|Authors: ||M. Tagliavini, E.J. Hogue, G.H. Neilsen|
Phosphorus and peat addition to soil has previously proved to stimulate early growth of transplanted trees.
In a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment, the effects of P and a peat-soil mixture on initial growth and N-P nutrition of peach seedlings were assessed both in a soil where a peach orchard was previously planted (replant soil) and in a virgin soil where no crops had grown.
Treatments included all combinations of the two soils (replant and virgin) with or without 100 mg P/L applied as NaH2PO4.H2O with or without peat additions [3 soil:l peat (v:v)]. Both P fertilization and peat addition increased shoot length and shoot and root dry matter after 64 days.
Phosphorus + peat increased shoot and root growth only in replant soil.
P addition increased shoot P concentration and P uptake but depressed shoot N concentration.
Peat did not affect P nutrition but decreased shoot N uptake and concentration.
Peat decreased soil pH, and increased soil water holding capacity.
Phosphorus and peat additions represent possible techniques for stimulating early growth rates in both virgin and replant soil, thus their application within the planting hole might help overcome peach soil sickness.
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