Valued for furniture, crafts, and medicine, Dalbergia odorifera T. C. Chen confronts critically depleted wild populations and slow cultivation growth, necessitating precision nutrient formulation to overcome physiological constraints. Using a ‘3414’ regression design with four levels of N, P, and K, this study identified phosphorus (P) as the most influential nutrient in regulating growth (P > N > K). Maximal growth enhancement occurred under T7 (N2P3K2), with height and basal diameter increments increasing by 239% and 128% versus controls (p root > leaf; 52%, 26%, 22%). Photosynthetic capacity increased significantly under T7 (p < 0.05), driven by P-mediated chlorophyll gains (Chla + 70%; Chlb + 75%) and an 82% higher net photosynthetic rate. Metabolic shifts revealed peak soluble sugar in T7 (+139%) and soluble protein in T9 (+226%) (p < 0.05), associated primarily with P and K availability, respectively. Correlation networks revealed significant associations among structural growth, photosynthesis, and metabolism. Principal component analysis established T7 as optimal, defining a “medium-N, high-P medium-K” precision fertilization protocol. These findings elucidate a phosphorus-centered regulatory mechanism governing growth in D. odorifera, providing a scientific foundation for efficient cultivation.
Zhang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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