REFERENCE SUFFICIENCY RANGES
TREE CROPS

Fraser Fir

C. R. Campbell and L. E. Hinesley

• Critical Values

  None reported.

• Sampling Procedures

  Needles from most recent mature foliage in the upper half of the tree are the best indicator sample. Do not sample needles from the leader or top whorl.

  For monitoring, the preferred sampling time is in the fall after dormancy.

  Comparative samples from "good" and "bad" trees can be taken for diagnosing problems at any growth stage. The best indicator sample is needles from the current year's growth.

  Samples should contain 15–20 laterals from ten or more trees representing the field.

• Sufficiency Ranges
  
  
  • Current Year's Growth after Dormancy
    
    

    Macronutrients
    N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S
    1.5–2.0%	0.2–0.6%	0.6–0.8%	0.45–0.60%	0.10–0.20%	0.08–0.20%

    
    

    Micronutrients
    Fe	Mn	Zn	Cu	B
    40–300 ppm	30–300 ppm	18–75 ppm	5–10 ppm	18–30 ppm

    
    

    Important Ratios

    The Fe:Mn ratio should be greater than or equal to 1.

• DRIS Norms

  DRIS norms have been published by Beverly (1991), Hockman and others (1989), and Kopp and Burger (1990) .

  Expression	Mean	CV (%)
  N	2.28%	3.53
  P	0.23%	11.61
  K	0.88%	6.45
  Ca	0.38%	16.59
  Mg	0.10%	10.59
  P/N	0.10	14.47
  N/K	2.61	7.23
  Ca/N	0.17	15.40
  Mg/N	0.04	10.92
  P/K	0.26	11.62
  Ca/P	1.71	20.06
  Mg/P	0.43	12.62
  Ca/K	0.44	18.19
  Mg/K	0.11	12.00
  Mg/Ca	0.25	10.70

• Remarks

  Sufficiency ranges are based on available research and modified based on experience interpreting plant analysis results.

  DRIS norms are based on work of Beverly (1991), Hockman and others (1989), and Kopp and Burger (1990).

  Nutrient concentrations vary with maturity of foliage. With the exception of copper, concentrations of most elements increase between mid-summer and late fall.

• References

  Hinesley LE, Campbell CR. 1991. Crooked leaders and nutrition in Fraser fir Christmas trees. Can J Forest Res 22:513–20.

  Hinsley LE, Wright RD. 1989. Biomass and nutrient accumulation in Fraser fir Christmas trees. HortScience 24(2):280–2.

  Hockman JN, Burger JA, Smith DW. 1989a. A DRIS application to Fraser fir Christmas trees.

  Hockman JN, Burger JA, Smith DW. 1989b. Special and temporal variability of foliar nutrient levels in fraser fir christmas trees. Forest Sci 35(2):632–9.

  Rathfon RA, Burger JA. 1991. Diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) nutrient norms for Fraser fir Christmas trees. Forest Sci 37(4):998–1010.

  Robarge WP, Pye JM, Bruck RJ. 1989. Foliar elemental composition of spruce-fir in the southern Blue Ridge province. Plant and Soil 114:19–34.

  Warren SL, Campbell CR, Skroch WA. 1990. Nutrient concentrations and their seasonal patterns in Fraser fir and Norway spruce grown in seven vegetation management programs. J Am Soc Hort Sci 115(1):62–7.

Electronic Document Prepared by:
Catherine Stokes, Communication Specialist
Agronomic Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. July 2000.