Abstract:

To explore the utilization of super absorbent polymer in container seedling culture, we investigated effects of super absorbent polymer in culture media on growth and nutrient uptake of container seedlings of Fraxinus chinensis in this study. Additionally, dynamic accumulationof the dry matter and nutrient was studied by means of variance analysis, multiple comparisons and regression analysis methods. Results showed that super absorbent polymer addition had no effect on the early growth stage of F. chinensis, but increased the height and ground diameter during later growth stage, compared with readily-available fertilizer treatment only. In different treatments, dynamic accumulation of dry matter and nutrient in F. chinensis seedlings could be well described by Logistic equation with different feature indexes. Compared with readily-available fertilizer treatment only, super absorbent polymer addition delayed the terminal time and extended the time of dry matter quick accumulation by seven days. Besides, the maximum increase rate of dry matter accumulation was increased by 6.62%. At the same time, super absorbent polymer addition prolonged the duration of nitrogen and potassium quick accumulation, and the maximum increase rate was increased by 16.61% and 7.52%, respectively. Super absorbent polymer had little effect on the time of phosphorus quick accumulation. Root, stem and leaf dry weight of F. chinensis was increased by 15.71%, 7.13% and 3.46%, respectively in super absorbent polymer addition than in readily-available fertilizer. Besides, application of super absorbent polymerontent increased the content of nitrogen and potassium by 8.33% and 4.24%, and increased the uptake amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by 16.56%, 8.25% and 12.75%, respectively. On the condition of non-nutrient, application super absorbent polymerontent in container media had no effect on the nutrient content and uptake of F. chinensis. In general, application of super absorbent polymer in readily-available fertilizer improved the later growth of F. chinensis and prolonged quick accumulation period of dry matter, nitrogen and potassium. At the same time, it increased the dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake. However, on the condition of non-nutrient, super absorbent polymer had no effect on the growth and nutrient uptake of F. chinensis.

Key words: super absorbent polymer, Fraxinus chinensis container seedling, readily available fertilizer, nutrient accumulation, dry matter accumulation