Growth character responses of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) seedlings to nanotechnological fertiliser applications

High-quality seedling production is crucial in forestry activities to enhance the success of planting efforts and ensure the sustainability of the species. In this study, the effects of different concentrations (0, 4, 8, and 12 mL/L) of nanotechnological liquid organomineral fertiliser on the morphological characteristics and seedling quality of two-year-old oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) seedlings were investigated. Morphological characteristics measured in the study included seedling height, root collar diameter, number of side branches, root length, root number, as well as fresh and dry weights of shoot, root, and seedling. For seedling quality evaluation, dry root percentage, sturdiness quotient, shoot-root ratio, and the Dickson quality index were used. The results showed that the highest fertiliser concentration (F12 ml/l) produced the most favourable outcomes in terms of both morphological characteristics (e.g. 42.16 cm for seedling height, 8.42 mm for root collar diameter) and quality criteria (e.g. 0.39 for the Dickson quality index). Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between simple measurable parameters, such as seedling height and root collar diameter and quality indices, such as the Dixon Quality Index, indicating their potential as meaningful indicators in quality assessment. The study results demonstrate that fertiliser applications can significantly contribute to producing high-quality seedlings. Keywords: fertilisation; morphological characteristics; quality index; seedling quality