Abstract:

A provenance-by-phosphorus-interaction trial of Masson Pine at infertile site with phosphorus deficiency located the west of Fujian at age 10 was used to investigate the growth response characteristic of superior provenances to fertilizer supply and persistence of phosphorus effect. Significant differences in growth response to phosphorous fertilizer among five provenances were detected, providing sufficient evidence that both Xinyi, GD and Wuping, FJ were excellent provenances with tolerance of low phosphorus, while Cenxi, GX was sensitive to phosphorus in the early growth stage and less sensitive in later stage. For Gaozhou, GD and Chongyi, JX, phosphorus effect for height growth was marked in early stage, while phosphorus effect for DBH and volume was significant at age ten. Thus, appropriate scheme of fertilizer application ought to be arranged according to the growth responses differences to phosphorus between provenances. Phosphorous effect was found to be varied with provenances tested, but to be obvious and last for a long period for all the provenances. Compared to height growth, the influence of phosphorus to DBH was greater and more permanent. Result showed the effect of high phosphorus supply was greater than low supply, indicating that phosphorus supply was an effective method just as breeding in high-yield plantation establishment of Masson Pine. The experiment showed that provenance by phosphorus interaction was significant in early age and absent at later growth stage, implying that relative growth performance of provenances tested was not influenced by phosphorous supply. Though tree height differentiation among provenances was increased by phosphorous supply, the influence to differentiation of DBH was small. Further, individual growth heterogeneity within provenances were markedly reduced by phosphorous supply.

Key words: Pinus massoniana, provenance, phosphorus effect, fertilizer effect permanence, growth heterogeneity