사과 ‘후지’/M.9 포트묘목 개발을 위해 질소시비농도에 따른 생장특성을 조사하고, 포트 우량묘목 생산에 적합한 질소시비 농도와 잎의 무기영양성분 함량 및 토양 화학성의 안정성을 확인하였다. 질소시비농도가 높아질수록 묘목의 생장은 증가되 었고, 특히 16 mM 처리가 수체 생장에 가장 좋았으며, 우량묘목 판단기준에 부합하였다. 32 mM 이상의 고농도는 오히려 생장 을 감소시켰다. 잎의 무기영양성분 함량은 8, 16 mM 처리구에서 기존 사과과원의 적정수준보다 높았고, 이러한 무기영양성분은 정식 후 수체 생장에 도움이 될 것으로 생각되었다. 토양 화학성 또한 8, 16 mM 처리구에서 안정적이었다. 따라서 수체 생육, 잎의 무기영양성분, 포트 내 토양화학성을 고려한 결과, 사과 ‘후지’/M.9 우량 포트묘목 생산을 위한 적정 질소시비량은 16 mM로 판단되었다.
The study was carried out to investigate growth of 48.6-L pot-cultivated 1-year-old ‘Fuji’/M.9 apple trees depending on different levels of nitrogen concentration. While rise in tree growth was paralleled with increase of nitrogen concentration, more than 32 mM of nitrogen rather restrained tree growth. In particular, growth of 16 mM of nitrogen treated trees was satisfied with criteria for production of high-quality pot-cultivated nursery stocks. Although mineral contents of leaves were higher in 8 and 16 mM nitrogen treatments than commonly recommended mineral contents in apple orchards, such somewhat surplus minerals could be helpful for tree growth after transplanting to apple orchards. In addition, our result indicated that soils of 8 and 16 mM of nitrogen treated pots met appropriate criteria for soil chemical property of apple orchards. Thus, in the light of tree growth, mineral contents of leaves, and soil chemical property in the pots, 16 mM of nitrogen treatment is considered to be suitable for production of 1-year-old ‘Fuji’/M.9 apple potted trees.