The content of nutrients and the acidity of the substrate for growing containerized seedlings of pine and spruce

Abstract

The results of studies of the content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, ammonia nitro-gen, mobile iron compounds and the sum of exchangeable bases of calcium and magnesium in the sub-strate at the beginning and end of the growing season when seedlings of Scots pine and Norway spruce in containers. The content of nutrients in the substr ate to the end of the growing season has decreased significantly. The number of mobile forms of phosphorus has decreased in 2.3 times, potassium 2 times, ammonia nitrogen up to 19 times exchangeable bases of calcium and magnesium in 1.5 times. This is due to the consumption of the seedlings of nutrients, as well as their leaching from the substrate during irrigation. Therefore, to maintain the necessary balance of nutrients in the substrate during the vegetation period it is necessary to observe a scien tific system of fertilization.The acidity of the sub-strate also decreased from 5.2 to 6.3 pH. Water for irrigation has the acidity close to neutral (pH = 7.1). To maintain the optimum acidity of the substrate, the pH of irrigation water should be in the range of not higher than 5.5 to 6.0. Therefore, when using irrigation water with neutral acidity is necessary to carry out activities according to its acidification.