Boron and magnesium fertilization of a coastal Douglas-fir plantation

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Western Journal of Applied Forestry; (United States)

OSTI ID:6587015

Green, R N ^[1]; Carter, R E ^[2]

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1. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Burnaby (Canada)
2. Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

This study examines the role of boron and magnesium nutrition in the occurrence of severe growth distortion symptoms in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in the Skwawka River valley of south coastal British Columbia. Four fertilizer treatments including boron, magnesium, boron plus magnesium, and a control, were applied in conjunction with planting on a site believed to be deficient in these nutrients. After 5 growing seasons, only treatments containing boron (B and B+Mg) showed improved height growth over the control trees. The incidence of leader dieback, swollen leading shoots, and foliage distortion was significantly related to treatment with virtually no occurrence in plots treated with boron. Seedling uptake of applied boron was high, with foliar concentrations of 45 ppm found after the second growth season. Foliar B levels declined to 13-15 ppm after 5 growing seasons. No significant increase in foliar magnesium levels was detected for either of the magnesium treatments. The reduction in the incidence of leader dieback and shoot and foliar symptoms in seedlings treated with B indicate that these symptoms were the result of boron deficiencies. This is the first study to verify boron deficiency in coastal Douglas-fir through fertilizer trials.

• OSTI ID: 6587015
• Journal Information: Western Journal of Applied Forestry; (United States), Journal Name: Western Journal of Applied Forestry; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN 0085-6095; ISSN WJAFEK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BORON
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA
CONIFERS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FIRS
GROWTH
MAGNESIUM
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
PINOPHYTA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
ROOT ABSORPTION
SEEDLINGS
SEMIMETALS
SORPTION
SYMPTOMS
TREES
UPTAKE