Growth characteristics of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings in peat-pearlite substrates enriched with organic and mineral controlled-release fertilisers

Authors

  • Veronika E. Artishevskaya Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Antonina Yu. Shashko Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Alexander A. Ovsey Republican Forest Selection and Seed Centre, Р-1 Highway, 17 th kilometre, Valkovichy 223049, Shchomyslicki village council, Minsk District, Belarus
  • Renata S. Nedelko Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Uladzislau Yu. Bandarenka Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Maryia A. Charnysh Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Palina V. Hryvusevich Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Oksana G. Yakovets Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Nikolai A. Laman V. F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 27 Akademichnaja Street, Minsk 220072, Belarus
  • Anatoliy I. Sokolik Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Vadim V. Demidchik V. F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 27 Akademichnaja Street, Minsk 220072, Belarus

Keywords:

soil substrate, controlled-release fertiliser, Scots pine, European spruce, conifer seedlings, growth and development of higher plants

Abstract

In the presented work, the effect of different compositions of peat-pearlite substrates on the growth of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. (European spruce) seedlings were tested in standard containers (limited space for root system development) during one growing season. As components of soil substrates, long-lasting encapsulated controlled-release fertilisers (CRF) «Basacote» and «Top Substra», water-soluble specialised fertiliser for peat enrichment «PG mix», zeolite-based CRF «ZION», organic fertilisers «Organicum» (dry sterilised chicken manure) and «Biohumus» (vermiculture-based compost), as well as rottenstone (tripoli), vermiculite and flax shives were examined. It was demonstrated that at the early stage of growth (42 days), European spruce seedlings showed a faster increase in shoot length on substrates with the organic additive «Organicum» (chicken manure). At the later stages of the tested vegetation period (56 – 91 days), European spruce seedlings showed the most intensive growth on substrates with the addition of CRF «Basacote» (capsules containing macro- and microelements covered with an inorganic polymer membrane). For Scots pine, the best growth rates both in early and late vegetation periods (42– 91 days) were found on substrates containing a specialised fertiliser for peat enrichment «PG mix» (without liming; pH 2.7–3.2). The introduction of such fertilisers, as «Top Substra», «ZION» and «Biohumus» into peat substrates had a smaller effect on stimulation of growth as compared to fertilisers «Basacote», «Organicum» and «PG mix». This study also found the correlations between the saturation of the soil electrolyte content (electrical conductivity test), pH and growth parameters; the digital phenotyping of young spruce and pine plants was also carried out.

Author Biographies

  • Veronika E. Artishevskaya, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    competitor at the department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Antonina Yu. Shashko, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    junior researcher at the laboratory of plant physiology and biotechnology, department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Alexander A. Ovsey, Republican Forest Selection and Seed Centre, Р-1 Highway, 17 th kilometre, Valkovichy 223049, Shchomyslicki village council, Minsk District, Belarus

    deputy director, head of the research department

  • Renata S. Nedelko, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    student at the faculty of biology

  • Uladzislau Yu. Bandarenka, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    senior lecturer at the department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Maryia A. Charnysh, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    head of the training laboratory of plant bioengineering and landscape design, faculty of biology

  • Palina V. Hryvusevich, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (biology); associate professor at the department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Oksana G. Yakovets, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (biology), docent; head of the department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Nikolai A. Laman, V. F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 27 Akademichnaja Street, Minsk 220072, Belarus

    doctor of science (biology), academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, full professor; head of the laboratory of plant growth and development

  • Anatoliy I. Sokolik, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (biology), docent; head of the laboratory of plant physiology and biotechnology, department of plant cell biology and bioengineering, faculty of biology

  • Vadim V. Demidchik, V. F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 27 Akademichnaja Street, Minsk 220072, Belarus

    doctor of science (biology), сorresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, full professor; chief researcher at the laboratory of plant growth and development

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2025-11-24

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No. 2 (2025): Experimental Biology and Biotechnology

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Biotechnology and Microbiology

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How to Cite

Artishevskaya, V. E., Shashko, A. Y., Ovsey, A. A., Nedelko, R. S., Bandarenka, U. Y., Charnysh, M. A., Hryvusevich, P. V., Yakovets, O. G., Laman, N. A., Sokolik, A. I., & Demidchik, V. V. (2025). Growth characteristics of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings in peat-pearlite substrates enriched with organic and mineral controlled-release fertilisers. Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, 2, 44-57. https://doi.org/10.33581/2957-5060-2025-2-%p