| Trees of four poplar clones were grown for two years on an agricultural field (54°N, 112°W, elevation 620 m) and fertilized at planting with 27.9 g of nitrogen (N) or 83.4 g of NPKSCuZn (NPK+). Growth response to the fertilizer treatments varied between treatments and clones throughout the experiment. After two years height, basal diameter and leaf area differed significantly with control<N<NPK+.;Overall the results indicate that nutrients supplied by the fertilizer treatments were taken up by the target trees, increasing leaf tissue levels resulting in increased leaf area and mass and overall biomass accumulation.;Leaf N (% dry weight) was significantly affected by fertilizer treatment and clone in both years with an overall trend of leaf N increasing from control to N to NPK+ treatments. Generally leaf P and K (% dry weight) were also significantly affected by fertilizer treatment and clone. Comparison of nutrient levels in the harvested whole trees versus sample tree leaves collected from the actively growing terminal leaders showed significant differences in several key nutrients. |
