Effects of different fertilization treatments on the growth and physiological characteristics of Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. Seedlings

Orthogonal experimental methods were used to study the effects of different fertilization treatments on the growth and physiological characteristics of Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. seedlings. Results showed that the growth indexes of the seedlings differed under different fertilization treatments, with plant height, ground diameter, biomass, and root indices of the non-fertilizer group found to be lower than those of the fertilizer treatment groups. There were significant differences in the contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and chlorophyll content in the leaves among fertilization treatments. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Pn, Gs, Tr, and Ci, respectively) were all higher than those in the non-fertilizer group, indicating that photosynthetic performance of the seedlings was improved. After comprehensive evaluation using membership functions, the optimum treatment group was determined to be T6, N₂P₂K₂ (N 3.80 g/individual, P 0.48 g/individual, K 1.46 g/individual).