NUTRIENT STATUS <em>POPULUS</em> <em>DELTOIDES</em> AND <em>TERMINALIA</em> <em>ARJUNA</em> RAISED ON SODIC LAND

Abstract

New forest resources are being created on wastelands to increase the forest cover as well as to fulfil the needs of the growing Indian population. Such an attempt was made on a partially reclaimed sodic soil at Lucknow in north India using two potential species of diverse nature and habitat. In this study the fast growing exotic Populus deltoides and the slow growing indigenous Terminalia arjuna were examined for their nutrient regimes, seasonal variations and degree of nutrient retranslocation during senescence. Leaf and twig samples of each species, collected from May till December from 25 trees having diameters at breast height of 10 to 12 cm, were analysed and simulated. Populus deltoides showed higher concentrations of N and K, particularly in leaf component whereas T. arjuna had relatively high concentrations of Na, Fe and Mg. Concentrations of P and Ca were almost similar in both species. P, Ca and Mg in both species showed similar seasonal patterns unlike that of N, K, Na and Fe. N, P, K and Fe decreased from spring to winter while Ca, Mg and Na increased during the same period. Foliar nutrient contents were always greater than that in twigs in both species. Most of the nutrients recorded highest concentrations in the rainy season which is the period of maximum nutrient stress when extension growth of leaf is completed. In general the nutrient retranslocation during senescence was greater in P. deltoides than in T. arjuna.