Introduction

Substrate and fertilization are essential to produce forest species with favorable morphological characteristics.

Objectives

To evaluate the morphological growth and nutrient assimilation in Pinus durangensis Mart. seedlings, and to estimate costs in response to the use of three substrate mixtures combined with three rates of a controlled-release fertilizer in a nursery.

Materials and methods

The plants were grown under the effect of nine treatments consisting of three substrates with varying proportions of fresh pine sawdust, composted pine bark, and peat moss, combined with three application rates of the controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) Multicote® 8-month (18-6-12 N-P-K), arranged in a randomized block experimental design. Plant height, stem diameter, dry biomass, nutrient uptake, and production costs were evaluated after 11 months.

Results

Growth variables and nutrient uptake showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among treatments. The combination of 50 % fresh sawdust + 25 % composted bark + 25 % peat moss, with CRF applied at rates of 9 and 12 g∙L-1, produced high-quality plants in accordance with the Mexican Standard NMX-AA-170-SCFI-2014. However, the 9 g∙L-1 rate resulted in lower production costs.

Conclusion

A specific combination of substrate and CRF application rate was identified that most effectively promotes the growth and nutrient uptake of P. durangensis seedlings in the nursery; furthermore, it reduces production costs.

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