Investigation of Feeding Activities for Juniperus and Picea Species Grown in Turkish Forest Nurseries

This study investigates plant nutrition practices and fertilizer usage during the seedling production phase in Turkish forest nurseries. Seedlings of Juniperus spp. and Picea spp. were sampled from nine nurseries selected based on their geographical distribution and high production capacity of the target species. To evaluate the seedlings’ growth and nutritional status, morphological measurements and nutrient content analyses were conducted. The proportional distribution of nutrient concentrations in coniferous leaves per 100 units of nitrogen was determined as follows: 11–22 units of phosphorus, 23–49 units of potassium, 5–28 units of magnesium, 11–303 units of calcium, 4–10 units of sulfur, 6–36 units of iron, 0.21–1.46 units of zinc, 0.28–3.54 units of copper, 0.39–3.84 units of manganese, and 0.38–8.72 units of sodium. The total nutrient amounts extracted from the soil by each set of seedlings (20 seedlings) were calculated and extrapolated to determine nutrient removal per unit area. Findings revealed that fertilization practices in most nurseries predominantly rely on conventional routines rather than soil analysis data, potentially compromising efficiency and sustainability. This study underscores the necessity of scientifically guided nutrient manage