The uptake of nutrients from sterilised forest-nursery soils

Abstract

Soil sterilisation trials were carried out in 7 nurseries in the North and South Islands to test the possibility of increasing productivity by this means. Even where soil pathogens were not a problem seedling growth was improved. Chloropicrin proved more effective than formaldehyde. The greatest increases in growth and nutrient (N, P, and K) uptake occurred in pumice-soil nurseries. However, in these soils, the beneficial effect las ted for one year only—thereafter growth and nutrient uptake were reduced. A second sterilisation was detrimental.

The combined use of chloropicrin and compost resulted in increases in nutrient uptakes far in excess of those obtained from chloropicrin alone or compost alone.