Fertilization Regulates Accumulation and Allocation of Biomass and Nutrients in Phoebe bournei Seedlings

To study the effect of N-P-K fertilization on Phoebe bournei seedlings' organs dry biomass, and nutrients accumulation and allocation, and to further uncover how nutrients regulating dry biomass formation through fertilization, we utilized the 3414 experiment design. The results showed that N, P, and K fertilizer promoted dry biomass accumulation, and root, stem, and total plant N, P, and K content and accumulation in seedlings. The dry biomass accumulations of root, stem, and total plant increased first and then decreased with the increase of N, P, and K application rates, which was basically consistent with the change in dry biomass allocations and N, P, and K contents, accumulations, and allocations. Root N accumulation, root P accumulation, and total plant K accumulation were the key indicators for seedlings growth. N fertilizer had the greatest effect on total dry biomass and root N accumulation, was the most important fertilizer for the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings, can regulate the growth of root and leaves, is beneficial to root growth at medium-low N fertilizer levels (N: 0.266-0.532 g center dot plant(-1)), and leaves growth at high N fertilizer level (N: 0.798 g center dot plant(-1)). P fertilizer rate can regulate the seedling stem growth, reaching the maximum at the medium level P application (P2O5: 0.1332 g center dot plant(-1)). K fertilizer had the greatest effect on the root P accumulation and total K accumulation, promoting K transport from leaves to root, improved root and stem growth, and inhibited leaves growth. The N, P, and K fertilizer three-factor application can better promote nutrient uptake than double-factor and single-factor fertilization, with highest dry biomass accumulation at the medium level of N, P, K fertilizer (N: 0.532 g center dot plant(-1); P2O5: 0.1232 g center dot plant(-1); K2O: 0.356 g center dot plant(-1)). In conclusion, N, P, and K fertilization promoted the N, P, and K absorption, increased root, stem, and leaves N, P, and K content and accumulation, and promoted the seedling dry biomass accumulation, but reversed under excessive application of N, P, and K fertilizer; and N fertilizer was beneficial to root and leaves growth, P fertilizer to stem growth, and K fertilizer to material transfer, which provided a theoretical basis for robust Phoebe bournei seedling cultivation.

Automated summary

The study found that N, P, and K fertilization can promote dry biomass accumulation, nutrient content, and accumulation in Phoebe bournei seedlings. N fertilizer has the greatest impact on total dry biomass and root N accumulation, P fertilizer affects stem growth, and K fertilizer influences root P accumulation and total K accumulation. Triple-factor application of N, P, and K fertilizers showed the best results in promoting nutrient uptake and highest dry biomass accumulation at medium levels of each nutrient.