Open Access

ARTICLE

Fertilization and association with pioneer herbaceous species on the performance of Pinus pseudostrobus

by Gómez-Romero M¹, E de la Barrera², J Villegas³, R Lindig-Cisneros⁴

1 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Doctorado Institucional en Ciencias Biológicas. Morelia, Michoacán, México.
2 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Laboratorio de Ecofisiología Ambiental, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
3 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
4 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Laboratorio de Ecología de Restauración, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
Address Correspondence to: Mariela Gómez-Romero, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico-Biológicas, Edificio B-3, Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Felícitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, C.P. 58030, México Tel.: 443 326 5788 Fax: 443 326 5788, e-mail: margrbio13@hotmail.com

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2013, 82(all), 135-143. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2013.82.135

Abstract

When degradation is severe, as it is often the case on acrisols, it is necessary to test the effect of plant-plant interactions in their survival and growth. An experiment was conducted, with substrate from an eroded site (acrisols with gullies) in a shaded greenhouse (30% shade) to evaluate the effect of fertilization and the presence of pioneer herbaceous species in the performance of Pinus pseudostrobus. The pioneer species Lupinus mexicanus and Tithonia tubiformis were used in three experimental treatments and a control. To fertilize, KH₂PO₄ was applied in four concentration levels. There were a total of 16 treatment combinations when considering both factors. Results showed significant differences (p≤0.01) among the treatments of presence of pioneer herbaceous species. The species that was more influential in pine performance was the legume Lupinus mexicanus; when it was present, the pines had a higher survival (98%) than pines under control conditions (78%), being the difference statistically significant. Fertilization had no effect neither in the survival nor the performance of P. pseudostrobus. These results suggest that in these soils, reestablishing biotic interactions is necessary for improving the performance of tree species.

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