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2025 Vol.43, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research Article

Field Evaluation of Fertilizer Rates for the Best Establishment of Young Eucalyptus gunnii Trees
Soo-Yeon Hyun1
,
Hyun-Sug Choi23*
1Department of Horticulture, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
2Department of Horticultural Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea
3Research Institute of international Agriculture, Technology and Information, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2025. pp. 312-326
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Abstract

We aimed to determine the appropriate amount of organic fertilizer and to provide locally adaptable standard-fertilization rates for young Eucalyptus gunnii plantations in South Korea on May 10, 2022. Four fertilizer treatments were applied annually: 0, 25, and 50 g of actual T-N per tree for 0%, 100%, and 200% oil cake, respectively; and 25 g T-N as a chemical fertilizer treatment. The chemical fertilizer treatment reduced the soil pH to 5.87, presumably owing to high nitrification of NH4+ and high loss of NO3- observed for low NO3- concentrations under chemical fertilization. Both the 200% oil-cake and chemical fertilizer treatments increasd the soil organic matter content and P2O5 and K2O concentrations while reducing the CaO and MgO concentrations. A high soil organic matter content caused 2.47%, 2.49%, 2.33%, and 2.06% increases in foliar T-N concentrations in the 200% oil-cake-treated plots, the 100% oil-cake-treated plots, the chemical fertilizer treatment, and the 0% oil-cake-treated plots, respectively. The lowest foliar K concentrations were observed in the 0% oil-cake-treated soils concomitant with highest foliar Ca and Mg concentrations. Tree height and trunk thickness were lowest for the 0% oil-cake-treated plots from 30 to 450 days after transplant (DAT). Tree trunks were significantly increased in thickness by the 200% in oil-cake-treatment from 150 to 450 DAT, concomitant with increased numbers of shoots and leaves. As the trees grew higher, the leaf chlorophyll content decreased from 330 to 390 DAT across treatments, particularly under the 0% oil-cake treatment. The 200% oil-cake treatment significantly increased the root, shoot, leaf, and whole tree dry mass in the following order: 100% oil cake > chemical fertilizer > 0% oil cake trees. High (> 53%) tree-survival rates were observed under the chemical fertilizer at both 510 and 690 DAT, while the lowest survival rates (27%) were observed for the 0% oil-cake treatment. Tree survival was correlated positively with the foliar T-N, K, trunk thickness, tree height, number of shoots, the total leaf dry weight, and the average leaf dry weight. The highest amount (450 mL) of hydrosol was extracted from the leaves of the 200% oil-cake-treated trees. Cut foliage can last up to seven days in water regardless of fertilization. The 200% oil-cake treatment was the recommended organic fertilizer rate for improving nutrient cycling and promoting early tree growth in Eucalyptus gunnii plantations.

Keywords
freezing
global warming
mineral nutrient
organic
survival
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 43
  • No :3
  • Pages :312-326
  • Received Date : 2024-09-12
  • Revised Date : 2024-10-30
  • Accepted Date : 2024-11-29
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20250029
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