Effect of Nutrient and Spacing on Growth and Biomass Production in Poplar under Nursery Condition

Abstract

Nutrient management is one of the prime factors which play a pivotal role on the growth, development and successful completion of life cycle in all green plants. It is very essential to establish alternate and fast growing tree species to meet the raw material demand of various wood based industries. Poplar occupies an important place amongst fast growing species due to their multiple uses as an industrial raw material in pulp and paper. In this study, effect of different spacing (60×60 cm, 70×30 cm and 80×30 cm) and fertilizer levels (N1= N0 P0 K0 (Control), N2= N100 P50 K25, N3= N150 P75 K37.5, N4= N200 P100 K50, N5= N250 P75 K62.5 and N6= N0 P0 K0 + Biofertilizers) on growth of poplar under nursery condition during 2019 and 2020. The performances of growth were influenced by N, P and K at different levels. All the growth characters viz. sprouting per cent, basal diameter, leaf area and total biomass in general increased significantly with increased spacing during both the experimental years. However, plant height and chlorophyll content showed differential response and increased significantly with decrease in spacing. Fertilizer application significantly improved the growth of poplar clones in terms of basal diameter, plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content and total biomass over control. The performances of growth were influenced by N, P and K at different levels during 2019 and 2020 in poplar nursery were found significantly higher in N200P100K50  and the lowest in control among all the other nutrients levels.  In poplar nursery, the growth was significantly higher for 60 × 60 cm spacing as compared to other spacings of poplar. The highest growth in poplar was registered under the application of N200 P100 K50 with 60×60 cm spacing.