Phosphorus Enhanced Establishment, Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Productivity of Dalbergia sissoo Seedlings Maintained at Varying Soil Water Stress Levels in an Indian Arid Zone

Abstract

We assessed interactive effects of varying levels of applied phosphorus fertilizer and water stress on growth, productivity, and mineral accumulation in container-grown Dalbergia sissoo L. seedlings. Height, collar diameter, leaf size and area, root volume and total biomass were reduced, and dry matter allocation to root was increased with increasing levels of soil water stress. The reduction was >32% in growth, >50% in leaf, and >77% in biomass when seedlings were grown with <50% of soil field capacity. Phosphorus application at the level of 10 mg kg⁻¹ soil enhanced stems and leaf biomass and nutrient accumulation at all irrigation levels, and thus tolerance to drought. Phosphorus responses to growth and biomass production increased with irrigation levels. Thus, 20 mg P kg⁻¹ soil is beneficial at sufficient soil water availability and a lower dose (i.e., 10 mg P kg⁻¹) is recommended under high soil water stress conditions to benefit growth and productivity of D. sissoo.

Keywords:

• biomass allocation
• growth
• India
• nutrient accumulation
• soil water content
• stress tolerance

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director of the Arid Forest Research Institute for providing the necessary infrastructural facilities. Thanks are also due to Sh. N. Bala for his help in the nutrients analysis.