It is important to understand the effect of fertilizing on the leaf characters,nutrient limitation and stoichiometric characteristics of Osmanthus fragrans Lour. var. aurantiacus.In this study,the O. fragrans ‘Pucheng dangui' seedlings were treated with fertilizers that were composed of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P)and potassium(K)at three different compositions in an orthogonal experimental design L9(34)under field and laboratory conditions.We measured the distribution and chemical characteristics of C,N,P,and LA(leaf area),SLA(specific leaf area)and LMA(leaf mass per area)of leaves and biomass of roots,stems and leaves.The results showed as follows:1)A higher content of roots,stems,leaves and total biomass,as well as LA,SLA,the content of C,N,P of leaves,but a lower content of LMA after the fertilization.2)There is a significant allometric relationship between leaf N and C,P and C,but not N and P.3)In the nine treatments,N2P2K1 was the most effective,with a higher content of total biomass than the others,and the highest content of leaf C,N,N:P and LA.4)Based on Pearson correlation analysis there was a significant positive correlation between SLA and P,between C and N,between Cand N:P,and between N and N:P,and there was a positive relationship between LA and SLA and between C:P and N:P.These results suggest that appropriate fertilizer application can change leaf characters and nutrient distribution of O. fragrans Lour. var. aurantiacus seedlings,promoting the uptake and good circulation of nutrients,and increasing the biomass of seedlings.Therefore,these findings and information are useful for good quality and high yield production of seedlings.
