Interaction of soil pH and genotype on growth and nutrient uptake of sycamore seedlings

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Abstract
Seedlings from four families of American sycamore (Platanusoccidentalis L.) were grown in a glasshouse for 16 weeks in a Groseclose silt loam soil (Typic Hapludults) in which the soil reaction (pH) had been adjusted from 6.20 to 4.25, 5.50, 6.75, or 8.00 by the addition of Al2(SO4)3 or CaCO3. On the average, seedling height and total dry weight increased with increasing soil reaction to pH 6.7 and then declined. Percentage of foliar P, K, and Ca was largest at a soil pH of 5.5 and declined with an increase or decrease in soil reaction. Foliar P, K, and Ca content is highly correlated with soil pH, seedling total dry weight, and available soil nutrients. Growth of seedlings from individual families, in response to alterations in soil pH, is variable, but the data suggest certain families exhibit significantly greater growth and nutrient uptake than others at soil pH values below 6.8. This fact may be of prime concern in hardwood seedling nursery production, where specific families are being grown, and in the evaluation of growth responses in tree improvement programs.