The Effects of Fertilization on Growth Performances and Physiological Characteristics of Liriodendron tulipifera in a Container Nursery System

Fertilization is essential to seedling production in nursery culture, but excessive fertilization can contaminate surface and ground water around the nursery. The objective of this study was to find optimal fertilization practice of container seedling production for reducing soil and water contamination around the nursery without compromising seedling quality. This study was conducted to investigate growth performance, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and chlorophyll contents of Liriodendron tulipifera growing under three different fertilization treatments (Constant rate, Three-stage rate, and Exponential rate fertilization). Root collar diameter, height, and biomass of L. tulipifera were the highest at Constant treatment. Like growth performance, seedling quality index (SQI) were higher at Constant than at other treatments, but not significantly different among treatments. L. tulipifera showed good photosynthetic capacity at all treatments. Photochemical efficiency and chlorophyll contents were significantly lower at Exponential than at other treatments. Therefore, Exponential fertilization which is 50% fertilizer of other treatments would maximize seedling growth and minimize nutrient loss.