Nitrogen increases fresh weight and retail value of fraser fir christmas trees

Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. Christmas trees were fertilized for 5 years wit h four levels of N (0, 56, 113, or 170 kg.ha(-1) per gear) in spring, fall, or equally split between spring and fall, Nitrogen did not affect leader l ength, number of leaders, or bud frequency on the upper (distal) portion of the leader. Nitrogen increased bud frequency on the lower (proximal) 20 cm of the leader in only 1 of 3 gears of measurement. All application schedul es increased the number of apical buds on branches, whereas the number of l ateral buds was increased only by spring applications. Nitrogen increased t ree fresh weight and retail value as well as weight, length, and surface ar ea of needles. Foliar N concentrations in the fall varied with fertilizatio n schedule, and were higher in November than in October.