THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROWTH AND FOLIAR NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS IN <em>ACACIA</em> <em>MANGIUM</em> SEEDLINGS

Abstract

A glasshouse study on Serdang soils (Ultisols) was conducted to examine the relationship between growth parameters and foliar nutrient levels in Acacia mangium Willd., a fast-growing species widely planted in Peninsular Malaysia. The results showed a significant and positive relationship between growth parameters and foliar N and K concentrations. Height and diameter increments can be well predicted, separately, by foliar N, P, K concentrations and N:P ratio whereas dry matter production can be predicted by foliar N and K concentrations. The results demonstrated that the optimum foliar concentrations for satisfactory growth of the seedlings could lie within the following ranges: N(mg/kg)-23 500 to 24 700; P(mg/kg)-1400 to 1800; K (mg/kg)-6500 to 7500.