EFFECTS OF LIME AND PHOSPHATE ADDITIONS ON NUTRIENT STATUS AND GROWTHOF BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVATICA L) SEEDLINGS

Regenerating beech stands on Ferric Podzol and Dystric Cambisol were t reated with crushed dolomitic lime and ground apatite (phosphorus fert iliser) alone or in combination in a randomised block design. The lime was applied 5 years before the P-fertiliser. Seedling growth, measure d as stem diameter, was not affected by the treatments. The lime signi ficantly affected 12, and the P-treatment 5, of 13 elements analyzed f or foliar concentrations. The lime increased foliar Ca and Mg concentr ations and decreased those of Al, Fe, K, Mn, Na and Zn. The effect of lime on N differed between years and sites. S and B responded signific antly but not consistently in relation to the lime dose. The foliar co ncentrations of all the elements except B could be compared with value s given in the literature. Liming with dolomite increased leaf Mg to l evels above the range usually found in beech. For K there is a risk of deficiency if liming is carried out where K levels are originally low . The phosphate fertiliser increased leaf P by 23-28% in the Ferric Po dzol and by 5-14% in the Dystric Cambisol. In the Ferric Podzol the ef fect of the P-fertiliser on foliar P was not related to the lime dose, and had increased to an average of + 28% after 4 years. In the Dystri c Cambisol, the P-treatment effect on foliar P was initially negativel y related to the amount of lime previously applied. The average effect on foliar P in the Dystric Cambisol decreased from about + 14% in 198 8 to about + 5%, in 1992, and by this time no relationship between the P concentration and the lime dose remained. Crushed dolomite would ef ficiently correct Mg and Ca deficiencies, and ground apatite would eff iciently correct P deficiencies.