Macronutrient Content in European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Seedlings Grown in Differently Compacted Peat Substrates in a Container Nursery

Abstract

The macroelement (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium) contents in individual parts of 1-year-old seedlings (leaves, shoots, root system) of the common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were investigated. The seedlings were grown in nine different densities of peat substrate (0.196–0.317 g cm−3) in 265 cm3 containers. It was found that substrate compaction influenced macroelement content in the seedlings. With an increase in substrate compaction, there was a decrease in macroelement content in the leaves (except for N). The macroelement contents derived from this study were compared to the optimal contents indicated in the literature. Studies have shown that the availability of Mg is of great importance for the growth of beech seedlings. The least-compacted substrate allowed for the best root growth in the seedlings, which translated into a higher Mg uptake, resulting in a better dry-mass shoot to root ratio. Our findings confirmed that the lowest compaction of a peat substrate (0.196 g cm−3 actual density) containing dolomite is the best for cultivating common beech under foliar fertilization in 265 cm3 containers.