Summary
Applying extra N in the nursery in the nursery can increase early growth on some sites. This early growth can sometimes be attributed to simply producing seedlings with larger RCD, larger roots and more foliage. Dr. Lee Allen says “Resources grow leaves…. Leaves grow trees.”
However, in some cases, extra growth appears to be related just to increases in nitrogen concentrations in the foliage. This suggests that early growth may be a function of both more leaves and higher foliar N.