Publication Date

1980

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Messenger, A. Steven

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geography

LCSH

Pin oak; Trees; Care of; Trees--Nutrition

Abstract

Numerous complaints by nurserymen and urban foresters in Illinois on the lack of success in correcting chlorosis in pin oaks (Quercus palustris Muench) prompted this investigation. This investigation was undertaken to diagnose the cause of chlorosis exhibited by pin oaks in northern Illinois and to determine if any treatments applied to the tree or the soil surrounding each tree were effective in changing foliar nutrient concentrations and reducing chlorosis. Eighteen pin oaks were chosen for intensive investigation at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, during 1978 and 1979. The study trees included four green controls, two chlorotic controls and twelve chlorotic treated trees. The soil under each tree was initially monitored to observe any soil profile pH differences between the green tree sites and the chlorotic tree sites. A preliminary foliar analysis was also made to diagnose nutrient differences between the green and chlorotic trees. Each of the 12 chlorotic treated trees received one or more of the following treatments applied to the soil surface or into tubes placed in the soil: ammonium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, sulfuric acid, manganese sulfate, complexed manganese and a multi-micronutrient fertilizer. In addition, several trees received manganese Medicaps, or iron Medicaps or foliar sprays of the multi-micronutrient fertilizer. Preliminary results indicated that mean soil profile pH values under the chlorotic pin oaks were significantly (1% level) higher than those under the green pin oaks to a depth of 55 cm. The chlorotic pin oaks also had significantly (5% level) lower mean foliar iron, manganese, zinc and copper concentrations and significantly (5% level) higher mean foliar phosohorus and spring mean foliar nitrogen concentrations than the green control trees. Subsurface sulfuric acid treatment was the most effective treatment in increasing initially low foliar micronutrient concentrations in the chlorotic pin oaks. The multimicronutrient fertilizer and manganese Medicap treatments were very effective in increasing low foliar copper and somewhat effective in increasing low manganese concentrations in the chlorotic trees, respectively. Other treatments used were not as effective in increasing foliar concentrations of the deficient nutrients. None of the treatments showed complete effectiveness in alleviating visual chlorosis symptoms. Micronutrient antagonisms instigated by some of the treatments and by phosphorus are suggested and need further investigation.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

viii, 85 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

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