The responses of Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora to nutrient applications

  • K. Bargali Department of Botany, Kumaun University, Namital - 263002 India
Keywords: Dry phytomass, seedling growth, competition, RY, RYT, RCC, relative replacement rate

Abstract

Seedling growth of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. an early successional species, and Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus a late successional species; was compared at five levels of nutrient application. Seedlings of the two species were grown in mixture (interspecific competition) and in monoculture (intraspecific competition). Nutrients were applied at five levels (0,144,264, 384 and 504 mg) of a 12:32:16 NPK fertilizer once each of the two growing season. The dry phytomass yield of P. roxburghii was greater than that of Q. leucotrichophora under all experimental conditions and the difference between the two species was greater in mixture. In monoculture dry phytomass of Q. leucotrichophoraseedlings generally increased with the amount of applied nutrients, but in competition with P. roxburghii it decreased. The Relative Yield (RY), Relative Yield Totals (RYT) and Relative Crowding Coefficient (RCC) indicate that P. roxburghii is a better competitor than Q. leucotrichophora. A comparison of replacement rates between Q. leucotrichophoraand P. roxburghii implies that Q. leucotrichophora is a poorer competitor at all the nutrient levels except for the lowest one.

Published
1992-12-01
How to Cite
Bargali, K. (1992). The responses of Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora to nutrient applications. Oecologia Montana, 1(2), 1-6. Retrieved from https://om.vuvb.uniza.sk/index.php/OM/article/view/14
Section
Standard articles