Abstract
The planting environment of Mediterranean areas is highly challenging as summer drought and winter frost jeopardize survival, and soil infertility limits establishment success. We review the potential for seedling nutrient loading to alleviate these post-planting stresses. A growing body of evidence indicates that nitrogen (N) rich seedlings have improved field performance in Mediterranean environments, due to their ability to grow new roots rapidly and out-compete weeds. In addition, frost resistance during hardening is crucial for relatively cold inland nurseries; recent research shows a positive relationship between N and shoot frost resistance though a knowledge gap exists regarding the influence of nutrition on root frost resistance. Some new evidence also implicates phosphorus as an important driver of seedling response in the Mediterranean due to its influence on root growth and physiology. Nutrient status influences other functional attributes critical to survival in Mediterranean areas, such as drought tolerance, root hydraulic conductivity, and mycorrhization. In light of the apparent benefits of high nutrient reserves for seedling performance in Mediterranean areas, we also review techniques for nursery nutrient loading. Exponential fertilization can be applied when species’ growth patterns match this application regime. However, many Mediterranean species exhibit episodic growth indicating that constant or fall fertilization could be more effective in reaching loading. In particular, late-season fertilization has shown good potential to avert nutrient dilution in the fall and increase frost resistance. Several needs for future research are identified, with special emphasis on the necessity to match fertilization regimes to species ecological traits and planting conditions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Instituto de Meteorología de Portugal (2011) Atlas Climático Ibérico. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino, Madrid
Andivia E, Fernández M, Vázque-Piqué J (2011) Autumn fertilization of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. nursery seedlings: effects on morpho-physiology and field performance. Ann For Sci 68:543–553
Andivia E, Fernández M, Vázque-Piqué J, Alejano R (2012a) Two provenances of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf) Samp. nursery seedlings have different response to frost tolerance and autumn fertilization. Eur J For Res 131:1091–1101
Andivia E, Marquez-García B, Vázquez-Piqué J, Córdoba F, Fernández M (2012b) Autumn fertilization with nitrogen improves nutritional status, cold hardiness and oxidative stress response of Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) nursery seedlings. Trees 26:311–320
Baquedano FJ, Castillo FJ (2006) Comparative ecophysiological effects of drought on seedlings of the Mediterranean water-saver Pinus halepensis and water-spenders Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex. Trees 20:689–700
Bi G, Scagel CF (2008) Nitrogen uptake and mobilization by Hydrangea leaves from foliar-sprayed urea in fall depend on plant nitrogen status. HortScience 43:2151–2154
Bigras FJ (1997) Root cold tolerance of black spruce seedlings: viability tests in relation to survival and growth. Tree Physiol 17:311–318
Bigras FJ, Gonzalez A, D’Aoust AL, Hébert C (1996) Frost hardiness, bud phenology, and growth of containerized Picea mariana seedlings grown at three nitrogen levels and three temperature regimes. New For 12:243–259
Bigras FJ, Ryyppö A, Lindström A, Stattin E (2001) Cold acclimation and deacclimation of shoots and roots of conifer seedlings. In: Bigras FJ, Colombo SJ (eds) Conifer cold hardiness. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp 57–88
Birge ZKD, Salifu KF, Jacobs DF (2006) Modified exponential nitrogen loading to promote morphological quality and nutrient storage of bareroot-cultured Quercus rubra and Quercus alba seedlings. Scand J For Res 21:306–316
Borghetti M, Cinnirella S, Magnani F, Saracino A (1998) Impact of long-term drought on xylem embolism and growth in Pinus halepensis Mill. Trees 12:187–195
Bucio JL, Abreu EH, Calderón LS, Jacobo MF, Simpson J, Estrella LH (2002) Phosphate availability alters architecture and causes changes in hormone sensitivity in the Arabidopsis root system. Plant Physiol 129:244–256
Burgess D (1991) Western hemlock and Douglas-fir seedling development with exponential rates of nutrient addition. For Sci 37:54–67
Burney O, Jacobs DF (2013) Ungulate herbivory of boreal and temperate forest regeneration in relation to seedling mineral nutrition and secondary metabolites. New For. doi:10.1007/s11056-013-9381-9
Carrasco I, Peñuelas JL, Domínguez-Lerena S, Benito LF (2004) Comparación de distintos métodos y dosis de fertilización en plantas de Pinus nigra y Pinus sylvestris cultivadas en contenedor. Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales 17:29–33
Christensen JH, Busuioc HBA, Chen A, Gao X, Held I, Jones R, Koll RK, Kwon WT, Laprise R, Magaña Rueda V, Mearns L, Menéndez CG, Räisänen J, Rinke A, Sarr A, Whetton P (2007) Regional climate projections. In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Climate change: The physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Close DC (2012) A review of ecophysiologically-based seedling specifications for temperate Australian Eucalypt plantations. New For 43:739–753
Close DC, Beadle CL (2004) Total, and chemical fractions, of nitrogen and phosphorus in Eucalyptus seedlings leaves: effects of species, nursery fertilizer management and transplanting. Plant Soil 259:85–95
Close DC, Bailc I, Hunterd S, Beadleb CL (2005) Effects of exponential nutrient-loading on morphological and nitrogen characteristics and on after-planting performance of Eucalyptus globulus seedlings. For Ecol Manage 205:397–403
Colombo SJ, Menzies MI, O’reilly C (2001) Influence of nursery cultural practices on cold hardiness of coniferous forest tree seedlings. In: Bigras FJ, Colombo SJ (eds) Conifer cold hardiness. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp 223–252
Cortina J, Peñuelas JL, Puértolas J, Savé J, Vilagrosa A (Coords) (2006) Calidad de planta forestal para la restauración en ambientes mediterráneos degradados. Estado actual de conocimientos. Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid
Cortina J, Bellot J, Vilagrosa A, Caturla R, Maestre F, Rubio E, Martínez JM, Bonet A (2004) Restauración en semiárido. In: Vallejo VR, Alloza JA (eds) Avances en el Estudio de la Gestión del Monte Mediterráneo. Fundación CEAM, Valencia, pp 345–406
Cortina J, Vilagrosa A, Trubat R (2013) The role of nutrients for improving seedling quality in drylands. New For. doi:10.1007/s11056-013-9379-3
Cuesta B, Villar-Salvador P, Puértolas J, Jacobs DF, Rey Benayas JM (2010) Why do large, nitrogen rich seedlings better resist stressful transplanting conditions? A physiological analysis in two functionally contrasting Mediterranean forest species. For Ecol Manage 260:71–78
Dehayes DH, Ingle MA, Waite CE (1989) Nitrogen fertilization enhances cold tolerance of red spruce seedlings. Can J For Res 19:1037–1043
Del Campo A, Navarro RM, Hermoso J, Ibáñez AJ (2007) Relationships between site and stock quality in Pinus halepensis Mill. reforestation on semiarid landscapes in eastern Spain. Ann For Sci 6:719–731
Del Campo AD, Navarro RM, Ceacero CJ (2010) Seedling quality and field performance of commercial stocklots of containerized holm oak (Quercus ilex) in Mediterranean Spain: an approach for establishing a quality standard. New For 39:19–37
Díaz G, Carrillo C, Honrubia M (2010) Mycorrhization, growth and nutrition of Pinus halepensis seedlings fertilized with different doses and sources of nitrogen. Ann For Sci 67:405–415
Dumroese RK, Page-Dumroese DS, Salifu KF, Jacobs DF (2005) Exponential fertilization of Pinus monticola seedlings: nutrient uptake efficiency, leaching fractions, and early outplanting performance. Can J For Res 35:2961–2967
Duryea ML (1985) Evaluating seedling quality: importance to reforestation. In: Duryea ML (ed) Evaluating seedling quality: principles, procedures and predictive abilities of major test. Forest Research Labaratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, pp 1–6
Everett KT, Hawkins BJ, Kiiskila S (2007) Growth and nutrient dynamics of Douglas-fir seedlings raised with exponential or conventional fertilization and planted with or without fertilizer. Can J For Res 37:2552–2562
Fageria NK, Barbosa Filho MP, Moreira A, Guimaraes CM (2009) Foliar fertilization of crop plants. J Plant Nutr 32:1044–1064
Fernández M, Marcos C, Tapias R, Ruiz F, López G (2007) Nursery fertilization affects the frost-tolerance and plant quality of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. cuttings. Ann For Sci 64:865–873
Fernández M, Alejano R, Domínguez L, Tapias R (2008) Temperature controls cold hardening more effectively than photoperiod in four Mediterranean broadleaf evergreen species. Tree For Sci Biotechnol 2(1):43–49
Folk RS, Grossnickle S (2000) Stock-type patterns of phosphorus uptake, retranslocation, net photosynthesis and morphological development in interior spruce seedlings. New For 19:27–49
Gómez-Aparicio L, Valladares F, Zamora R (2006) Differential light responses of Mediterranean tree saplings: linking ecophysiology with regeneration niche in four co-occurring species. Tree Physiol 26:947–956
Grossnickle SC (2005) Importance of root growth in overcoming planting stress. New For 30:273–294
Grossnickle SC (2012) Why seedlings survive: influence of plant attributes. New For 43:711–738
Haase DL, Rose R, Trobaugh J (2006) Field performance of three stock sizes of Douglas-fir container seedlings grown with slow-release fertilizer in the nursery growing medium. New For 31:1–24
Hawkins BJ, Burgess D, Mitchell AK (2005) Growth and nutrient dynamics of western hemlock with conventional or exponential greenhouse fertilization and planting in different fertility conditions. Can J For Res 35:1002–1016
Hernández EI, Vilagrosa A, Luis VC, Llorca M, Chirino E, Vallejo VR (2009) Root hydraulic conductance, gas exchange and leaf water potential in seedlings of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Quercus suber L. grown under different fertilization and light regimes. Environ Exp Bot 67:269–276
Herrera CM (1992) Historical effects and sorting processes as explanations for contemporary ecological patterns: character syndromes in Mediterranean woody plants. Am Nat 140:421–446
Imo M, Timmer VR (1992) Nitrogen uptake of mesquite seedlings at conventional and exponential fertilization schedules. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:927–934
Ingestad T, Lund AB (1986) Theory and techniques for steady state mineral nutrition and growth of plants. Scand J For Res 1:439–453
Jacobs DF, Timmer VR (2005) Fertilizer-induced changes in rhizosphere electrical conductivity: relation to forest tree seedling root system growth and function. New For 30:147–166
Kostopolou P, Radoglou K, Dini-Papanastasi O (2011) Performance and quality of Cupressus sempervirens L. mini-plug seedlings under reduced photoperiod. Eur J For Res 130:579–588
Kreyling J, Wiesenberg GLB, Thiel D, Wohlfart C, Huber G, Walter J, Jentsch A, Konnert M, Beierkuhnlein C (2012) Cold hardiness of Pinus nigra Arnold as influenced by geographic origin, warming, and extreme summer drought. Environ Exp Bot 78:99–108
Lambers H, Chapin FS, Pons TL (2008) Plant physiological ecology, 2nd edn. Springer, New York
Landis TD (1985) Mineral nutrition as an index of seedling quality. In: Dureya ML (ed) Evaluating seedling quality: principles, procedures, and predictive abilities of major tests. Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, pp 29–48
Landis TD, Van Steenis E (2004) Macronutrients: phosphorus. In: Dumroese RK, Landis T (eds) Forest nursery notes. USDA Forest Service. R6-CP-TP-07-04, pp 6–14
Luis VC, Puértolas J, Climent J, Peters J, González-Rodríguez AM, Morales D, Jiménez MS (2009) Nursery fertilization enhances survival and physiological status in Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) seedlings planted in a semiarid environment. Eur J For Res 128:221–229
Luis VC, Llorca M, Chirino E, Hernández EI, Vilagrosa A (2010) Differences in morphology, gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance before planting in Pinus canariensis seedlings growing under different fertilization and light regimes. Trees Struct Funct 24:1143–1150
Malik V, Timmer VR (1998) Biomass partitioning and nitrogen retranslocation in black spruce seedlings on competitive mixewood sites: a bioassay study. Can J For Res 28:206–215
Martínez-Mena M, Alvarez-Rogel J, Castillo V, Albaladejo J (2002) Organic carbon and nitrogen losses influenced by vegetation removal in a semiarid Mediterranean soil. Biogeochemistry 61:309–321
Mason PA, Ingleby K, Munro RC, Wilson J, Ibrahim K (2000) Interactions on nitrogen and phosphorous on mycorrhizal development and shoot growth of Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) seedlings inoculated with two different ectomycorrhizal fungi. For Ecol Manage 128:259–268
Millard P, Grelet G (2010) Nitrogen storage and remobilization by trees: ecophysiological relevance in a changing world. Tree Physiol 30:1083–1095
Mollá S, Villar-Salvador P, García-Fayos P, Peñuelas Rubira JL (2006) Physiological and transplanting performance of Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) seedlings grown in nurseries with different winter conditions. For Ecol Manage 237:218–226
Oliet J (1995) Influencia de la fertilización en vivero sobre la calidad de la planta y la supervivencia en campo de varias especies forestales. PhD Dissertation, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba
Oliet JA, Jacobs DF (2012) Restoring forests: advances in techniques and theory. New For 43:535–541
Oliet J, Planelles R, López-Arias M, Artero F (2002) Soil water content and water relations in planted and naturally regenerated Pinus halepensis Mill. Seedlings during the first year in semiarid conditions. New For 23:31–44
Oliet J, Planelles R, Segura ML, Artero F, Jacobs DF (2004) Mineral nutrition and growth of containerized Pinus halepensis seedlings under controlled-release fertilization. Sci Horticult 103(1):113–129
Oliet J, Planelles R, Artero F, Jacobs D (2005) Nursery fertilization and tree shelters affect long-term field response of Acacia salicina Lindl. planted in Mediterranean semiarid conditions. For Ecol Manage 215(1–3):339–351
Oliet JA, Valdecantos A, Puértolas J, Trubat R (2006) Influencia del estado nutricional y el contenido en carbohidratos en el establecimiento de los plantones. In: Cortina J, Peñuelas JL, Puértolas J, Savé J, Vilagrosa A (coords) Calidad de planta forestal para la restauración en ambientes mediterráneos degradados. Estado actual de conocimientos. Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid, pp 89–117
Oliet J, Tejada M, Salifu F, Collazos A, Jacobs DF (2009a) Performance and nutrient dynamics of holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) seedlings in relation to nursery nutrient loading and post-transplant fertility. Eur J For Res 128:253–263
Oliet JA, Planelles R, Artero F, Valverde R, Jacobs D, Segura ML (2009b) Field performance of Pinus halepensis planted in Mediterranean arid conditions: relative influence of seedling morphology and mineral nutrition. New For 37:313–331
Oliet JA, Salazar JM, Villar R, Robredo E, Valladares F (2011) Fall fertilization of holm oak affects N and P dynamics, root growth potential, and post-planting phenology and growth. Ann For Sci 68:647–656
Oliet JA, Artero F, Cuadros S, Puértolas J, Luna L, Grau JM (2012) Deep planting with shelters improves performance of different stocktype sizes under arid Mediterranean conditions. New For 43:925–939
Oliveras I, Martínez-Vilalta J, Jiménez-Ortiz MT, Lledó MJ, Escarré A, Piñol J (2003) Hydraulic properties of Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea and Tetraclinis articulata in a dune ecosystem of Eastern Spain. Plant Ecol 169:131–141
Padilla FM, Pugnaire FI (2007) Rooting depth and soil moisture control Mediterranean woody seedling survival during drought. Funct Ecol 21:489–495
Padilla FM, Ortega R, Sánchez J, Pugnaire F (2009) Rethinking species selection for restoration of arid shurblands. Basic Appl Ecol 10:640–647
Palacios G, Navarro RM, del Campo A, Toral M (2009) Site preparation, stock quality and planting date effect on early establishment of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) seedlings. Ecol Eng 35:38–46
Pardos M, Royo A, Gil L, Pardos JA (2003) Effect of nursery location and outplanting date performance of Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex seedlings. Forestry 76:67–81
Pascual S, Olarieta JR, Rodríguez-Ochoa R (2012) Development of Quercus ilex plantations is related to soil phosphorus availability on shallow calcareous soils. New For 43:805–814
Pigott CD, Pigott S (1993) Water as a determinant of distribution of trees at the boundary of the Mediterranean zone. J Ecol 81:557–566
Planelles R (2004) Efectos de la fertilización N-P-K en vivero sobre la calidad funcional de planta de Ceratonia siliqua L. PhD Dissertation, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid
Puértolas J, Fernandez M, Pardos JA (2000) Effects of improved nursery fertilization in the use of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) for afforestation of abandoned agricultural land. In: Hasenauer H (ed) Forest ecosystem restoration. Ecological and economics impacts of restoration processes in secondary coniferous forests. Institute of Forest Growth Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, Wien, pp 382–383
Puértolas J, Gil L, Pardos JA (2003) Effects of nutritional status and seedling size on field performance of Pinus halepensis planted on former arable land in the Mediterranean basin. Forestry 76:159–168
Puértolas J, Gil L, Pardos JA (2005) Effects of nitrogen fertilization and temperature on frost hardiness of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence. Forestry 78:502–511
Puértolas J, Oliet JA, Jacobs DF, Benito LF, Peñuelas JL (2010) Is light the key factor for success of tube shelters in forest restoration plantings under Mediterranean climates? For Ecol Manage 260:610–617
Puértolas J, Jacobs DF, Benito LF, Peñuelas JL (2012) Cost-benefit analysis of different container capacities and fertilization regimes in Pinus stock-type production for forest restoration in dry Mediterranean areas. Ecol Eng 44:210–215
Querejeta JI, Barberá GG, Granados A, Castillo VM (2008) Afforestation method affects the isotopic composition of planted Pinus halepensis in a semiarid region of Spain. For Ecol Manage 254(1):56–64
Quezel P (1985) Definition of the Mediterranean region and the origin of its flora. In: Gómez-Campo C (ed) Plant conservation in the Mediterranean area. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordretch, pp 287–302
Quoreshi M, Timmer VR (2000) Growth, nutrient dynamics, and ectomycorrhizal development of container-grown Picea mariana seedlings in response to exponential nutrient loading. Can J For Res 30:179-190
Repo T, Nilsson JE, Rikala R, Ryyppö A, Sutinen ML (2001) Cold hardiness of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) In: Bigras FJ, Colombo SJ (eds) Conifer cold hardiness. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp 463–493
Rincón A, Parlade J, Pera J (2007) Influence of the fertilization method in controlled ectomycorrhizal inoculation of two Mediterranean pines. Ann For Sci 64:577–583
Salifu KF, Jacobs DF (2006) Characterizing fertility targets and multi-element interactions in nursery culture of Quercus rubra seedlings. Ann For Sci 63:231–237
Salifu KF, Timmer VR (2003) Optimizing nitrogen loading of Picea mariana seedlings during nursery culture. Can J For Res 33:1287–1294
Salifu KF, Jacobs DF, Birge ZKD (2008a) Nursery nitrogen loading improves field performance of bareroot oak seedlings planted on abandoned mine land. Restor Ecol 17:339–349
Salifu KF, Apostol KG, Jacobs DF, Islam MA (2008b) Growth, physiology, and nutrient retranslocation in nitrogen-15 fertilized Quercus rubra seedlings. Ann For Sci 65:101–109
Sardans J, Peñuelas J, Rodà F (2005) Changes in nutrient use efficiency, status and retranslocation in young post-fire regeneration Pinus halepensis in response to sudden N and P input, irrigation and removal of competing vegetation. Trees 19:233–250
Sardans J, Peñuelas J, Rodà F (2006) Plasticity of leaf morphological traits, leaf nutrient content, and water capture in the Mediterranean evergreen oak Quercus ilex subsp. Ballota in response to fertilization and changes in competitive conditions. EcoScience 13:258–270
Schoene G, Yeager T (2006) Influence of nitrogen application rate on the magnitude of root and shoot growth flushes of Viburnum odoratissimum Ker-Gawl. Plant Soil 284:121–128
Schott KM, Pinno BD, Landhausser SM (2013) Premature shoot growth termination allows nutrient loading of seedlings with an indeterminate growth strategy. New For. doi:10.1007/s11056-013-9373-9
Sheffield J, Wood E (2008) Projected changes in drought occurrence under future global warming from multi-model, multi-scenario, IPCC AR4 simulations. Clim Dyn 31:79–105
Silla F, Escudero A (2003) Uptake, demand and internal cycling of nitrogen in saplings of Mediterranean Quercus species. Oecologia 136:28–36
Stattin E, Lindström A (1999) Influence of soil temperature on root freezing tolerance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. Plant Soil 217:173–181
Thomas FM, Ahlers U (1999) Effects of excess nitrogen on frost hardiness and freezing injury of above-ground tissue in young oaks (Quercus petraea and Q. robur). New Phytol 144:73–83
Timmer VR (1997) Exponential nutrient loading: a new fertilization technique to improve seedling performance on competitive sites. New For 13:279–299
Timmer VR, Aidelbaum AS (1996) Manual for exponential nutrient loading of seedlings to improve outplanting performance on competitive forest sites NODA/NFP Technical Report, TR-25. National Resource Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Sault Ste Marie, ON
Trubat R, Cortina J, Vilagrosa A (2008) Short-term nitrogen deprivation increases field performance in nursery seedlings of Mediterranean woody species. J Arid Environ 72:879–890
Trubat R, Cortina J, Vilagrosa A (2010) Nursery fertilization affects seedling traits but not field performance in Quercus suber L. J Arid Environ 74:491–497
Trubat R, Cortina J, Vilagrosa A (2011) Nutrient deprivation improves field performance of woody seedlinngs in a degraded semi-arid shrubland. Ecol Eng 37:1164–1173
Valdecantos A, Cortina J, Vallejo JR (2006) Nutrient status and field performance of tree seedlings planted in Mediterranean degraded areas. Ann For Sci 63:1–8
Valladares F, Gianoli E (2007) How much ecology do we need to know to restore Mediterranean ecosystems? Restor Ecol 15:363–368
Valladares F, Sánchez-Gómez D (2006) Ecophysiological traits associated with drought in Mediterranean tree seedlings: individual responses versus interspecific trends in eleven species. Plant Biol 8:688–697
Valladares F, Villar-Salvador P, Dominguez S, Fernandez-Pascual M, Penuelas JL, Pugnaire FI (2002) Enhancing the early performance of the leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss.: fertilisation versus Rhizobium inoculation. Plant Soil 240:253–262
Vallejo RV, Smanis A, Chirino E, Fuentes D, Valdecantos A, Vilagrosa A (2012) Perspectives in dryland restoration: approaches for climate change adaptation. New For 43:561–579
Vilagrosa A, Bellot J, Vallejo VR, Gil-Pelegrín E (2003) Cavitation, stomatal conductance, and leaf dieback in seedlings of two co-occurring Mediterranean shrubs during an intense drought. J Exp Bot 54:2015–2025
Villar-Salvador P, Planelles R, Enriquez E, Peñuelas JL (2004) Nursery cultivation regimes, plant functional attributes, and field performance relationships in the Mediterranean oak Quercus ilex L. For Ecol Man 196:257–266
Villar-Salvador P, Puértolas J, Peñuelas JL, Planelles R (2005) Effect of nitrogen fertilization in the nursery on the drought and frost resistance of Mediterranean forest species. Invest Agrar: Sist Recur For 14:408–418
Villar-Salvador P, Valladares F, Domínguez-Lerena S, Ruiz-Díez B, Fernández-Pascual M, Delgado A, Peñuelas JL (2008) Functional traits related to seedling performance in the Mediterranean leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa: insights from a provenance, fertilization, and rhizobial inoculation study. Env Exp Bot 64:145–154
Villar-Salvador P, Heredia N, Millard P (2009) Remobilization of acorn nitrogen for seedling growth in holm oak (Quercus ilex), cultivated with contrasting nutrient availability. Tree Physiol 30:257–263
Villar-Salvador P, Puértolas J, Cuesta B, Peñuelas JL, Uscola M, Heredia-Guerrero N, Rey-Benayas JM (2012) Increase in size and nitrogen concentration enhances seedling survival in Mediterranean plantations. Insights from an ecophysiological conceptual model of plant survival. New For 43:755–770
Villar-Salvador P, Peñuelas JL, Jacobs DF (2013) Nitrogen nutrition and drought hardening exert opposite effects on the stress tolerance of Pinus pinea L. seedlings. Tree Physiol 33:221–232
Warren CR, Mcgrath JF, Adams MA (2005) Differential effects of N, P and K on photosynthesis and partitioning of N in Pinus pinaster needles. Ann For Sci 62:1–8
White PJ, Hammond JP (2008) Phosphorus nutrition of terrestrial plants. In: White PJ, Hammond JP (eds) The ecology of plant–phosphorus interactions. Springer, Berlin, pp 51–81
Zhang K, Greenwood DJ, White PJ, Burns IG (2007) A dynamic model for the combined effects of N, P and K fertilizers on yield and mineral composition; description and experimental test. Plant Soil 298:81–98
Acknowledgments
This paper synthesizes results from projects sponsored by multiple funding sources including the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (through Projects OT98-001, AGL2006-12609 Encinut and AGL2011-24296 Ecolpin), the Andalusia Department of Science and Innovation (AGR-6501), Regional Government of Madrid (S2009/AMB-1668), National Institute of Agricultural Research and Polytechnic of Madrid and Cordoba Universities Research Programs. We wish to thank the colleagues with whom we have collaborated on research cited in this review, particularly Francisco Artero, Mari Luz Segura, Pedro Villar-Salvador, and Manuel Fernández. We also thank the organizing committee of the IUFRO Symposium, ‘Nutrient Dynamics of Planted Forests’ for the opportunity to participate.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oliet, J.A., Puértolas, J., Planelles, R. et al. Nutrient loading of forest tree seedlings to promote stress resistance and field performance: a Mediterranean perspective. New Forests 44, 649–669 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-013-9382-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-013-9382-8