 930-946.

[41] Soil Survey Staff. Soil Taxonomy, 1999 2nd edition Washington DC, USA: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

[42] Steel R.G.D., Torrie J.H., Dickey D.A.. Analysis of Variance IV. Split-plot Design and Analysis. Principle and Procedures of Statistics: a Biometrical Approach, 1997 3rd edition New York, USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

[43] Twine J.R., Williams C.H.. The determination of phosphorus in kjeldahl digests of plant materials by automatic analysis. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 1971, 2: 485-489.

[44] Twolan-Strutt L., Keddy P.A.. Above- and below-ground competition intensity in two contrasting wetland plant communities. Ecology, 1996, 77: 259-270.

[45] Wang X., Zabowski D.. Nutrient composition of Douglas-fir rhizosphere and bulk soil solutions. Plant and Soil, 1998, 200: 13-20.

[46] Watt M.S., Clinton P.W., Whitehead D., Richardson B., Mason E.G., Leckie A.C.. Above-ground biomass accumulation and nitrogen fixation of broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) growing with juvenile Pinus radiata on a dryland site. Forest Ecology and Management, 2003, 184: 93-104.