@article{Zhu2026, 
author = {Yi Zhu and Chuhong Lin and Lu Yang and Xiaohu Chen and Yongjun Fei and Die Hu},
title = {Effects of different nitrogen application rates on growth and physiological characteristics of transplanted seedlings of Phoebe neurantha ‘Fengweinan’},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology},
volume = {46},
number = {9},
pages = {19-35},
keywords = {nitrogen application rate, ‘Fengweinan’ transplanted seedlings, growth and development, physiological characteristics},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.14067/j.cnki.1673-923x.2026.09.003},
doi = {10.14067/j.cnki.1673-923x.2026.09.003},
abstract = {【Objective】To explore the effects of different nitrogen application rates on the growth of transplanted seedlings of Phoebe neurantha (Hemsl.) Gamble cv. ‘Fengweinan’ Y.J. Fei, and to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of exogenous nitrogen in transplanted seedlings of this cultivar.【Method】A pot experiment was conducted to compare the performance of one-year-old bare-root transplanted seedlings (L) and soil-root-ball transplanted seedlings (T) under five nitrogen application gradients: 0 (CK), 100 (ZN1), 200 (ZN2), 300 (ZN3), and 400 mg/plant (ZN4). The aim was to determine the optimal nitrogen application rate for transplanted ‘Fengweinan’ seedlings.【Result】For bare-root transplanted seedlings (L), the total root length reaches its peak at ZN2, which is 81% higher than that of the control (CK). For soil-root-ball transplanted seedlings (T), multiple growth indicators are optimal at ZN3: plant height, ground diameter, total root length, and leaf length are significantly increased by 29%, 56%, 102%, and 103% compared with CK, respectively. The photosynthetic pigment content of both types of transplanted seedlings first increases and then decreases with the increase of nitrogen application rate. For bare-root transplanted seedlings, the photosynthetic pigment content is the highest at ZN2, and the basic photosynthetic parameters of the seedlings reach their maximum values, with net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate significantly increased by 170% and 166% compared with CK, respectively. For soil-root-ball transplanted seedlings, the photosynthetic pigment content is the highest at ZN3, but the peaks of photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate appear at ZN4. Appropriate nitrogen application can increase the contents of soluble sugar, soluble starch, and organic nitrogen compounds, and enhance the activities of nitrogen metabolism enzymes. Excessive nitrogen application (under ZN4 treatment) leads to a 36% increase in root soluble protein content compared with ZN3, but decreases in soluble sugar, soluble starch contents, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities. Specifically, the soluble starch content in roots, total nitrogen in underground parts, and leaf nitrate reductase activity in the ZN4 treatment group are 28%, 7%, and 10% lower than those in the ZN3 treatment group, respectively.【Conclusion】Moderate nitrogen application promotes seedling growth by enhancing photosynthetic performance and carbon-nitrogen metabolism. The optimal nitrogen application rates for bare-root seedlings and soil-balled scedings are 200 mg per plant and 300 mg per plant, respectively.}
}