Nitrogen uptake by sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in the early growth stages |
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| Authors: | Suzette B LINA Masanori OKAZAKI Dorothea Sonoko KIMURA Yoshiharu YANO Koyo YONEBAYASHI Masato IGURA Marcelo A QUEVEDO Alan B LORETO |
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| Institution: | Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering and;Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 184-8588,;Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509,;Bio-Resources Environmental Science Department, Ishikawa Prefectural University, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan;and;Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center, Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte 6521-A, Philippines |
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| Abstract: | Previous trials have revealed variable responses of sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) to fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen (N). In the present study, we quantified the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of sago palm for the first time using 15N-labeled fertilizer in pot and field experiments. The pot experiment was conducted in Japan using a 2:1 mixture of sand to Philippine soil. The field experiment was conducted in Leyte in the Philippines. Both experiments consisted of three replicates in each of three treatments: control, 15N urea at 50 kg N ha?1 and 15N urea at 100 kg N ha?1. The N uptake of sago palm increased significantly, but inconsistently with increasing N application. The few instances of a significant increase in N uptake did not translate into significant improvements in growth parameters, except for the number of leaflets in the pot experiment. The FUE values for sago seedlings (< 6 months) in the pot experiment treated with 50 and 100 kg N ha?1 were 10.5 and 13.2%, respectively, whereas for the 2-year-old sago palms in the field, the corresponding FUE values were 14.8 and 12.0%. The FUE values were similar at the two levels of N application in both experiments. Sago growth parameters appeared to be insensitive to N application, suggesting that the form of N and the timing of N fertilization are important factors for sago palms. Therefore, the use of N fertilizer in sago production can only be justified after determining and fully understanding the response of sago palm to N application. |
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| Keywords: | fertilizer use efficiency growth parameters 15N urea Philippines sago palm |
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